Senior Product Developer - Oral Products Development in Southampton

BAT is evolving at pace into a global multi-category business. Our purpose is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by Building a Smokeless World. To achieve our ambition, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to join us on this journey! Tomorrow can’t wait, let’s shape it together!

British American Tobacco UK has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Product Developer – Oral Products Development in Southampton.

Key Objectives and Expectations:

• The Lead Product Developer will act as the technical lead scientist to steer projects built to develop product and technology specs in oral products.
• Guide internal and external capabilities.
• Contribute to the broad R&D 5-year innovation pipeline, with a heavier focus on short term pipeline horizon (1-3 years).
• Ensure product development leads to manufacturing scale up and product deploy launch.

Direct Impact:

• Manage the product development project and oversee one or more product platforms.
• Coordinate and develop the scientists leading the initiatives.
• Liaise with senior collaborators to arrange the required capabilities and funding.

Key Responsibilities:

• Function as the technical lead in steering exploratory product development projects, coordinating project workstreams and the internal scientist capabilities to deliver the 5-year innovation pipeline.
• Partner internally and externally to support in building capabilities and know-how to deliver innovative products that meet consumer/market requirements.
• Collaborate closely, lead, and influence internal collaborators to acquire the appropriate resource capabilities necessary for delivering the product development programmes.
• Have ownership of a full platform, leading the execution of the overall platform pipeline and ensuring developing technologies can be scaled up and have marketability.
• Ensure that all novel developed products are protected by secure IP, partnering with the Legal department for patent work.
• Integrate novel materials and processes in the oral product space to ensure novel requirements are identified and integrated into the development protocol.
• Collaborate with multiple internal departments, such as Operations and Manufacturing teams, for feedback on product scalability.
• Demonstrate technical expertise in oral products to upskill internal capabilities in these spaces.

What We Are Looking For:

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills in collaboration.
• Proven track record influencing senior partners inside and outside the organization.
• Expert in planning, implementing, and leading a portfolio of projects.
• Track record of R&D product experience with a background in product development, including consumer research design and insights interpretation.
• Strong leadership and managerial capability, with a demonstrated history of motivating teams and ensuring high-quality outputs.
• Advanced knowledge in chemistry, supporting robust formulation development and problem solving.
• Capacity to guide and coordinate cross‑functional teams and external partners.
• Solid understanding of project dynamics, including capability utilization and product launch sensitivities.
• Experience in product claims development and substantiation, consumer research analysis with actionable insights.
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience qualification or higher in Chemistry.

What We Offer You:

• A market leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility).
• Diverse health plans, initiatives for work‑life balance, transportation support, and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives.
• Access to online learning platforms and personalized growth programs to nurture your leadership skills.
• Continuous improvement within a transformative environment.

Why Join BAT?

• We’re one of the few companies named as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute.
• We champion collaboration, inclusion, and partnership as the bedrock of our values.
• We wish to foster an environment where every individual can thrive.
• We view career breaks not as obstacles but as opportunities.
• Through our Global Returners program, we provide support to professionals seeking to re‑enter the workforce.
• We take pride in being a Disability Confident Employer.