Product Developer I - Consumable Technology

BAT is evolving at pace - truly like no other organisation.

To achieve the ambition, we have set for ourselves, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to live our ethos every day. Come be a part of this journey!

SENIORITY LEVEL: Junior Level

FUNCTION: Marketing R&D (Research & Development)

SUB FUNCTION: New Categories, R&D

LOCATION: Southampton

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Permanent

BENEFITS

• UK yearly Incentive Bonus – competitive % based on business results and average annual salary
• Attractive Private Pension Plan - up to 15%, Private Medical cover, Doctor @hand-24/7 GP appointments, by video or by phone, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the world
• Share Reward Scheme (free shares and share saving scheme), Group Personal Accident Insurance, Life Assurance
• Flexible Benefits Scheme: Tax Return Assistance, Cycle To Work, Holiday Trading, Dental Insurance, Travel Insurance; Onsite Gym and Gyms Discounts-discounts at over 3,700 gyms, SPAs, pools, studios and outdoor fitness events across the UK; Season Ticket loans-Interest free loans for purchase of annual tickets for public transport

ROLE POSITIONING AND OBJECTIVES

The Consumable Technology Team, part of New Categories R&D, are responsible for the investigation and ultimately delivery of breakthrough Consumable Technology innovations in support of the broader New Categories (NC) Vision. Products created under this NC group include Modern Oral, Vapour and Tobacco Heating Product (THP) technologies.

Within the Consumable Technology Group - the Materials & Integration Team is accountable for the discovery of novel materials and consumable technologies that could transform our NC product performance to meet consumer’s needs (as Technology Block enablers feeding downstream discovery teams).

What are the key objectives and expectations from this role?

The Product Developer I will be a member of the Materials & Integration Team, within Consumable Technology – responsible for active contribution and leading of projects supporting of breakthrough NC consumable technologies.

To deliver this, the Product Developer I will be responsible for the delivery of assigned projects and workstreams, managing the creation of supporting scientific and technical data, converted into strong insights to demonstrate if these new technologies could meet the project targets. This will require strong self-leadership, creativity, problem solving, great collaboration across internal and external partners, technical expertise in laboratory methodology and product prototyping, all of which are essential to support the delivery of the Consumable Technology vision.

What is the direct impact of this role on the team or organisation?

This role will champion their practical and technical experience to lead on product prototyping, laboratory testing and data interpretation to drive projects and give guidance within the team/wider R&D, whilst supporting Senior Product Developers to gain further depth and breadth of technical knowledge. Success for the individual and team is driven by both failing technologies which do not meet the brief and creating successful technologies which can be robustly validated ready for the next stage of our development process. Ultimately creating and driving technologies to form a strong future product pipeline, which will enable the business to meet the stretching targets to drive growth in NC and meet our Better Tomorrow goals.

Leadership performance will additionally be measured against BAT key Leadership Capabilities (Behaviours and Outputs).

Bold, Fast, Empowered, Responsible & Diverse

WHAT YOU WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR

R&D Materials & Integration Team & New Categories R&D

Ensure Tech Block projects are completed in a consistent manner, within the principles of our Innovation Framework:

• To drive the delivery of assigned projects and workstreams of new Tech Blocks on time and in full, providing Senior Product Developer roles with key technical input and support whilst working through effective self-management, ensuring project goals are met
• To maintain rigorous control on the quality of output to channel Tech Block developments through the pipeline to next discovery phase, ensuring assigned deliverables follow internal R&D processes and designed methodologies
• To leverage lab/prototyping experience to perform novel making/testing methodologies and to use experimentation in newer spaces, deep diving in testing new technologies, to support in enhancing the team know how of new concepts
• To lead and participate in the ideation of new technologies concepts against the consumer and business needs
• To independently create work plans to deliver against the priorities set by Principle/Senior Product Developers to meet project timescales
• To support in the coaching and guidance of indirect team members in the product development process and lab best practices, contributing to the improvement of overall team performance
• To utilise technical and laboratory expertise to review and enforce laboratory processes and policy (e.g., with substances such as flammables/poison) to therefore deliver work in line with regulatory guidelines and compliance
• To strive to identify areas for continuous improvements in our ways of working through the development of new procedures and/or work area practices, promoting enhanced methods to support Tech Block team results

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Experience Required

• Ability to demonstrate laboratory testing, product prototyping and project management experience
• Holds industry experience in the relevant space of Vapour/Tobacco Heating/Modern Oral product development
• To have technical curiosity with problem solving skills

Technical / Functional / Leadership Skills Required

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to liaise with multiple departments, stakeholders, and external partners
• Planning & ability to complete assigned projects activities
• Knowledge of next generation product composition
• Laboratory testing methods and data processing via statistical analysis
• Able to effectively present complex technical information to wide range of audiences
• A drive to leverage specialist product knowledge to improve ways of working
• Able to identify opportunities for the creation of Intellectual Property and the process to support filing of broad patents
• To understand the role and ways of working with regulation/compliance teams
• Able to develop both individual and team technical capabilities
• Understanding of project timescales and how the role contributes to the broader R&D innovation pipeline
• Ability to plan and prioritise tasks based on business need

Education / Qualifications / Certifications Required

• Minimum Degree-level qualification in a relevant field of study (e.g., science, engineering, etc)

WE ARE BAT

At BAT we are committed to our Purpose of creating A Better Tomorrow. This is what drives our people and our passion for innovation. See what is possible for you at BAT.

• Global Top Employer with 53,000 BAT people across more than 180 markets
• Brands sold in over 200 markets, made in 44 factories in 42 countries
• Newly established Tech Hubs building world-class capabilities for innovation in 4 strategic locations
• Diversity leader in the Financial Times and International Women’s Day Best Practice winner
• Seal Award winner – one of 50 most sustainable companies

BELONGING, ACHIEVING, TOGETHER

Collaboration, diversity and teamwork underpin everything we do here at BAT. We know that collaborating with colleagues from different backgrounds is what makes us stronger and best prepared to meet our business goals. Come bring your difference!