Senior Product Developer - Oral Products Development Job Southampton area,England UK,Engineering

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 What are the key objectives and expectations from this role?

The Lead Product Developer will act as the technical lead scientist to steer projects built to develop product and technology specs in oral products. They guide internal and external capabilities. The overarching objective of this role is to contribute to the broad R&D 5-year innovation pipeline, with heavier focus on short term pipeline horizon (1-3 years) and to ensure product development leads to manufacturing scale up and product deploy launch.

What

is the direct impact of this role on the team or organization?

This role manages the product development project and oversees one or more product platforms. It coordinates and develops the scientists leading the initiatives. It liaises with senior collaborators to arrange the required capabilities and funding.

Your key responsibilities will include:

To function as the technical lead in steering exploratory product development projects, coordinating project work streams and the internal scientist capabilities to deliver the 5-year innovation pipeline.
To partner internally and externally to support in building capabilities and know-how to deliver innovative products that meet consumer/market requirements.
To collaborate closely, lead, and influence internal collaborators to acquire the appropriate resource capabilities, such as headcount or funding, necessary for delivering the product development programmes.
To 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.
To ensure that all novel developed products are protected by secure IP, partnering with the Legal department for patent work, and that any new technology or process is adequately protected in line with the wider IP Strategy.
To integrate novel materials and processes in the oral product space to ensure novel requirements are identified and integrated into the development protocol and translated to Product functionality.
To collaborate with multiple internal departments, such as Operations and Manufacturing teams, for feedback on product scalability.
To demonstrate technical expertise in oral products to upskill internal capabilities in these spaces, building talent and technical depth and breadth within the science teams, as well as to design and drive Consumer research and sensory evaluations according to Project needs, in partnership with corresponding functions.

What are we 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, preferably within oral care, food science/technology, FMCG, or related industries.
Strong leadership and managerial capability, with a demonstrated history of motivating teams, monitoring performance, and ensuring high-quality outputs.
Advanced knowledge in chemistry, supporting robust formulation development, problem solving, and translating scientific principles into practical product solutions.
Capacity to guide and coordinate cross‑functional teams and external partners, ensuring effective delivery of programs and efficient use of resources and expertise.
Solid understanding of project dynamics, including capability utilization, science plan timelines, and product launch sensitivities.
Experience in product claims development and substantiation, consumer research analysis with actionable insights, and application of analytical testing methodologies to inform product…