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 Technical Quality Manager in Southampton
What are the key objectives and expectations from this role?
To assure the integrity of technical operations in the Analytical Centre of Excellence laboratories at Southampton, including the specification, development and validation of methods, laboratory procedures, management systems and documentation.
Provide technical leadership to enable the Analytical Development department to maintain its fixed scope of ISO 17025 accreditation and to progress to a flexible scope of accreditation.
Support the expansion of accredited test methods for the Analytical Quality Growth department by providing technical leadership, coaching and training as necessary.
The candidate must have significant postgraduate and industrial, contract or research experience in the leadership or supervision of quality management systems in an ISO 17025 accredited analytical testing laboratory. The candidate must have experience of influencing and engaging peers and senior peers to achieve strategic business outcomes.
The role will involve working closely with the Head of Analytical Development, the Head of Analytical Quality Growth, the Science Quality Manager and their direct reports.
It will also require engagement with other internal partners, co-operation with external assessors and engagement with members of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.
What is the direct impact of this role on the team or organization?
Our analytical capabilities are utilised to support BAT’s harm reduction strategy including evaluation of e-cigarettes, heated products and nicotine pouches, enabling product launches and supporting a competitive product pipeline.
This role directly delivers on BAT’s core purpose of A Better Tomorrow, via the science and technical framework to reduce the public health impact of our business.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Act as primary point of contact with UKAS for documentation and management of assessment activities
- Direct the analytical quality management system to ensure conformance with all ISO 17025 requirements
- Liaise with Science Quality team and team leads to support internal audit program for Analytical CoE laboratories
- Provide technical guidance to Analytical CoE leadership to achieve all goals relating to accreditation
- Provide training and development in ISO 17025 and related technical processes to colleagues as required
- Collaborate in the development and validation of methods and procedures to ensure alignment with ISO 17025
- Liaise with partners to review current and future business needs and fitness of analytical capabilities
- Assure conformance of own work and that of the Analytical CoE laboratories with ISO 17025 requirements
- Support the technical review/assessment of procedures, methods and documentation for Analytical CoE labs
What are we looking for?
- Expertise in the development, validation and application of analytical methods, preferably in an industrial, contract or research laboratory, including method troubleshooting.
- Demonstrable expertise in the direction of quality management systems in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, including receiving external audits and effective engagement with accreditation bodies.
- Experience of chromatographic and spectroscopic instrument operation and data analysis using a range of instrument vendor (e.g. Agilent, Waters, Sciex, Thermo, Bruker) platforms
- Lead the design, review and continuous improvement of the laboratory’s quality management system
- Provide proactive guidance to laboratory leadership team to ensure conformance with ISO 17025 requirements for fixed and flexible scopes as needed
- Design, review and lead processes for internal technical audit and external technical assessment
- Degree (BSc or equivalent) in chemistry or a chemistry-based science with additional industrial experience and/or a higher academic qualification (e.g. MSc).
- Certified training in laboratory internal audit to ISO 17025:2017 and/or Laboratory Quality Management Systems.
Beneficial
- Detailed practical knowledge of analytical techniques including GC/MS, HPLC/MS/MS, Time of Flight MS, UV/Vis/IR spectroscopy, smoking engines
- Peer and senior peer engagement and influencing skills
Qualifying questions for applicants
- Have you worked as quality system leader in an ISO 17025 accredited pharmaceutical, food, tobacco, or consumer product testing laboratory?
- Are you a proficient technical leader and coach of others?
- Do you have strong problem-solving skills and ability to focus on critical detail?
- Do you have practical expertise in the validation of complex analytical methods (e.g. HPLC/MS/MS, GC/MS/MS)?
What we offer you?
• We offer a market leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility)
• Our range of benefits varies by country and includes diverse health plans, initiatives for work-life balance, transportation support, and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives
• Your journey with us isn't limited by boundaries; it's propelled by your aspirations. Join us at BAT and become a part of an environment that thrives on internal advancement, where your career progression isn't just a statement – it's a reality we're eager to build together. Seize the opportunity and own your development; your next chapter starts here.
• You'll have access to online learning platforms and personalized growth programs to nurture your leadership skills
• We prioritise continuous improvement within a transformative environment, preparing for ongoing changes
WHY JOIN BAT?
We’re one of the few companies named as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute – certified in offering excellent employee conditions.
At BAT, we champion collaboration, inclusion, and partnership as the bedrock of our values. We wish to foster an environment where every individual can thrive, irrespective of factors such as gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, skills, experience, education, socio-economic and professional background, as well as diverse perspectives and thinking styles. We recognise that our strength lies in embracing talent from all walks of life, empowering us to develop our culture of inclusivity and better achieve our business objectives.
We view career breaks not as obstacles but as opportunities and encourage everyone, without hesitation, to apply. Through our Global Returners program, we provide support to professionals seeking to re-enter the workforce after an extended absence, be it for family care, parental leave, national service, sabbatical, or starting their own venture.
Come bring your difference and see what is possible for you at BAT. Learn more about our culture and our award winning employee experience here.
We take pride in being a Disability Confident Employer. If you need any reasonable adjustments or accommodations to be made during the recruitment process to support you performing at your best, please inform the recruitment partner who will be in touch should your profile be selected for the role you applied for. We are wholeheartedly committed to optimising your prospects of success by making suitable arrangements so that you may showcase your full potential.
