Innovation Project Manager

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!

What are the key objectives and expectations from this role?

• Project Delivery: Deliver projects on time and in full against agreed milestones and objectives.
• Speed to Market: Reduce time from project initiation to successful product or solution launch.
• Innovation Performance: Ensure new launches meet or exceed expected commercial and business performance.
• Post-Launch Support: Quickly resolve issues after launch and ensure smooth transition to steady operations, with strong customer satisfaction.
• Project Management Excellence: Apply best-practice project management methodologies, tools, and ways of working.
• Process & Governance Compliance: Ensure full adherence to established processes, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Systems & Data Management: Effectively use project and portfolio management systems, maintaining high-quality and accurate data.
• Budget Management: Deliver projects within approved budgets, minimizing cost variances.
• Financial Forecasting: Accurately forecast project and portfolio spend and manage financial performance.
• Return on Investment: Deliver strong returns on innovation and track performance after launch.
• Risk & Cost Control: Proactively identify and manage financial risks, including potential write-offs.
• Business Case Quality: Develop and maintain clear, complete, and robust cases for all projects.
• Partner Collaboration: Work effectively with cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment and strong communication throughout the project lifecycle.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive ongoing improvements to processes, tools, and ways of working, including digital solutions.

The Innovation Project Manager leads the development and execution of breakthrough, strategic, and tactical innovation projects within their Category globally. This individual manages a Cross functional project team to take the innovation from BFI (SG3) through to first market launch and post launch Hypercare. The role ensures timely and efficient delivery of new innovation development in line with category master plan, driving cross-functional alignment, operational and market readiness. The Innovation Project Manager is a key enabler of innovation-led growth and supports the global PLM vision, including execution of innovation projects in line with governance.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead and deliver innovation projects (breakthrough, strategic, tactical) in line with timing, cost, volume, and quality targets.
• Drive cross-functional alignment and collaborator engagement to deliver a 360-degree mix of innovation considering product and brand campaign elements.
• Ensure effective communication and alignment across global, regional, and local functions.
• Lead and coordinate hyper care activities post-launch, ensuring rapid issue resolution, stabilization of product performance, and effective feedback loops with commercial, supply chain, and quality teams.
• Act as an escalation point for issue resolution, and risk management.
• Ensure robust argument for the innovation project, including accurate financial data and Return of Investment projections for decision-making.
• Supervise and report on key performance metrics (e.g., OTIF, time-to-market, budget adherence) and raise issues or decisions to governance forums as required.
• Ensure robust governance compliance, and data integrity in line with PLM guidelines, as well as driving cross-functional engagement to optimize utilization of PLM systems, tools, and workflows.

• Champion System Adoption:Actively promote Planisware/Hive standards, new features, and process improvements to drive user engagement and system utilization across the organization (measured by User Adoption rate and System Utilization)
• User Support & Enablement:Serve as the first point of contact for user queries, providing timely support, troubleshooting, and guidance (measured by Support Resolution Time and User Satisfaction)
• Change Management:Lead local implementation of system enhancements, including User Acceptance Testing (UAT), regression testing, and communication of changes. Assess and manage the impact of changes on users and processes (measured by Change implementation success and user satisfaction)
• Continuous Improvement:Gather user feedback, identify knowledge gaps, and organize refresher sessions or knowledge-sharing forums. Capture and champion ideas for system and process optimization (measured by Continuous Improvement contribution)
• Process & System Optimization: Find opportunities for improving workflows and data quality. Support the submission and governance of change requests (measured by Data Quality, Compliance and Continuous Improvement contribution)
• Standard Process Sharing: Take part in Communities of Practice to share lessons learned and standard processes. This supports a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration. Measurement includes the number of sessions led or contributed to and client feedback.

What are we looking for?

• Extensive cross-functional leadership experience in FMCG, technology, or forward-thinking sectors, with a proven track record of managing end-to-end innovation projects and leading diverse teams.  
• Strong collaboration experience across Marketing, R&D, Operations, and Digital/Data functions.
• Experience with PLM systems, digital transformation initiatives, and data analytics.
• Strong project management expertise combined with effective collaborator engagement, communication, and influence skills.Technical knowledge of product lifecycle management platforms and program management methodologies.  .
• Confirmed ability to facilitate meetings, set agendas, and drive actionable outcomes in cross-functional settings.
• Solid financial acumen, including project budgeting, forecasting, and ROI analysis.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, with project management certification highly desirable.  

Beneficial

• Experience in Innovation Management [Upstream/Downstream]
• Experience in digital transformation or PLM systems implementation
• Strong Commercial Competence  

This is an evergreen requisition, meaning that we do not have a position available for this role at the moment, but you will be contacted as soon as a position becomes available if your application is suitable. 

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.

Collaboration, inclusion and partnership underpin everything we do here at BAT. We are looking forward to enabling every individual to thrive, regardless of 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, veteran status, perspectives and thinking styles. We know that embracing talent from all backgrounds is what makes us stronger and best prepared to meet our business goals.

We see the career breaks as opportunities not obstacles. Through The Global Returners program, we support professionals looking to restart their careers after an extended absence from the workforce (e.g. time out caring for family, parental leave, national service, sabbatical and/or starting an 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.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or accommodations to help you perform at your best during the recruitment process, you are encouraged to notify us. We are fully committed to support you by making appropriate arrangements for you to demonstrate your full potential.