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!

Senior Packaging Technologist – Southampton

What are the key objectives and expectations from this role?

This role will support the digital evolution of packaging development by assisting in the adoption of digital tools, systems, and data‑driven workflows.

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

This role directly improves the Packaging Development team’s efficiency and accuracy by supporting the implementation of digital tools, improving data quality, and enabling smoother, more consistent workflows across day‑to‑day packaging activities.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Support early‑stage packaging discovery activities, gathering insights on materials, consumer needs, emerging technologies, and category trends to inform concept development.
• Assist in identifying and evaluating sustainable packaging solutions, aligned with company sustainability goals and defined category roadmaps and JTBD.
• Conduct basic material assessments and lab tests, helping to screen new concepts for feasibility, performance, and environmental impact.
• Collaborate with packaging category teams, wider R&D, Ops and suppliers to collect data, prepare samples, and support innovation projects.
• Maintain clear documentation and research summaries, ensuring insights, materials data, and early concepts are captured and communicated to support decision‑making in the upstream innovation pipeline.

What are we looking for?

Experience Required

• Basic experience in packaging development, as well as basic experience supporting sustainability‑focused initiatives such as material reduction, recyclability assessments, or basic life‑cycle thinking.
• Hands‑on involvement in lab testing, sample preparation, or simple technical evaluations of packaging materials or prototypes.
• Experience gathering research insights - such as benchmarking, trend scouting, or supplier information — to support early‑stage innovation projects.

Technical / Functional / Leadership Skills Required

• Strong curiosity and analytical perspective.
• Basic understanding of packaging materials, sustainability principles, and environmental impact considerations.
• Good collaboration and communication skills to work effectively with R&D, design, marketing, and external suppliers during early‑stage discovery.
• Solid organisational and documentation skills to capture research findings, test data, and early concept learnings in clear, structured formats.

Education / Qualifications / Certifications Required

• Engineering/Material science‑based degree.

What we offer you?

• Market‑leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility).
• Benefits vary by country and include 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 leadership skills.
• 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, certified in offering excellent employee conditions. At BAT, we champion collaboration, inclusion, and partnership as the foundation of our values. We empower talent from all backgrounds and recognise that diversity drives our success.

Career breaks are viewed as opportunities, and we encourage all candidates to apply. Through our Global Returners program, we support professionals re‑entering the workforce after an extended absence. We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please inform the recruitment partner who will be in touch if your profile is selected.