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 Flavourist II in Southampton
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 are the key objectives and expectations from this role?
This role applies flavour science, sensory expertise, and data-driven approaches to develop and deliver differentiated flavour systems that create competitive advantage within BAT’s product portfolio.
The Flavourist II operates with a strong focus on speed, quality, and consumer preference, delivering flavours that are optimised for specific product platforms and capable of rapid scale-up.
The role is expected to integrate digital tools, supplier innovation, and structured ways of working to accelerate flavour development, improve efficiency, and enable reuse of knowledge and systems.
What is the direct impact of this role on the team or organization?
Contributes directly to BAT’s product success by delivering flavour solutions that:
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Improve consumer appeal and product superiority
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Enable faster product development cycles
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Build distinctive, proprietary flavour capability
Supports the development of internal capability and contributes to the evolution of flavour development as a data-driven, digitally enabled field.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Designs and delivers differentiated flavour solutions aligned with consumer preference, product, and brand requirements
- Develops and optimises flavours for specific product platforms, ensuring technical performance and regulatory compliance
- Owns end-to-end flavour development from concept to scale-up, ensuring robustness, consistency, and manufacturability
- Accelerates delivery through rapid prototyping, test-and-learn approaches, and data-driven decision-making (including digital and AI tools)
- Ensures structured data capture, documentation, and knowledge reuse to support traceability and continuous improvement
- Collaborates cross-functionally and with external partners to deliver high-quality outcomes within timelines, balancing speed and risk
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Leads co-creation with external flavour suppliers to leverage innovation and enhance differentiation
- Translates consumer insights into sensory targets while protecting and contributing to proprietary flavour IP and supporting capability building within the team
What are we looking for?
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Demonstrated experience in flavour creation and sensory science, including translating consumer insights into flavour design across product categories (e.g., vapour, modern oral, food & beverage), with exposure to relevant regulatory requirements
- Experience working in cross-functional product development environments and collaborating with external flavour suppliers, using digital tools for formulation management, data capture, and project tracking to deliver against defined timelines
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Background in food science, flavours, perfume, or scent-related subject areas, with a strong foundation in flavour chemistry and science
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Well-developed sensory capability, with the ability to evaluate, optimise, and develop flavours considering product platform constraints and delivery systems
- Strong problem-solving skills, using data-driven thinking and digital tools (including modelling/AI outputs) to make decisions under time pressure
- Proven track record to work in fast-paced environments, managing competing priorities while demonstrating strong project management, organisation, and time management skills
- Effective collaboration across functions and with external partners, with understanding of IP/confidentiality and a focus on continuous improvement and simplification of ways of working
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Degree-level qualification in a relevant scientific field (e.g. chemistry, food science, or related subject area)
What we offer you?
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We offer a market leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility)
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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.
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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.
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You'll have access to online learning platforms and personalized growth programs to nurture your leadership skills.
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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.
