Regional Sensory Operations Manager at British American Tobacco

Job description

We have an excellent opportunity for a Regional Sensory Operations Manager to join our Product Centre team based in South Africa

The Main Purpose Of The Role Is To

• Lead, drive and monitor the sensory activities of the regional sensory team required for the execution of the product development, insights and maintenance projects.
• Ensure the quality of sensory response data and its interpretation in the context of brand sensory positioning objectives and consumers’ perception of the products, by supporting and monitoring all external consumer product testing.

Principal accountabilities

• Operational
• Issue recommendations to stakeholders based on interpretation of sensory data and in-depth understanding of project objectives through close collaboration with Regional Product Sensory Manager, Project Teams and Technical Forums.
• Manage, interpret and take decisions based on information obtained from various Product testing sources (internal and external) to provide the Region with the relevant information on Product Perception. Ensure coherence and consistency of the information communicated.
• Enable effective management of product portfolio complexity by providing a clear and concise sensory map of BAT products and competition in different markets and across categories.
• Responsible for the quality of Sensory data and the implementation of “Sensory Best Practice” within the Region.
• Management
• Lead, manage and develop the Regional Sensory Team ensuring to have the resources, capability, expertise quality and competence to meet the needs of the Business.
• As a member of the Regional Product team build and exploit sensory approaches and product perception knowledge to accelerate the Product Optimization, Best Practice and Regional Regulatory Conformance agenda.
• Budget – forecast, plan & track spend. Adheres to financial process and controls.
• Leadership
• Provide leadership, direction and guidance to sensory evaluation in the region and ensure adherence to the Global Sensory Strategy and Sensory Best Practice.
• Provide technical training and coaching to cross functional teams in relation to sensory analysis and act as an internal champion for sensory queries.
• Act as the principal expert/consultant in the Region for sensory capability and capacity providing direction, perspective and focus to the Business in relation to Sensory analysis.
• Provide consultancy and influence the functional experts alongside the Regional Product Sensory Manager to make informed decisions allowing BAT to delight our consumers.
• Promote functional excellence and act as a sensory expert within BATSET & SORT (Global BAT Sensory Evaluation Team & Sensory Operations Review Team), through the collaborative determination of Sensory Best Practise within the group.
• Relationship
• Work closely with the Regional Product Sensory Manager in order to provide the Business with an holistic understanding of the Product Perception.
• Engages and works in partnership with Regional Product Sensory Manager to harness all available resources to measure and understand Product Perception.
• Ensure close working relationship with Regional Product Sensory Manager to direct relevant sensory insights required for the development of the Product and Brand Strategies.
• Effective communication to all stakeholders by recommendation based on analysis of results.
• Engages & interacts with relevant stakeholders to identify demand signals as well as opportunities for Sensory to cover X-Category projects and initiatives driven in the Centre.
• Core member of BATSET (Global BAT Sensory Evaluation Team).
• Provides Sensory training and coaching for Product Community.
• Innovation
• Drives the change management and understanding of sensory within his/her sphere of influence.
• Contribute towards the development and validation of new sensory methods to meet evolving business need.
• Proactively leverage internal and external knowledge to develop the means and methods to ensure on-going enhancement of our consumer/product interaction understanding.

Context

The sensory department is a specialized section of the Product function within the Product Centre. It provides information to our commercial stakeholders about our current product portfolio and how we compete against competition in terms of sensory profiles.

The sensory department's key responsibility is to share with the product community relevant details on the sensory aspect of the product. This information is required to enable the successful development of products and ensure consistency in the product sensory quality.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• The job holder will be recognized as an authority in Product Testing tools and sensory analysis. They will have strong knowledge relating to the composition, manufacture and evaluation of tobacco products to meet consumer and legislative constraints.
• They will have a very good knowledge of the link between product design and sensory delivery.
• The job holder will have strong analytical skills being able to draw conclusions and make recommendation based on different sources of information.
• Practical experience as panel leader or panel member resulting in a thorough knowledge of sensory methods and techniques.
• Experience in a sensory related industry, with profound knowledge in sensory science and the ability to demonstrate that experience.
• Maintains active awareness and understanding of Sensory analysis and Consumer Research science.
• Good communicator, whilst giving consideration to cultural differences and cross functional considerations.