Title:  Strategic Operations Manager for the Experience Innovation Research Lab

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Please, apply till 19.05.2025

Strategic Operations Manager for the Experience Innovation Research Lab

Build the Backbone of a New Research Capability at JTI – Join the Learning Lab!

At JTI, we’re not just navigating change - we are shaping it. As we deepen our commitment to Reduced-Risk Products (RRP), we’re reimagining how consumer experience research can fuel transformative innovation. At the heart of this ambition lies the Learning Lab, a pioneering team within our global innovation ecosystem.

About the Learning Lab

The Learning Lab is a newly formed, forward-looking team dedicated to building a next-generation research capability at JTI. Our mission is to future-proof the organization by developing a deep, systematized understanding of consumer experiences with nicotine products. We focus on building the methods, tools, and knowledge infrastructure to support this goal—spanning sensory science, behavioral insight, emotional and contextual factors, and more.

We are not another innovation team. We are building a dedicated research and insight capability designed to unlock foundational understanding and create shared learning that drives strategic decisions and long-term innovation. Our work spans physical consumption products, digital interactions, rituals, and emotions, and includes exploring different substances, compounds, and delivery systems. We aim to integrate these dimensions into one coherent, holistic view of experience.

We operate experimentally, across disciplines, and in close collaboration with partners inside and outside JTI. Our aim is to make experience measurable, actionable, and aligned with business priorities.

Position purpose:

As our Strategic Operations Manager, you’ll be at the heart of building and running how the Learning Lab works. Your mission is to translate ambition into action - bringing rhythm, structure, and momentum to a diverse and fast-moving team working across research, technology, and strategy.

You’ll work closely with the Director of the Learning Lab as a sparring partner on both strategic and operational levels. From shaping team rituals and decision-making routines to orchestrating how we collaborate with stakeholders and external partners, you’ll help ensure that big ideas don’t just stay on slides—they become real, well-run initiatives.

You’ll design and implement the systems that keep the Lab coordinated, agile, and focused - so our research project managers can stay curious and bold without losing alignment and execution power.

What will you do – responsibilities:

• Shape and implement the Learning Lab’s internal operating model, including workflows, tracking systems, and governance tools

• Enable smooth execution across a growing project portfolio by maintaining strategic rhythm, team coordination, and OKR tracking

• Design and facilitate effective meetings, workshops, and planning sessions to drive alignment and progress

• Support financial and procurement operations, ensuring timely and efficient budget tracking and processing

• Manage a diverse network of external partners and collaborators, ensuring quality and alignment

• Contribute to both high-level planning and hands-on execution as we evolve the Lab’s processes, tools, and team rituals

• Act as a thought partner for prioritization and cross-functional collaboration, helping turn strategy into tangible action

Who are we looking for – requirements:

You are a systems thinker who brings structure without rigidity. You’re pragmatic, emotionally intelligent, and comfortable balancing ambiguity with execution. You’re not looking to be the innovator—but to enable a team of researchers and strategists to do their best work.

You’re likely to have:

• Experience building operational structures and supporting research or innovation teams and/or scaling startups (from early stage to at least Series A)

• A background in strategic operations, program management, organizational design, or adjacent fields; alternatively founder or COO of a startup

• Interest in emerging technologies (especially AI) and modern ways of working, while being comfortable operating within a corporate IT environment primarily based on Microsoft tools and systems

• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and willingness to engage with traditional corporate structures and systems

• The ability to zoom in and out - connecting high-level strategy to day-to-day implementation

• A resilient, adaptive mindset and strong communication skills

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape the foundations of a growing strategic research capability inside a global organization. You’ll join a mission-driven team that values clarity, learning, and rigor - and be part of building something from the ground up that could redefine how JTI understands and designs experiences.

Apply now and help us rewire how a traditional industry learns, works, and evolves - starting from the inside out.

Excited? So Are We! Step into a role where every day is different, and your work helps modernize how a traditional company operates, learns, and grows. If you're ready to be a trailblazer in an industry ripe for change, apply now!

Recruitment process:

Thank you very much for your interest in the role. You are welcome to apply.
Should you have any questions, you are welcome to contact recruiter Sandro Figueiredo (sandro.estevesdefigueiredo@jti.com).

Are you ready to join us? Build your success story at JTI. Apply now!

Next Steps:

After applying, if selected, please anticipate the following within 1-3 weeks of the job posting closure: Phone screening with Talent Advisor > Assessment tests > Interviews > Offer. Each step is eliminatory and may vary by role type.

At JTI, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive work environment. As an equal-opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you need any specific support, alternative formats, or have other access requirements, please let us know.