Digital Transformation Specialist - KTP Associate

Aston University; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development fund

Mentoring

Annual leave 25 days

Mental health support

Job summary

Aston University and Precision Ceramics Limited invite applications for a 24-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership to lead a strategic digital transformation. The project replaces legacy systems with a digital ecosystem, embedding data-driven pricing and quality controls while pursuing AS9100 readiness.

You will gain MSc-level mentoring, cross‑site collaboration, and a £2,000 annual personal development allowance for the duration of the project.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum 2:1 and a Master's in engineering, manufacturing, production systems, or operations-related discipline.
• Evidence of delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, or data visibility.
• Ability to engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in digitalising workflows and improving operational processes or systems.
• Understanding of quality improvement within manufacturing or engineering sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-value strategic digital transformation project across academic and industrial settings.
• Capture expert knowledge into repeatable standard operating procedures.
• Support readiness for AS9100 and improve contract review, quoting, and pricing data feedback loops.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to drive data-driven decisions and continuous improvement.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Data-driven decisions

Continuous improvement

Process mapping

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree (2:1)

Master's degree in Engineering / Manufacturing / Production Systems or related

Tools

ERP systems

MRP systems

Workflow automation

Digital integration tools

Job description

This 24-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership gives you the chance to lead a strategic digital transformation project between Aston University and Precision Ceramics Limited. The project aims to replace legacy manual, paper-based management systems with a fully integrated digital ecosystem, helping the business progress towards AS9100 certification and opening opportunities in regulated high-growth sectors including aerospace, space and nuclear. You will take a central role in digitalising operational workflows, capturing expert knowledge into repeatable standard operating procedures, improving contract review and quoting, embedding data-driven feedback loops for pricing, lead times and quality control, and supporting the company's readiness for AS9100.

What you will gain:

You will lead a high-value strategic project with direct business impact while working across both academic and industrial settings. You will benefit from academic and business mentoring, expert input in digital transformation, operations and information systems, and £2,000 per annum for personal and professional development for the duration of the project.

You should hold a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree and a Master's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Production Systems, or an Operations-related discipline, with a strong grounding in data, systems, or operational excellence.

• You should bring evidence of delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, or data visibility
• Experience of working collaboratively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Demonstrable experience in digitalising workflows, improving operational processes, or implementing business systems.
• You should also have an understanding of quality improvement within manufacturing or engineering sectors
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills across technical and operational teams, and an understanding of data-driven decision‑making and continuous improvement methodologies.

Desirable

We are interested in candidates with strong analytical capability and experience in process mapping, digital transformation, or systems implementation.

• Knowledge of quality management systems, particularly AS9100 or ISO standards within regulated engineering sectors such as aerospace, would be valuable.
• Familiarity with ERP or MRP systems, workflow automation, or digital integration tools would also strengthen your application, as would the ability to capture and formalise tacit knowledge into structured, repeatable processes and exposure to change management or cultural transformation initiatives.

You should be highly organised, self‑motivated, and able to manage complex, multi‑stream project. The role also requires highly developed communication and interpersonal skills to support an organisational transformation programme and to work effectively with staff across quality, production, sales and wider business functions.

• Up to £4,000 for personal and professional development for the duration of the project
• Annual leave (25 days p/a)
• Professional support and mentorship
• Mental Health and wellbeing support: https://www.aston.ac.uk/staff-public/hr/Benefits-and-Rewards/health-wellbeing

Career prospects:

KTP Associates lead strategic projects, bridging the academic and business worlds, which can enhance and fast‑track their career. You will also benefit from expert coaching and mentoring. 60% of our KTP associates are offered employment by their host companies at the end of the KTP.