Sustainable Innovation Leader – KTP Associate

Aston Business School

This Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project aims to transform manufacturing processes at MAL with a focus on energy efficiency and carbon content transparency. 

The key objectives are to measure energy usage, principally electricity consumption, for various processes and provide detailed carbon footprint data at the component level. By leveraging advanced data collection and analysis, this project will give the company ability to monitor energy usage, identify inefficiencies, and demonstrate tangible impact.

The project will focus on collecting, analysing, and interpreting energy data that is directly related to specific machine centres and products. This will provide a systematic, rigorous approach for specifying the carbon content of MAL’s work on any given component to satisfy the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Assessing carbon footprint at the component level is a novel approach which will differentiate MAL in the market.

Candidate Profile: Qualified to MSc level, ideally a first degree in either Production Engineering or Business & Computing; followed by an MSc or MBA focused on Business Sustainability / Operations Management with modules in IT.    

Essential skills/ experience include:

• Experience of working in manufacturing companies and addressing complex and ambitious goals.
• Experience in managing small/medium projects. 
• Some technical understanding in the areas of sustainable manufacturing (environmental/quality management systems, life-cycle analysis, performance measurement, etc).
• Practical experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams.  

Desirable:

• Prior knowledge of manufacturing strategy, business sustainability, or performance measurements.
• Understanding of how businesses operate.

Main responsibilities: 

• Understand EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
• Evaluation of data-capture technology and Digitalisation of energy consumption.
• Energy / Carbon Data Visualisation and Analysis.
• Commercialisation of results and understanding markets.
• Sustainable Innovation, life-cycle analysis.

Personal attributes:

• Leadership qualities, maturity, time management, and good self-organisation skills to manage and deliver the KTP project and ensure it achieves agreed milestones and objectives. 
• Ability to work independently, as well as part of the team, and use initiative. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within a cross-disciplinary project team.
• Strong communication and presentation skills. 
• Strong desire to pursue innovative approaches and pathways
• Ability to establish an effective knowledge transfer process in the company.

Additional Benefits and support:

• 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: 

60% of our KTP associates are being offered employment by the companies at the end of the KTP.

This is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Metal Assemblies Ltd and Innovate UK. It is essential you understand how KTP works and the vital role you will play if you secure this position. To learn more please visit: www.aston.ac.uk/ktp

The Company: Metal Assemblies Ltd (MAL) produces press metal parts, machined components, and welded assemblies for the automotive supply chain with over 60 years’ experience in the sector. https://www.metalassemblies.co.uk/ 

Aston University: You will work in a project team with Dr Breno Nunes and Professor Alexeis Garcia Perez, from Aston University and the Senior Management Team at Metal Assemblies with the support of the IUK’s Knowledge Transfer Adviser.  

Location: You will be based at Metal Assemblies Limited, Oldbury Road Industrial Estate, West Bromwich, B70 9DD but will have access to facilities at Aston University in central Birmingham. Some travel to Aston University and key clients may also be required.

For informal enquiries about this role please contact Dr Breno Nunes, e-mail: b.nunes@aston.ac.uk 

If you think this isn’t the right opportunity for you, please explore other KTP vacancies across the country: https://www.ktp-uk.org/jobs/ 

The salary being offered for this role is below the minimum threshold for required to sponsor new applicants to the Skilled Worker route. However, Aston University may be able to sponsor the successful candidate if they:

• Are under 26 years old
• Have held a Student or Graduate visa in the last 2 years
• Are already in the UK with a Tier 2 or Skilled Worker visa issued before April 4th 2024

Please contact hr_immigration@aston.ac.uk if you would like to discuss your eligibility for Skilled Worker sponsorship.

Aston University is committed to the principles of the Athena SWAN Charter http://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charter-marks/athena-swan . We pride ourselves on our vibrant, friendly, supportive working environment and collaborative atmosphere.

Please visit our website https://jobs.aston.ac.uk/Vacancies.aspx for further information and to apply online.  

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Further details:
Job Details
University Information

Aston University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.  It promotes equality and diversity in all aspects of its work. We strive to have robust inclusivity strategies in place, including race and sexual orientation, to encourage colleagues to have the confidence and freedom to be themselves in the workplace. For more information, visit: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/about/inclusive-aston

We recognise the value of flexible working.  Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss what flexible working options are available for particular roles.

If you require the job details document or an application form in an alternative format please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@aston.ac.uk