AI Innovation Lead (KTP Associate)

As a KTP Associate, you will lead the design and development of an innovative Knowledge Management and Training platform at BB7 Consulting, applying Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Explainable AI to enhance knowledge sharing, support technical decision-making and drive digital transformation within the fire engineering sector.

Working at the interface between the University of Leeds and BB7 Consulting, you will translate academic research into practical industry solutions. You will engage with technical and management teams, analyse organisational knowledge, gather requirements, develop and test AI-enabled solutions, and support user engagement and adoption.

You will also have the opportunity to develop your professional and academic experience through structured personal development, Innovate UK mentoring and access to University resources.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Translate advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Explainable AI (XAI) research into practical applications within a fire engineering context
• Develop and implement machine learning, natural language processing, and decision-support methodologies to support technical decision-making
• Design and deliver an Explainable AI (XAI) framework to ensure transparency, including source attribution and clear reasoning pathways
• Ensure AI-generated outputs are interpretable, reliable, and suitable for use in a safety-critical engineering environment
• Analyse and map BB7’s internal knowledge ecosystem to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement
• Conduct stakeholder interviews with technical and management teams to gather requirements and insights
• Facilitate workshops and engagement sessions to capture user needs and validate system design
• Lead taxonomy development and validation in collaboration with senior engineers
• Manage competing priorities and contribute to project governance through engagement with the Project Steering Group
• Act as a key interface between academic researchers and industry practitioners, translating technical concepts into practical solutions
• Support the design, development, and testing of the knowledge management platform
• Plan and deliver pilot testing phases, incorporating user feedback into iterative system improvements
• Lead user engagement and champion adoption of the platform across the organisation
• Support organisational change by promoting the use of AI-driven tools and embedding new ways of working
• Contribute to training and knowledge-sharing activities to enhance internal capability
• Support the phased rollout of the platform, ensuring continuous improvement based on user feedback

This 28-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership between BB7 Consulting and the University of Leeds will develop an innovative Knowledge Management and Training platform for the fire engineering industry.

The project will explore how Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing and Explainable AI can be used to capture, structure and share organisational knowledge, accelerate skills development and improve the consistency and transparency of technical decision-making.

The project will involve mapping BB7’s existing knowledge ecosystem, identifying knowledge gaps, developing AI-enabled decision-support approaches and designing an Explainable AI framework that provides transparent and interpretable outputs. The resulting platform will be piloted with users and refined through stakeholder feedback, supporting its adoption and long-term integration within the organisation.

The KTP Associate will play a central role in bridging academic research and commercial application, working closely with BB7’s technical teams and University academics to deliver the project outcomes.