Production Management Specialist (KTP Associate)

DUTIES OF THE POST
The duties of the post will include:
• Management of the project; taking leadership in achieving the project objectives.
• Map the company’s operations and production planning processes to identifying optimisation opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Review the company’s data management system to define a robust structure of the governance system.
• Undertake the interpretation, evaluation, and criticism of existing literature, relevant to the project.
• Identify risks in the change process, and manage these risks, through appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Design an integrated system/solution ecosystem with effective data governance and improved performance. It is expected that this will be delivered by implementing an appropriate MRPII system.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders at all levels (Factory Supervisors and Operatives, Project / Sales / Accounting / Engineering / Cad professionals, Managers)
• Manage phased implementation, pilot testing, and company-wide rollout of the new operational plan.
• Design, deliver, and plan training programmes to company employees required for the project.
• Monitor and evaluate the system (post implementation) to ensure the new ways of working are fully embedded into the company DNA.
• Compliance with university and company policies and regulations within the remit of the role.
• Contribute to academic and industry dissemination through reports, conferences, and publications.
• Engage in personal and professional development through the project activities.
These duties are a guide to the work that the post holder will initially be required to undertake. They may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances.

KEY REQUIREMENTS
• A relevant postgraduate qualification (MSc or PhD) in Engineering, Computer Science, Business Information Systems, Operations management, or a related discipline, or an individual with demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Candidates with relevant interdisciplinary background are encouraged to apply.
• Knowledge and / or experience and of different functions of a manufacturing organisation.
• Knowledge of typical manufacturing resource planning (MRP) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• Experience and knowledge of best practices in data storage, processing, and handling.
• Experience of handling and analysing large and complex data.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Ability to work with a wide range of individuals with varied educational and cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent project management and time management skills.

BENEFITS
As a KTP Associate, this post will offer the following benefits:
• An opportunity to lead a Change Management process within a business whilst benefiting from significant Academic and Industrial expertise.
• A stimulating and challenging role, with exposure to a variety of stakeholders.
• A personal development budget of £4000 (exclusive of salary).
• Management training and mentoring by an Innovate UK KTP Adviser.
• Full access to university resources to complete the project.
• World-leading academic and company project supervision, with project support by a dedicated, sector leading KTP Office.

The University of Essex, in partnership with Swann Engineering Group Ltd, offers an exciting opportunity to a graduate with a passion for Production Management. We are looking for an individual to review, redesign and implement a new Production Management process for the factory. The ideal candidate will have the relevant skills and knowledge to implement novel management theories for process innovation and optimisation, change management, and new-to-company knowledge within the factory environment.

This is a full-time role, fixed term position for 24 months, with a salary of £41,800, and based at the Swann Engineering Group offices in Braintree, Essex.