Digital Transformation Specialist - KTP Associate


Company:	Aston University
Salary:	£35,000 to £37,000 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Birmingham, B19 3PA
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	21 Sept 2026
Closing date:	4 Oct 2026

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Summary

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.

What we are looking for:

Skills/ experience required for this exciting role include:

Essential

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.

Attributes

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.

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:

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.

This is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Precision Ceramics Ltd and Innovate UK. KTPs are collaborative, three-way partnerships creating positive impact and driving innovation by linking businesses with the UK's world class knowledge bases to deliver innovation projects led by skilled graduates. 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

Aston University: You will work in a project team with Dr Gajanan Panchal and Dr Victoria Uren from Aston University and the Senior Management Team at Precision Ceramics with further support from an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Adviser.

The Business Partner: Precision Ceramics Limited manufactures custom technical ceramic solutions and provides a broad range of ceramic materials and ultra-precise machining services for rapid manufacture of custom components to client design and specification across sectors such as aerospace, electronics, medical, semiconductor and nuclear. It serves major companies including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, GE. Working with Precision Ceramics offers the chance to help shape an established business that is targeting growth in regulated sectors through AS9100 certification.

Location: You will be based predominantly at Precision Ceramics Limited, 86 Lower Tower Street, Birmingham, B19 3PA and should be based within commutable distance of the business. You will also have access to facilities at Aston University in central Birmingham. Some travel to key clients may also be required.

To learn more about this role it is essential you refer to the Job Description documents. For informal enquiries about this role please contact Dr Gajanan Panchal at g.panchal@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/

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