Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) - KTP Associate

Birmingham City University

Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

Fixed Term: 24 months

Location: PDS Direct Limited, Logistics House, Portway Road, Oldbury, B69 2BP

Birmingham City University are looking to appoint a high calibre graduate (graduated within the last five years) as a Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) - KTP Associate.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to work in collaboration with leading academics at Birmingham City University, to apply knowledge and technical innovation, delivered on site at the company. 

The Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) (KTP Associate) should have a minimum 2.1 University qualification in a relevant subject area and graduated within the last five years. 

This Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) is co-funded by a grant from Innovate UK and PDS Direct Limited. It is therefore essential you understand the fundamentals of the KTP collaboration between a UK business and a University works to deliver benefits for each (the company, the university, and the graduate). For more information please go to www.ktp.org.uk

Personal Training & Development Budget: 

The Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) (KTP Associate) will have access to a wider range of benefits including a personal development budget of £4,000 to upskill during the project. 

The successful candidate will be employed by Birmingham City University and seconded to work full-time onsite at PDS Direct Limited to deliver the 24-month KTP project in partnership Birmingham City University and PDS Direct Limited.

PDS Direct Limited:

PDS Direct Limited is a family firm with a strong position in a niche market. They intend to grow their business rapidly by improving their systems capability to meet customers’ transport and distribution needs. For more information please visit: https://www.pdsdirect.co.uk

The successful candidate will have full access to Birmingham City University’s resources such as offices, labs, and library to complete the KTP project (a project workplan written with KPIs and outcome deliverables has been written).

The Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) (KTP Associate) will be supervised and mentored by both a lead academic and academic supervisor academics from Birmingham City University’s College of Computing within the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE) as well as a company supervisor located at PDS Direct Limited whose aim is to assist the Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) (KTP Associate) to deliver the knowledge into PDS Direct Limited and successfully deliver the 24-month KTP project on behalf of PDS Direct Limited and Birmingham City University.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) KTP Associate duties will work on:

• Developing an Environmental Strategy to support the company's ambition of achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
• Developing and implementing a Quality Management System.
• Developing and implementing an Environmental Management System.
• Achieving ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
• Embedding a culture of continuous improvement.
• Applying their knowledge to deliver value, solving problems, and driving innovation.
• Embed knowledge within the company by delivering training sessions, developing reports, organising workshops, and preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training materials.

The role requires the successful candidate to:

• Review quality operations in warehousing and transportation using techniques such as value stream mapping to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities.
• Develop standard operating procedures to implement quality improvement.
• Engage stakeholders and drive the implementation of a continuous improvement culture across operations.
• Lead interactive workshops across all organisational levels.
• Design and deliver training materials and organise training sessions to upskill employees and embed best practices.
• Coordinate the process of obtaining both quality (e.g., ISO 9001) and environmental (e.g., ISO 14001) certifications.
• Conduct quality and environmental surveillance, ensuring innovation processes are consistently documented and reviewed.
• Manage the project, regularly reporting on the progress towards Key Performance Indicators.
• Prepare reports and presentations to update progress in regular Local Management Committee meetings.
• Author technical and academic reports to disseminate knowledge and share project milestones with all relevant stakeholders.

The Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) KTP Associate will be expected to interact with senior management, suppliers, and company clients, as well as BCU academics. 

The Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) KTP Associate must also be adept at applying their knowledge to commercial projects, driving value, making an impact where possible, and having the ability to solve problems and create innovative solutions.

The Quality Systems Analyst (Engineer) KTP Associate must have the following key attributes to ensure the project’s successful completion.

Skills and Experience: 

Essential:

• A minimum 2:1 undergraduate qualification in business information systems or information technology discipline.
• Excellent communication skills to express ideas effectively, orally, graphically and in writing to articulate complicated matters between the academics and the company project team members.
• An ability to work to tight deadlines with diligence, attention to detail, and maintain high standards of work.
• An ability and aptitude to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team; and self-management and planning skills to make optimum use of time.
• Strong leadership skills in successfully implementing and embedding new innovations within a company or organisation.
• A solid understanding of sustainability principles and practical experience in supporting carbon footprint reduction and environmental initiatives in an organisational setting.
• Knowledge and experience in applying Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS), particularly aligned with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in using business analysis tools and techniques (such as Business Process Modelling, Value Stream Mapping, Soft Systems Methodology and the Viable Systems Model).
• Practical experience of delivering performance improvement systems.

Desirable:

• MSc/PhD in a related subject or relevant experience.
• Experience in environmental strategy development, particularly in achieving net-zero emissions goals in warehouse or logistics environments.
• Proven ability to plan and deliver continuous improvement strategies, embed organisational change, and promote a culture of innovation.
• Familiarity with design thinking methodologies, workshop facilitation and participatory stakeholder engagement techniques.
• Understanding of strategic systems thinking and its application in complex organisational contexts.
• Practical experience in conducting quality and environmental audits, assessments, or surveillance in line with recognised standards.
• Experience with training programme design and delivery, especially in professional or industrial settings.
• Academic or professional experience in authoring technical or research reports, including contributions to academic publications, white papers, or policy documents.
• Academic acumen to enable successful reporting through research publications in academic journals and marketing/training materials.
• As the candidate will be travelling to utility contracts throughout the UK , a clean driving license is desirable
• Practical experience of working in the logistics industry.

On a personal note, the Associate should be enthusiastic, motivated, punctual, conscientious, trustworthy, and work well within a team.

Please note that this is NOT a hybrid or remote working role.

Interviews: W/C 28 July 2025 or 04 August 2025

For further information please contact Professor Sharon Cox at Sharon.Cox@bcu.ac.uk or Dr Anushika Mudiyanselage at Anushika.Mudiyanselage@bcu.ac.uk

Please click the below link to download the Job Description:

JOB DESCRIPTION

About Us

At the heart of our Strategy for 2030 and Beyond, it is our mission to enable our students to transform their lives and to achieve their potential. Through our education and research, and the roles our graduates go on to play in the world, we not only support individuals to transform their lives, but we also play a part in transforming society.

Located in the centre of the UK’s second city, we are a university with a long heritage of innovation and of making, dating back to our origins in 1843 when we were founded as the Birmingham Government School of Design.

Our heritage of making through innovation and its application through knowledge exchange, and of creative research and practice, today finds it expression in our STEAM agenda, in our research and enterprise, and in our commitment to challenge-based learning. Working across disciplines, and delivering impactful research and enterprise, interdisciplinarity is at the heart of the continuing transformation of our academic portfolio.

Apply Before: 13/07/2025, 23:59