Continuous Improvement Associate (Ktp Associate)

Continuous Improvement Associate (KTP Associate)

Ulster University and Gilfresh Produce Ltd
School: School of Management, Leadership and Marketing
Location: Gilfresh Produce Ltd. 56 Creenagh Road, Loughgall, County Armagh BT61 8PZ
Salary: £36,000-£40,000
Closing Date: 4 July 2024
Full time, Fixed-term two-year post
Reference Number: 028702

THE BUSINESS

Gilfresh Produce Ltd (GPL) is a NI family owned Agrifood business, in existence over 50 years, and a market leader in supplying a range of both whole head fruit and vegetable products along with prepared and ready to cook convenience products to an extensive range of retailers and further processors within the island of Ireland.

The business has grown significantly in recent years. This growth was driven by the family’s passion to grow and supply fresh quality produce sustainably to the whole of Ireland. Their vision is to be a leader in the field of growing and supplying fresh quality produce using green energy through their mission of sourcing local, quality produce to the whole of Ireland. Working in partnership with Gilpin Farms, GPL has grown its requirements for locally sourced produce from 4 acres to more than 1,000 acres every season. GPL’s core values are Family, Respect, Excellence, Sustainability & Health (FRESH) and they encourage behaviours of Owning it; Knowing it; Learning from it & Celebrating it.

The company's business model has always focused on agility, quality, and customer service. GPL is BRC certified, holds an Organic Packers license and is SMETA audited.

THE ROLE

Gilfresh Produce Ltd, in partnership with Ulster University, has established a 2-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Project and is offering an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and highly motivated graduate to work as a Continuous Improvement Associate (KTP Associate) to oversee operational excellence transformation throughout the company’s operations and supply chain.

KTP PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This KTP aims to transform Gilfresh Produce Limited by positioning GPL as a leader of operational excellence and sustainability in line with its core values of people, planet, and prosperity. The project will increase management and operational capabilities in business improvement throughout the business. This will increase efficiencies, reduce costs, boost productivity, strengthen business sustainability and maximise growth. Innovative operational excellence systems, industry 4.0 technologies and best in class processes will be adopted, underpinned by a Continuous Improvement culture.

BENEFITS

This KTP project provides a unique opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to a real industry challenge whilst benefitting from industrial and academic supervision and mentoring from Ulster University’s experts, Professor Trevor Cadden, Mr Keith Millar and Mr Wesley McKnight who will enhance your technical expertise in operational excellence, business intelligence and sustainable smart manufacturing practices. As a KTP Associate, you will also acquire new skills in strategic leadership that can help to super-charge your career. Additional benefits include:

• Generous £10k Training, Development & Travel Budget dedicated to project delivery, which include but are not limited to trainings and courses to enhance research skills as well as for critical networking with key players in the field, specific software system licences, etc.
• FREE formal management training and development
• FREE University postgraduate study opportunity including 2 years of part time PhD study if appropriate
• 10% Associate development time built into work plan
• Opportunity to work with academics to develop scientific articles to be published in peer-reviewed, world-class academic journals
• Competitive salary
• Enhanced skills and experience that are marketable and highly transferable
• KTPs accelerate careers

ABOUT YOU

Applicants should hold an Upper second-class honours degree in engineering, manufacturing or quality management / engineering, business studies or related disciplines or a closely related discipline at the same level.

The Associate should have good skills and experience in the following areas:

- Experience of Quality and Operations Management Systems

- Understanding of business improvement principles, such as Lean / Six Sigma / Structured Problem Solving / Theory of Constraints

- Experience in project managing (and motivating) a group of diverse individuals from different organisational levels to achieve project objectives on time and on budget

- Extensive IT skills, capability, and certification (such as Excel, PowerBI or other data analytics and visualisation tools)

- Project Management Skills

- Experience in using key business improvement and quality management methodologies and tools, such as Lean, and VSM to identify and resolve key business issues

- Experience in developing training documentation and Key Performance Indicator dashboards

- Interpersonal Skills

- Excellent technical communication & interpersonal skills

- Proven track record of successful project delivery

Further information can be found in the Candidate Briefing Document.

The appointment will be for a period of two years and although the post is administratively linked to the University, the Associate will be based at the Company’s premises in Loughgall, County Armagh. Successful completion of the KTP may lead to a new position within the company partner at the end of the project period.

For further information and to submit your application, click APPLY NOW.

Both Gilfresh Produce Ltd and Ulster University are Equal Opportunities employers.

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities. Appointment will be made on merit.