UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON

Job Description

POST: Graduate Project Manager/Engineer

LOCATION: i2r Packaging Solutions Ltd, Telford. Shropshire

GRADE: 27 month fixed term contract – KTP associate

Salary £22,000 to £26,000

ESTABLISHMENT

NUMBER:

1.  Organisational Chart

Reports to: Professor Mark Stanford

Post holder: Graduate Development Engineer

2.  Contacts

Internal: Academic staff, Business Solutions administrative staff, support services staff

External: I2r management team and staff, owners, directors and senior managers in small, medium and large companies that are i2r customers, suppliers to i2r

3.  Personal Specification

The successful candidate will be required to both develop design solutions, and introduce a new product development process to a range of processes already in place in the company - and to embed systems across the company to better communicate this process - and so take on a project management role once processes are introduced.

Additional technical challenges along the way are on optimisation of the designs for foil containers to minimise aluminium usage and to address failure rates on sealed containers by working with external film manufacturers on specific issues relating to this, including materials used for the film, and improving machine design for the joining process.

The post holder will need to be a confident communicator with highly developed written, oral and presentation skills and be able to liaise effectively with a range of internal and external contacts, including major customers and equipment manufacturers. They will need to be able to communicate technical knowledge to both technical and non-technical staff. They will need to show some leadership skills as they will need to have the drive to manage this project through to a successful conclusion – while remaining sympathetic to the business demands of working in a manufacturing company.

We are seeking either a graduate in Engineering, or a graduate in Business with an interest in a career in manufacturing. Knowledge of CAD would be an advantage, although training can be given in this.

Work experience in a manufacturing, production or product design environment would also be an advantage. An understanding of regulation, standards and compliance for food packaging would also be an advantage.

4.  Budget

As assigned by the conditions of the project

5.  Purpose of the Post

The purpose of the post is to complete the KTP project which aims to project manage the introduction of new design and engineering capability into the UK operations, and bring new commercial knowledge into the business. This is a developmental role, the aim being to progress the candidate into a senior management position within the organisation.

6.  Main Duties and Responsibilities

The major steps in the KTP project will be:

1 Introduction to the current working practices for foil tray manufacture and familiarisation with the existing management monitoring and control procedures used throughout the organisation.

2 Review current and past practice for costing and estimating in order to formulate a reactive model for quoting new work that reflects the nuances associated with new product introduction and possible standard / bespoke contractual conditions

3 Development and justification of key steps needed to introduce a New Product Development and Introduction (NPD/I) system. Set up working group to assist project and dissemination.

4 Introduction of 3D CAD capability for New Product development. To be used extensively for product realisation, promotional activities, product design, product analysis and tooling evaluation.

5 Introduce 3D Printing to NPI/D process to develop optimisation, product realisation, tooling evaluation, promotional activities, product design & analysis.

6 New materials development and associated linkage into cost evaluation model

7 Technical development associated with tray closure mechanisms and associated adhesives and sealants

8 Technical evaluation of performance and durability of applied lacquers and finishes used on existing product and for use on new products

9 Commercial retail market development and testing the system

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time when it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of the responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.