Servitization and Service Innovation Lead â KTP Associate (1155-26)

This position offers a unique opportunity for a highly motivated individual to work at the interface of academia and industry in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate role that will deliver transformational impact. You will lead and deliver a service innovation programme within a fast-growing British SME manufacturer, helping to drive innovation and business growth in a company with strong values centred on teamwork, innovation, and excellence.

The project is fundamentally focused on servitization; supporting an engineering company transition from providing equipment through traditional capital expenditure (CapEx) systems towards a service-led, lifecycle-oriented business model. You will lead the co-design and implementation of a product-service system within the company, developing service-led concepts and offerings that create value for customers over the lifecycle of their operations.

This role is designed to enable the transition of a company towards a service-led business model, developing new forms of value creation and strengthening long-term customer relationships. You will play a key role in establishing the foundations for ongoing servitization, embedding new capabilities, and supporting the sustainable growth of the business beyond the duration of the KTP.

Candidate Profile: 

A minimum of a 2:1 BSc degree in Engineering or Management, or a related discipline.  

 Essential skills, experience and attributes required include:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skillsAbility to work across technical and commercial domainsExperience of adapting theories and/or tools to commercial practiceExcellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to engage across multiple levels of an organisationStrong project management capability, able to manage complex projects, coordinate roles, and work independently, as well as part of the team.Commercially aware and able to link innovation to business valueOrganised, adaptable and able to work effectively in an interdisciplinary collaborative environment 

Desirable for the role:

A postgraduate qualification (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field, such as Engineering Management, Service Design, Operations, Innovation, or Marketing.

Knowledge or experience of servitization, product-service systems, or business model innovation.Experience of working in manufacturing or industrial settings.Experience in customer research, data analysis, or development of commercially informed strategies.

Key responsibilities of this role include: 

Service design and product-service system developmentServitization strategy developmentCommercial and go-to-market activitiesCustomer and stakeholder engagementKnowledge transfer and embeddingAcademic contribution to conference papers/ journal publications

See the job description for full details of the responsibilities associated with this role.  

Additional Benefits and support:

Up to £4,000 for personal and professional development for the duration of the projectAnnual leave (25 days p/a)Professional support and mentorshipMental Health and wellbeing support: https://www.aston.ac.uk/staff-public/hr/Benefits-and-Rewards/health-wellbeing A flexible blend of on-site and remote working arrangements can be negotiated in case of positive ongoing performance.

Career prospects: 

This role opens up exciting career opportunities in new business development and servitization. Over 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). 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

The Company: A Birmingham-based, industry-leading manufacturer, specialised in engineering and producing material handling equipment.

Aston University: You will work in a project team consisting of Dr Reza Marvi, Dr Geoff Parkes, Dr Daniel Andrews from Aston University and the Senior Management Team of the Company, with the support of a Knowledge Transfer Adviser from Innovate UK.  

Location: The successful candidate will be based in central Birmingham, West Midlands, with regular access to Aston University facilities. Occasional travel to client sites across the UK will be required. The successful candidate must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the work base.

For informal enquiries about this role please contact Dr Reza Marvi, e-mail: [email protected] 

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/ 

This role is likely to qualify for endorsement under the Endorsed Funder route of the Global Talent visa. This visa is for talented or promising individuals in academia or research in fields such as science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, or humanities.

See the Home Office guidance: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent 

It is an Innovate UK requirement that candidates hold a visa or immigration permission to cover the full duration of the contract. The successful candidate is therefore expected to apply for a visa as necessary in line with their contract duration.

Closing Date: 06 Nov 2026

Unit: Teaching & Research

Salary: £35,000 to £37,000 per annum
with an additional budget for the duration of the project for professional and personal development