Candidate Brief Research Associate Reference: R190349

Salary: £35,211 per annum

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Basis: Full time

Closing Date: 23.59 hours BST on Saturday 7th September 2019

Interview Date: Monday 23rd September 2019

Job description

The Advanced Services Group (ASG), a research centre of excellence within Aston Business School specialising in helping manufacturing and technology companies to adopt services business models, seeks to appoint a Research Associate to provide support and expand our emerging research and engagement activities around the topic of servitization and advanced services.

We currently have an opening for a Research Associate to support a 2-year research project funded by Innovate UK under the Newton-China Programme. This will involve evaluating business models, revenue models and contract models and to develop a new overarching model for use in the Chinese rice milling market.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing new tools and techniques on servitization and advanced services (in a rice milling context) within the project.

The successful candidate will be supported by a growing team of researchers, industry associates and business engagement professionals based within the Business School at Aston. This team have a wealth of expertise in carrying out world-class research and translating the findings of this work into the knowledge, tools and techniques that deliver business impact.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD-level qualification and they will need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to be able to work with the project team to help them understand the business, revenue and contract models that the industrial partner (Koolmill Systems Ltd) needs to be able to offer a rice milling machine, through an advanced services contract, into the Chinese rice milling market. Candidates who have strong knowledge and experience in working with both multinational large and SME manufacturers would also be an advantage.

The ideal candidate will have experience of working in a manufacturing environment and be able to apply academic theory in an industrial context. Knowledge of servitization and advanced services is essential. The candidate is expected to be enthusiastic for new innovations, willing to learn, and work collaboratively within a research environment.

Please note: due to its nature, this role will require the successful candidate to operate from Aston University and occasional travel to Sheffield, Manchester, Cambridge throughout the research assignment. The role will also involve travel to China/Asia.

Job Purpose:

The Research Associate (RA) will work with a project team, led by Sheffield Hallam University and Koolmill Systems Ltd, to develop a business model, revenue model and contract model, in a servitization context, to support the adoption of a ‘servitized’ business model in China and other rice markets.

The project is entitled ‘Next Generation Rice Milling’ (NGRM) and it is funded by Innovate UK under the Newton-China Programme. It is a 24-month project.

In particular, the RA will lead on the:

• Development of business and revenue models in the context of Koolmill’s rice milling asset. • Creation of a Contract Model in the context of the use of ‘capability’ of the rice milling asset. • Creation of a ‘gamified’ prototype to represent the ‘correlation between the contract model and the

capability of the asset’ • Developing patents, based on know-how, background IPR and side-ground IPR, on the models

developed in conjunction with the Advanced Services Group at Aston Business School.

The Project:

The main objective of the project is to introduce a novel, disruptive, AI driven milling technology to achieve significant processing efficiencies with substantial production increases and cost benefits to the Chinese rice processing supply chain. China represents 28% of the global rice industry, producing annual outputs of 130m MT of head rice pa (including 15% broken rice) against a total rice return of 145m MT, and with a small export volume of 0.28m MT. As a staple food, China derives 26.2% of its daily nutrition from rice. Through the improved capability achieved in the project, the Chinese rice producing capability could potentially increase the return of high quality food to the supply chain by 30m MT pa (USD 12bn). A limited National rollout (10%) in China of the “digital mill” would yield an additional 3m MT (USD1.2bn) of rice for national consumption, boosting local & regional milling communities. The technology would give UK machine manufacturing an innovation advantage in global milling machine markets.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

Partners:

• Sheffield Hallam University • Koolmill Systems Ltd • New-Food Innovations Ltd • Siemens PLC • Aston University • Quzhou Koolmill • China Grain Wuhan Scientific R&D Inst. Co. Ltd • Jiangnan University • Specialist Packing Solutions company (TBC)

Research:

To develop research objectives within a Newton-China ‘Next Generation Rice Milling’ (NGRM) project funded by Innovate UK.

To undertake research on business models, revenue models and contract models, in a servitization context, to develop a framework for a Chinese rice milling market.

To write up and publish the outcomes of research in good quality publications.

To present papers, posters, reports at seminars, conferences etc.

To collaborate in research initiatives with colleagues in and beyond the School as appropriate.

Where appropriate to School/University strategy and subject discipline, to participate in and develop external networks.

To supervise PhD and other postgraduate students to completion.

Teaching:

To undertake a limited amount of teaching with students at a range of levels, achieving good student feedback through critical reflective practice,

External engagement:

To represent the interests of the subject and School via activities to raise the regional, national and international profile, particularly with the professions, schools and businesses.

To forge relationships with the professional bodies and other bodies representing relevant professional interests.

Citizenship:

To carry out specific (School) roles and functions as may be reasonably required e.g. Head of Department, Programme Director, Executive Director).

To demonstrate the University’s leadership values through own actions and behaviour.

To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably requested and that are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.

Additional responsibilities

Engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop themselves and support the development of others.

Ensure and promote the personal health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students.

Carry out duties in a way which promotes fairness in all matters and which engenders trust.

Promote equality of opportunity and support diversity and inclusion as well as working to support the University’s environmental sustainability agenda and practices.

Person specification

Essential Method of assessment

Education and qualifications

A PhD in a relevant subject Application form

Experience Experience of initiating and conducting research up to doctoral level. Be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge and research capability in servitization. Experience of writing up/contributing to the write up of reserch for high qualty publications. Experience of producing papers, posters, reports presenting at seminars, conferences etc. Experience of positive collaboration within and outside of candidate’s immediate research team. Supervising other personnel involved in the project.

Application form, interview and presentation

Aptitude and skills Ability to present data in both a clear and concise manner that is visually appealing. Ability to prepare written communications to a high standard Ability to develop and maintain a research programme and to publish in high quality publications.

Ability to harness IT as a research and teaching tool

A willingness to undertake further training as appropriate and to adopt new procedures as and when required.

Interview and presentation

Desirable Method of assessment

Education and qualifications

Membership of the Higher Education Academy (Fellowship or above).

Application form, interview and presentation

Experience Experience of working collaboratively with academics and university professional services staff.

Application form, interview and presentation

Desirable Method of assessment

Aptitude and skills Knowledge of the role of business models, revenue models and digital tools in a servitization context.

Application form, interview and presentation

How to apply You can apply for this role online via our website https://www2.aston.ac.uk/staff-public/hr/jobs. Applications should be submitted by 23.59pm on the advertised closing date. All applicants must complete an application form, along with your CV. Any CV sent direct to the Recruitment Team and Recruiting Manager will not be accepted. If you require a manual application form then please contact the Recruitment Team via recruitment@aston.ac.uk.

Contact Information Enquiries about the vacancy: Name: Iain McKechnie Job Title: Director of Strategic Programmes Tel: +44 (0) 121 204 3283 Email: i.mckechnie@aston.ac.uk Enquiries about the application process, shortlisting or interviews: Recruitment Team via recruitment@aston.ac.uk or 0121 204 4500.

Additional Information

Visit our website https://www2.aston.ac.uk/staff/hr for full details of our salary scales and benefits Aston University staff enjoy

Salary Scales: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/staff-public/hr/payroll-pensions-and-benefits/salary-scales

Benefits: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/staff-public/hr/payroll-pensions-and-benefits

Working in Birmingham: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/birmingham

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