Digital Transformation Lead - Supply Chain (KTP Associate)
| Posting date: | 23 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £33,000 to £35,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 13 July 2026 |
| Location: | Derby, Derbyshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Derby |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 0173-26 |
Summary
Based at our state of the art, £75 million Cavendish Building in the heart of Derby, at Derby International Business School, we are not just educating future business leaders – we’re shaping innovators, disruptors, and pioneers ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
About Ocean King
Ocean King is a family-run business, founded in 1997 and grown from modest beginnings into one of the UK's leading wholesalers of authentic Chinese and Far East Asian food. We supply fresh and frozen seafood, meats, noodles, sauces and specialist ingredients to restaurants, caterers and wholesalers across the country.
We've built our reputation on quality, authenticity and genuine personal service. Where larger national players compete on volume and price, we sit in the space between - big enough to deliver nationally, but small enough to care. As we enter our next stage of growth, we're investing in our systems, our data and above all our people, and this role sits right at the heart of that journey.
About the Role
University of Derby’s Derby International Business School in partnership with Ocean King are offering an exciting career-development opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategic Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. Based at Ocean King’s premises in Derby, you will be employed by the University as a KTP Associate but work under the terms and conditions of the company.
We are seeking a Digital Transformation Lead – Supply Chain (KTP Associate) to deliver a high-impact, 24-months project. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a major digital transformation programme, applying cutting-edge technologies such as ERP systems, AI and advanced analytics to modernise supply chain, warehouse and logistics operations.
Working at the heart of the business, you will take ownership of the full project lifecycle from diagnosing current operations through to designing, implementing and embedding innovative solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability and commercial.
This is an exciting opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategically important project working with academic mentors and key support from the company to transfer academic expertise into a real-world business environment. This role offers direct engagement with senior decision-makers, and the opportunity to lead a strategic digital transformation at scale within a real-world operational environment.
Using your knowledge and skills to support the business and achieve specific project aims, you will receive on-going support by a Supervisor at Ocean King, an Academic Supervisor and Academic Lead from the University of Derby to help you deliver. A personal training and development budget will also be available for you to access, as well as receiving access to the same training opportunities and facilities as University staff.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
This full-time post is part-funded by the UK Government’s KTP programme. A KTP is a three-way project between a graduate, an organisation and a university. KTP is one of the UK’s largest graduate recruitment programmes and has been placing graduates on challenging, high profile projects for 50 years. In addition to a competitive salary and core KTP development training, you will have a dedicated budget of £4,000 further training and career development. To find out more about the scheme visit: ktp-uk.org/graduates
Please note by completing an application form for this role, you are giving your consent for us to share your personal data with the KTP partner.
About You
We are looking for a highly motivated and analytical individual who is ready to take ownership of a complex transformation project. This role would suit someone who enjoys working at the intersection of data, operations and technology, and is keen to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world, commercial environment.
You will have a Master’s degree in a relevant subject such as supply chain management, operations, logistics, business analytics or a closely related discipline. Alongside this, you will bring practical experience or demonstrable understanding of supply chain or warehouse operations, and a clear interest in how digital tools can be used to drive performance improvements.
Just as importantly, you will be an effective communicator who can build strong working relationships across a wide range of stakeholders. The role involves collaborating with senior managers, operational teams, academic experts and external partners, so you will need the confidence and interpersonal skills to engage people at all levels, explain complex ideas clearly, and bring others with you on the journey of change.
We are particularly interested in candidates who are proactive, solutions-focused and commercially aware. You should be comfortable taking initiative, working independently and making decisions, while also recognising when to seek input and collaborate. An interest in emerging technologies such as AI, data analytics or ERP systems, as well as an awareness of sustainability and ESG considerations in supply chains, would be highly beneficial.
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Pouria Liravi, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management via p.liravi@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
Important Information
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Please visit our website for more information.
About Ocean King
Ocean King is a family-run business, founded in 1997 and grown from modest beginnings into one of the UK's leading wholesalers of authentic Chinese and Far East Asian food. We supply fresh and frozen seafood, meats, noodles, sauces and specialist ingredients to restaurants, caterers and wholesalers across the country.
We've built our reputation on quality, authenticity and genuine personal service. Where larger national players compete on volume and price, we sit in the space between - big enough to deliver nationally, but small enough to care. As we enter our next stage of growth, we're investing in our systems, our data and above all our people, and this role sits right at the heart of that journey.
About the Role
University of Derby’s Derby International Business School in partnership with Ocean King are offering an exciting career-development opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategic Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. Based at Ocean King’s premises in Derby, you will be employed by the University as a KTP Associate but work under the terms and conditions of the company.
We are seeking a Digital Transformation Lead – Supply Chain (KTP Associate) to deliver a high-impact, 24-months project. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a major digital transformation programme, applying cutting-edge technologies such as ERP systems, AI and advanced analytics to modernise supply chain, warehouse and logistics operations.
Working at the heart of the business, you will take ownership of the full project lifecycle from diagnosing current operations through to designing, implementing and embedding innovative solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability and commercial.
This is an exciting opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategically important project working with academic mentors and key support from the company to transfer academic expertise into a real-world business environment. This role offers direct engagement with senior decision-makers, and the opportunity to lead a strategic digital transformation at scale within a real-world operational environment.
Using your knowledge and skills to support the business and achieve specific project aims, you will receive on-going support by a Supervisor at Ocean King, an Academic Supervisor and Academic Lead from the University of Derby to help you deliver. A personal training and development budget will also be available for you to access, as well as receiving access to the same training opportunities and facilities as University staff.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
This full-time post is part-funded by the UK Government’s KTP programme. A KTP is a three-way project between a graduate, an organisation and a university. KTP is one of the UK’s largest graduate recruitment programmes and has been placing graduates on challenging, high profile projects for 50 years. In addition to a competitive salary and core KTP development training, you will have a dedicated budget of £4,000 further training and career development. To find out more about the scheme visit: ktp-uk.org/graduates
Please note by completing an application form for this role, you are giving your consent for us to share your personal data with the KTP partner.
About You
We are looking for a highly motivated and analytical individual who is ready to take ownership of a complex transformation project. This role would suit someone who enjoys working at the intersection of data, operations and technology, and is keen to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world, commercial environment.
You will have a Master’s degree in a relevant subject such as supply chain management, operations, logistics, business analytics or a closely related discipline. Alongside this, you will bring practical experience or demonstrable understanding of supply chain or warehouse operations, and a clear interest in how digital tools can be used to drive performance improvements.
Just as importantly, you will be an effective communicator who can build strong working relationships across a wide range of stakeholders. The role involves collaborating with senior managers, operational teams, academic experts and external partners, so you will need the confidence and interpersonal skills to engage people at all levels, explain complex ideas clearly, and bring others with you on the journey of change.
We are particularly interested in candidates who are proactive, solutions-focused and commercially aware. You should be comfortable taking initiative, working independently and making decisions, while also recognising when to seek input and collaborate. An interest in emerging technologies such as AI, data analytics or ERP systems, as well as an awareness of sustainability and ESG considerations in supply chains, would be highly beneficial.
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Pouria Liravi, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management via p.liravi@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
Important Information
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Please visit our website for more information.