Digital Transformation & Data Systems Specialist; KTP Associate position

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Digital Transformation, Data Analytics or Information Systems graduate to fast-track their career development as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate. The successful candidate will undertake a 31-month collaborative project between HMG Paints Ltd and the University of Salford.

HMG Paints is the UK's largest independent paint manufacturer, supplying specialist paints and coatings to customers across multiple industrial sectors. The company is embarking on a major digital transformation programme designed to modernise operations, improve forecasting and planning capabilities, and create a unified, scalable digital platform that supports future growth.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme is one of the UK's largest graduate recruitment schemes (http://ktp.innovateuk.org/) and is a three-way collaborative project between the Associate, the company and the knowledge base. It provides an opportunity for the successful applicant to manage a challenging project central to the company’s strategic development and long-term growth.

The successful Associate will manage the design and implementation of an integrated digital platform, working in partnership with HMG Paints’ established IT team and colleagues across the business. The platform will connect production, stock management, quality control, planning and operational systems, creating a single source of truth across the organisation.

The position will be based at HMG Paints’ headquarters in Manchester (M40), working closely with the company’s established IT team and colleagues across production, operations, supply chain, quality and finance to design and implement transformational digital solutions. The Associate will bring dedicated digital transformation and systems integration expertise to the project, while drawing on the IT team’s existing technical knowledge, systems experience and understanding of the business.

The Associate will also work closely with academic experts from the University of Salford and will be expected to travel regularly to the University for meetings and training. Throughout the KTP, you will gain experience of large-scale organisational transformation, operational excellence, stakeholder engagement and advanced digital technologies within a manufacturing environment.

This project presents a significant technical and organisational challenge, offering substantial opportunities for technical, commercial, leadership and professional development.

You will be responsible for designing and implementing a unified digital platform capable of integrating multiple legacy systems, streamlining production planning, improving stock management and enabling real-time operational visibility across the business.

A key challenge will be understanding and mapping complex operational processes that have evolved over decades, whilst translating these into modern digital workflows and systems. You will work closely with staff and managers across all functions to understand requirements, build engagement and support the adoption of new ways of working. You will need to manage complex system integrations, develop data models and dashboards, and ensure that new technologies deliver measurable operational improvements and lasting organisational change.

You will independently manage a strategically important transformation programme, working closely with HMG Paints’ established IT team and colleagues across manufacturing, quality, logistics, supply chain and commercial functions bringing together the right expertise from across the company rather than delivering the change in isolation. A key part of the role will be working with both operational teams and…