Sustainability Lead - KTP Associate - Cooneen Defence Ltd

In partnership with Queen’s University Belfast Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Programme, COONEEN DEFENCE LTD have a new opportunity for a graduate to work in sustainability. The successful person will work to create a circular value-chain management system for 'end-of-life' textiles and enable Cooneen to become a leader in the delivery of circular fabric solutions ensuring continued business growth.

Key Deliverables:

• Understanding the Cooneen manufacturing process and modelling the capabilities across manufacturing
• Developing a dynamic system to track relevant regulations and
• Understanding customers’ current and potential future needs and
• Understanding the power and potential of recycling ‘end of life’
• Developing and enhancing networks and partnerships for recycling
• Develop and embed a circular value-chain management system and related operational plans and pathways to create sustainable business models.

This is a unique opportunity for a motivated graduate to work in COONEEN DEFENCE LTD on a 24-month collaborative project with the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) at Queen’s.

Cooneen are a leader in the design, development, manufacture and supply of uniforms to a range of police, military, emergency services, and commercial customers globally. Clients include the UK MoD, New Zealand Police, Dutch Military, NHS Ambulance, multiple UK Police Forces, and utility providers such as GeoAmey and Mitie.

A KTP role is the perfect launchpad for your career providing the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge and skills to deliver a strategic innovation project within a company. One of the unique benefits to KTP is access to a substantial development budget and the support and guidance of Queen’s world-class academics and researchers. This role offers an excellent opportunity to work closely between academia and industry whilst developing your skills to run and manage projects.

About the person:

The successful applicant must have, and clearly demonstrate the following criteria: Essential

• Hold at least an undergraduate degree in a relevant field of study; Chemical Engineering, Polymers, Fashion, Textiles, Sustainability or Manufacturing.
• A Module or Project undertaken in sustainable and/or circular manufacturing is
• Minimum of 9 months experience within a commercial business environment
• Understanding of global recycling and sustainability trends as applied to the clothing supply chain
• Understanding of textile materials, yarns, fibres, knitted, woven and their production

Desirable

• Hold, or be about to obtain, a higher degree in a relevant
• Understanding of current and forthcoming regional and global textile industry regulations
• Knowledge of sustainable certifications for textiles such asOeko-tex, Reach, Bluesign, IS014001 etc
• Knowledge of end-to-end supply chain from manufacturing to end use and its environmental

Delivery of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project for Cooneen Defence Ltd in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast to create a circular value-chain management system for 'end-of-life' textiles and enable Cooneen to become a leader in the delivery of circular fabric solutions ensuring continued business growth.

Employed and supported by a team of academic experts from the University, you will be based at COONEEN DEFENCE LTD, in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

As a KTP Associate, you will lead on the delivery of the following key project stages. These are as follows: Stage 1 – Understanding the Cooneen manufacturing process and modelling the capabilities across manufacturing locations.

Stage 2 – Developing a dynamic system to track relevant regulations and legislation.

Stage 3 -Understanding customers’ current and potential future needs and expectations.

Stage 4 – Understanding the power and potential of recycling ‘end of life’ garments.

Stage 5 – Developing and enhancing networks and partnerships for recycling activities.

Stage 6 – Develop and embed a circular value-chain management system and related operational plans and pathways to create sustainable business models.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information on our website.

This post is available for 24 months. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

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For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit our website.