Post Graduate in Computer/Mathematical Science or similar discipline – KTP Associate

Based at: Argos Ltd
Salary: Salary from £28k – £38K (depending on qualifications and experience)
Vacancy ref: Argos KTP
Application closing date: 7th June 2019
Start date: 7th june 2019
The Role: This is an exciting opportunity to help the multi-channel retailer, Argos, plan an optimal inventory assortment for each of its 800 stores and warehouses with a portfolio of over 20,000 products to enable the right stock to be in the right location for the right customers.
You will be employed by the University of Greenwich but be based with a small team of Analysts and Data Scientists at Argos’ Head Office in Milton Keynes. This is an engaged and committed team enabling key improvements to be made across the Supply Chain and driving tangible business benefits through understanding the maths behind the algorithms and models deployed.
We know that candidates may be put off applying for a job unless they can tick every box. So, if you are excited about working on this project and think you can do much of what we are looking for but aren’t sure if you are 100{06fdc68f0c32a4bb4bc587245a8893a97471dc602b4e431d14a97651d507d6d7} there yet… why not apply and see how it goes?
Qualifications we require:
As a minimum you will hold a Higher Degree in Computer/Mathematical Science or similar discipline.
A PhD (or working towards completion) in operational research or a similar area would be desirable.
You will also need to demonstrate high level Mathematics skills

The successful candidate must have:
• An excellent working knowledge of operational research; particularly simulation, mathematical programming and other optimisation algorithms.
• Hands on, demonstrable experience with a wide range of industry standard technologies such as Python, R and relational databases.
• An excellent ‘can-do’ attitude, showing enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to learn.
• Demonstrable ability to work independently and also as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate clearly and appropriately with a variety of different audiences such as business leaders, technical support and academic staff.
• Clear leadership and project management skills.

Responsibilities in this role include:
• Accurately collating and presenting information and progress of the project to senior stakeholders and colleagues at conferences and meetings.
• Developing, testing and embedding knowledge of key components, including implementing Argos products.

Desirable skills:
• An understanding of large retail organisations with hands-on experience developing optimisation models to solve large-scale industrial problems. An understanding of the variety of data that might be available and the potential difficulties of obtaining data.
• Knowledge and experience of the importance of supply chain within retail and the variety of interdependent problems encountered and model classes that are generally used to solve them.

Desirable technical skills:
• Demonstrable ability to extract, transform, prepare and analyse data using SQL.
• Experience using mathematical programming software and solver technologies such as AIMMS, CPLEX and Gurobi.
• An understanding of how Hadoop can be used to help facilitate working with big data.
• Experience of using data visualisation tools such as Power BI or similar.

This position forms part of the Knowledge Transfer
Partnership (KTP) funded by Innovate UK. It’s essential you understand how KTP works with business and the University, and the vital role you will play if you successfully secure a KTP Associate position. For more information please visit:www.ktponline.org.uk

About Argos:
Argos is a well-known large multi-channel retailer meaning that they sell their products through a variety of media such as online (website and app) and stores. Items ordered online can be delivered or collected from stores. Argos’ was acquired by J Sainsbury’s Group in 2016 and have a footprint of 890 stores and 10 distribution centres. They are unique in the UK in that they have a twice-yearly catalogue used to market their products to customers whilst still retaining a considerable high street presence.
Find out more by visiting:www.argos.co.uk
Place of work:
The position will be based in Milton Keynes with travel to Victoria office in London or the University of Greenwich campus in Greenwich, London, one day per week.
Hours:
35 hours/week, flexible working is allowed in agreement with industrial supervisor.
The opportunities available to you:
• A £2k per year training allowance and 24 days holiday per annum plus statutory days.
• Attendance at 2 ‘one week’ management residential training programmes.
• Full access to the University’s Learning Resources.
Opportunity to register for a higher degree on preferential terms and where relevant.
To apply send your CV and covering letter to:
Chris Walshaw E: C.Walshaw@greenwich.ac.uk

If you have questions about this KTP vacancy contact: Linda Hyder
T: 0208 331 8638
E: L.Hyder@greenwich.ac.uk