Kepak Culinary Graduate Programme 2027 - Ireland

Role Purpose

The Culinary Graduate will be involved in the creation and refinement of new food products, working closely with the New Product Development (NPD) team. This role offers a hands-on experience in product development, from concept through to testing and launch, providing an excellent platform for graduates to build a career in the food industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Presentations: Supporting the Culinary Innovation Agenda with customer facing presentations and an in-depth knowledge of concept design & product development

• Product Design & Testing: Passionate about food and driven by a desire to create new and exciting products. Participate in testing and sensory analysis to ensure products meet quality and taste standards.

• Development Support: Contribute to the development of new products by assisting with ingredient sourcing, recipe formulation, and prototype development.

• Data Analysis: Analyse test data and results to make informed recommendations for product improvements or adjustments.

• Documentation: Maintain detailed records of product formulations, test results, and development progress to ensure traceability and consistency.

Key Competencies

• Product Development:Balances creativity with a structured approach to product development, ensuring that all steps are methodically followed, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional communication.

• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical abilities to evaluate product performance and make data-driven decisions.

• Creativity:Ability to think creatively about product concepts and improvements.

• Attention to Detail: Precision in documenting product formulations and test results.

Other Role Information

• Location: This role is predominantly based at our Centre of Excellence in Blanchardstown, but will include some travel between company sites and external venues in the UK and Ireland.

• Career Progression:This role is designed to prepare graduates for advanced positions in Culinary or related fields within the company.

• Work Environment: Creative and collaborative, with a focus on innovation and continuous product improvement.

This is a 2-year Graduate programme.

You can expect:

• To be fully immersed into our Culture from day 1, working alongside key industry experts and Kepak leaders

• An opportunity to work in various departments across the business with a rotation plan tailored to your development, the rotations plan will vary by site

• Gain an in depth understanding of our brands and products, and our relationships with customers and consumers

• To learn key aspects of our business, whilst you develop your skills and knowledge

• The opportunity to develop personally and professionally through exposure to key projects, tasks and development activities that challenge you, all supported by a detailed learner journey and training plan

• A dedicated mentor and development program to support you both on the programme and into a role that best fits your skills

Start date: September 6th 2027

Starting Salary - €33,500 with an up to €1,500 increase at the start of Year 2 to €35,000

Requirements

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for hardworking and ambitious Graduates, who want to learn and grow in a challenging and fast paced environment, by performing real roles as part of your rotations.

You must be mobile and willing to travel throughout the programme to undertake development activities at any of our sites in the UK and Ireland.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Educational Background: Degree in Culinary Arts, Culinary Innovation & Food Product Development, Culinary Entrepreneurship or Professional Cookery essential.

• Industry Experience: Previous experience of working as a chef in a kitchen is essential

• Skills: Understanding of sensory analysis, ingredient functionality, and basic food processing technologies.

Personal Attributes

• Enthusiasm & Willingness to Learn: Open to new experiences and eager to acquire knowledge in the meat processing industry.

• Organised: Able to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.

• Collaborative: A team-oriented approach to working with colleagues across different functions.

We will be looking for alignment with our Core Values:

Responsibility – Ability to work on your own initiative and take accountability for your actions

Ambition – You will have the willingness and confidence to challenge yourself to be the best you can be and be driven to succeed

Passion for Food – this is at the heart of everything we do, you must be passionate about every aspect of our industry

Teamwork – ability to build positive relationships quickly with people from all cultures and career stages is pivotal

Benefits

• Employee Discount Scheme

• Service-Related Annual Leave

• Discounted Health Insurance

• Educational Assistance/ L&D

• Cycle to work scheme

• Employee assistance programme