Technical/NPD Graduate Programme

C&D Foods are currently recruiting hardworking and ambitious graduates from a wide range of disciplines including Research & Development , Technical & New Product Development for a role based in Ireland (Mullingar) or the UK (Manchester or Driffield), with travel across our manufacturing sites in Mainland Europe.

C&D Foods is one of the largest pet food manufacturers in Europe, offering specially-formulated cat and dog food for the private label market.

Founded in 1969, and now part of the ABP Food Group, C&D Foods has grown to become one of the industry’s leading pet food producers with eight manufacturing sites across Europe supplying quality products to customers around the world.

The C&D Foods Graduate experience:

Graduates starting a career at C&D Foods will be given responsibility from day one. Over the course of our 2 year programme you travel to our 8 production sites in Europe and gain experience in project management while working alongside the Group Head of Research and Development for C&D Foods.

You will be supported with on the job and external training, experience a number of different areas of the business and connect to mentors and other graduates across the company.

• Short term: responsibility from day one
• Medium term: fast paced progression to managerial positions within the Group.
• Long term: develop as future senior leader within the ABP Food Group.

Responsibilities:

• Work with multi-disciplinary teams and departments across the group on projects.
• Understand the process of the New Product Development process from receipt of queries, paperwork process, recipe development and launch to the customer
• Detailed support with any R&D Grants across the group
• Regular detailed reports and key trends on data gathered from the NPD process
• Identify and highlight opportunities for continuous improvement across the board
• Support Group Head of R&D on specific projects
• Full review of raw material testing requirements for the whole group and building of database to be shared across the group.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Degree level qualified in a food, feed or science related field
• IT Skills – Excel & Microsoft suite.

• Any previous system implementation experience/exposure to operating/recipe systems will be a notable advantage
• The ideal candidate will be a self-starter/hungry to get involved. While there will be structure to your learning and prescribed projects a lot will depend on the Graduates initiative.
• Ability to operate at all levels across the business, internally and externally.
• A desire to pursue a long-term career in the Food Industry.
• Language skills are desirable but not essential
• A willingness to travel and relocate if required to C&D Food locations across Europe

Candidates should have the relevant work rights for ongoing full-time employment.