Kepak Culinary Graduate Programme 2027 - Ireland

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

• Read more about our programme and hear from some of our Graduates: https://www.kepak.com/careers/graduates/

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