2026 UK Operations Graduate Programme - Kerry Dairy Ireland

Operations Graduate

Start Date: September 2026

Locations: Ossett, Portadown

Contract: full time; permanent

At Kerry Dairy Ireland, we’re proud of our heritage and passionate about our future. As a leading provider of dairy solutions across Ireland and Europe, we’re committed to nourishing lives through quality, sustainability, and innovation. We’re looking for ambitious graduates who want to make a real impact in a business that blends tradition with transformation.

This is a permanent, full-time role that begins with a two-year graduate programme combining structured off-the-job learning with hands-on experience. From day one, you ’ ll contribute to real projects in one of our core business areas. Throughout the programme, you ’ ll build deep functional expertise in your chosen field, supported by experienced mentors and a close-knit graduate community.

If you’re curious, collaborative, and ready to grow your career in a purpose-driven environment, Kerry Dairy Ireland is the place to start.

Our Operations Programme

Operations is the engine room of Kerry Dairy Ireland. From the arrival of materials and ingredients on site to final product dispatch, our operations teams ensure that our processes run safely, efficiently and sustainably - delivering high-quality dairy products to customers and consumers across Ireland, Europe and the USA. With over 50 years of dairy expertise and a portfolio of leading brands, our operations graduates play a key role in shaping the future of dairy. This is a full-time role as part of a structured KDI Graduate Programme, with a blend of off the job training modules, mentoring, group projects and on the job development with hands on responsibility from day one.

What You Might Be Doing

On our 2 year Programme, you’ll rotate through two distinct rotations across location and/or function, and your responsibilities might include:

• Supporting plant operations and contributing to the delivery of production targets.
• Leading or assisting with projects related to new product introductions, process optimisation, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborating with teams across supply chain, quality, finance, health & safety, and commercial to deliver cross-functional solutions.
• Participating in Lean Manufacturing and HACCP training to build your technical and compliance capabilities.
• Taking ownership of your learning journey—asking questions, seeking feedback, and connecting with colleagues across functions.
• Building a strong understanding of Kerry Dairy Ireland’s product portfolio and its application across retail and foodservice channels.
  
  

Do you have what it takes?

• You’re on track or recently completed a degree, holding at least a 2:1 classification
• Flexibility to work across different sites and functions
• Whilst an operation related (food science, supply chain or related discipline) degree would be helpful, it is not essential - we are also interested to see evidence of your interest in a career in FMCG and/or food manufacturing
• You will be curious & open to learn — you ask great questions, seek feedback and turn insight into better decisions
• “Making it happen” – you will need to be a self‑starter & take ownership of your workload — you take accountability, prioritize well, whilst being agile to changing priorities
• You will be strong in building relationships – for us this means you can influence, listen and build trust with internal and external stakeholders
• You will be ambitious for yourself and your team, think bigger and challenge the status quo — you test ideas, propose improvements and look for scalable ways of improving the business area you work in
• Eligible to permanently work in the United Kingdom
  
  

Submit your application only for the program of your interest. Any multiple applications will be withdrawn.

Discover Your Future with Kerry Dairy Ireland

Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial retail presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.  

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 28 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.