Kinisla Operations Graduate 2027

Kinisla; Craigavon; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinisla invites graduates to join a permanent, full-time Operations Graduate Programme in Portadown, Northern Ireland. Over two years you will gain hands-on experience, mentoring, and cross-functional exposure to develop commercial, operational and leadership capabilities.

From day one you will work on production targets, lean and HACCP training, and collaboration across functions to build your broad understanding of Kinisla’s portfolio and business. Eligible UK/ROI workers encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Degree with at least a 2:1 classification.
• Degree field related to operations, food science, or supply chain is helpful but not essential.
• Eligible to work permanently in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Responsibilities

• Support plant operations and contribute to production targets.
• Lead or assist with projects on new product introductions, process improvements and lean initiatives.
• Collaborate with supply chain, quality, finance, health & safety, and commercial teams.

Skills

Ambitious

Self-starter

Flexible

Curious

Education

2:1 degree

Operations/food/supply chain related

Job description

Join the Kinisla Graduate Programme in a permanent, full-time role designed for ambitious graduates who aspire to become future senior leaders in our business. This is more than an entry-level graduate job: it is a structured two-year leadership development programme commencing September 2027. It combines formal learning, hands-on operational experience, meaningful projects, mentoring across the business. From day one, you will be challenged to build the commercial, operational and leadership capabilities needed to grow your career with Kinisla.

Assessment centres will take place during the week commencing 18 January 2027. As part of the selection process, you must be available to attend in person during that week.

Working in Operations at Kinisla:

Operations is the engine room of Kinisla. From the arrival of materials and ingredients on site to final product dispatch, our operations teams ensure processes run safely, efficiently and sustainably, delivering high-quality dairy products to customers and consumers.

On our two-year programme, you will have the opportunity to build experience across the Kinisla business, gaining exposure to different areas and developing a broader understanding of how we operate. Your responsibilities may 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 supply chain, quality, finance, health and safety, and commercial teams to deliver cross-functional solutions.
• Participating in Lean Manufacturing and HACCP training to build your technical and compliance capabilities.
• Taking ownership of your learning by asking questions, seeking feedback and building relationships across functions.
• Building a strong understanding of Kinisla’s product portfolio and its application across retail and foodservice channels.

Our Graduate Programme is designed to accelerate your development and prepare you for increasing responsibility and future leadership opportunities at Kinisla.

You will benefit from:

• A permanent role with structured development over two years.
• Off-the-job learning modules, mentoring and group projects.
• Hands-on responsibility and meaningful project work from day one.
• Opportunities to build a broad network across Kinisla.

By the end of the programme, you will have built strong operational expertise, a broad understanding of the business and the leadership foundations to progress towards more senior roles at Kinisla.

Do You Have What It Takes?

• You are on track to achieve, or have recently completed, a degree with at least a 2:1 classification.
• A degree related to operations, food science, supply chain or a similar discipline would be helpful but is not essential.
• You can demonstrate an interest in a career in FMCG and/or food manufacturing.
• You are curious, open to learning and actively seek feedback.
• You are a self-starter who takes ownership, prioritises effectively and adapts to changing priorities.
• You can influence, listen and build trust with internal and external stakeholders.
• You are ambitious, challenge the status quo and look for scalable ways to improve the business.
• You are flexible to work across different sites and functions.
• You are eligible to work permanently in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland

Discover Your Future with Kinisla:

Kinisla is a vertically integrated dairy, nutritional ingredients and consumer foods business, built on more than 50 years of expertise in milk processing, dairy and nutritional ingredient technology, and product innovation.

Working in close partnership with 2,600 family farms, we produce high-quality, low-carbon-intensity milk for dairy and nutritional ingredient solutions, alongside a strong portfolio of trusted, market-leading consumer products and brands.

With manufacturing operations across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK, and a global customer reach, Kinisla is a trusted and forward-looking supplier of high-quality dairy products, ingredients and nutritional solutions. Our four business areas are Agribusiness, Dairy Ingredients, Nutritional Ingredients, and Consumer Foods.

Our purpose is to reimagine dairy for better food and a future worth farming for. Through expertise, innovation and responsible growth, we are helping to shape a more regenerative and climate-conscious future for our dairy.

Rooted in the South-West of Ireland, Kinisla combines deep heritage, global expertise and innovation to create exciting products, partnerships and careers. Our values are Together, Braver, and Further.

Kinisla Operations Graduate 2027 Portadown, Northern Ireland, GB