R&D Food Science Placement Year

McCain Foods Limited; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Excellent salary sacrifice pension

25 days annual leave

Life insurance

Cycle to work scheme

Volunteer day

Hybrid working

Job summary

McCain Foods Limited in Scarborough is offering a 12‑month R&D Food Science placement for 2027–2028. You’ll join a global R&D team, work on development projects and ingredient evaluation, and gain hands‑on experience in a leading frozen foods company.

You must be in a Food Science degree, capable of a July 2027 start, and committed to a 12‑month placement (July 2026–June 2027). This role emphasizes collaboration and practical learning.

Qualifications

• Currently studying a relevant degree in Food Science or equivalent.
• Full clean driving license.
• Have a passion and interest in food.
• Seeking a 12-month placement year (which will run from July 2026 to June 2027).
• Must be available to start early July.
• And of course, a love of potatoes.

Responsibilities

• Support R&D projects and ingredient evaluation as part of the team.
• Participate in development activities and shelf-life/taste studies.
• Build networks with interns and McCain colleagues during the placement.

Skills

Food science interest

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Pursuing degree in Food Science (sandwich year)

Job description

Position Title:R&D Food Science Placement Year

Position Type: Temporary - Full-Time

Requisition ID: 45493

R&D Food Science - Placement Year

Scarborough

This is a placement year opportunity for 2027-2028, and not a grad scheme. This is only suitable for students who are due to finish their second year (doing a sandwich degree) and seeking a placement year opportunity!

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About The Role.

#TakeABite of life outside of your university studies.

We’re recruiting for a R&D Food Science Intern.

You’ll join a line of successful interns that have all been in the same shoes, who walked through the doors of our HQ to gain valuable experience as part of their University Placement year. Some of which have since returned to continue their careers with us.

When: Join us in July 2027 for an epic 12-month journey with our Global R&D team.

You’ll get an insight into what life is like working for one of the largest frozen food companies in the world, and experience lots of different elements within R&D, from working on new development projects to new ingredient evaluation.

Other projects may include; specific studies on appetiser ingredients and impact to recipes, line extension development of our current product portfolios, cook direction and abuse studies as well as conducting tastings (our favourite part) to evaluate shelf life samples.

What You’ll Be Doing.

Working on some tasty projects alongside our teams, you’ll also live and breathe the victories that come with working in a professional R&D team, whilst also experiencing some of the real-life challenges that go with it.

As an intern, you’ll not only get hands on experience, but you’ll also experience development within a professional environment where you’ll work towards set objectives, with a clear development plan and regular one to one’s with your line managers. You’ll also build a network both inside and outside of McCain as well as creating connections with other interns across the business.

What You’ll Need To Be Successful.

Here at McCain we are go-getters. We are winners. And we work hard.

And that’s what we look for in our interns.

But you must also…

• Be currently studying a relevant degree in Food Science or equivalent.
• Full clean driving license.
• Have a passion and interest in food.
• Be seeking a 12-month placement year to support your degree studies (which will run from July 2026 to June 2027)
• Must be available to start early July.
• And of course, a love of potatoes!

Benefits.

Although we do encourage you to taste the goods, you'll be pleased to know we don't pay you in chips. Alongside your salary, you'll enjoy a range of benefits including:

• Sign on bonus additional to your annual salary – to help you get started!
• Private healthcare
• An excellent salary sacrifice pension scheme where we'll contribute double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your salary
• 25 days' annual leave from day one plus bank holidays (increasing with service), giving you plenty of time to recharge with the opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days holiday per year
• Life insurance cover providing peace of mind for you and your family
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay, because the moments that matter outside of work matter to us too
• Medicash health cash plan, helping you claim money back on everyday healthcare costs, with access to a virtual GP and wellbeing support
• TELUS Health employee and family assistance programme offering full wellbeing support - including a 24/7 confidential counselling line, legal and financial guidance, and a range of employee discounts.
• Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme
• A paid 'Chips In' Volunteering Day, giving you the opportunity to support projects that make a positive impact in our communities
• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements where the role allows

And because you're joining a global business, your career opportunities don't stop at the factory gate. Whether you're looking to deepen your expertise, step into leadership, or even explore opportunities internationally, we'll support your growth. With ambitious plans for the future, there's plenty of scope to develop your career with us.

About McCain.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

AI & Digital Capabilities.

At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture.

The McCain Experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We’re big believers in the power of working together in person—it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here.

Job Family: Research & Development

Location(s): GB - United Kingdom : England : Scarborough

Company: McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd