Early Careers Lead

Kepak Group; Dublin; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in Dublin is looking for an Early Careers Lead. This pivotal role is responsible for designing and managing graduate, apprenticeship, and placement programmes while collaborating with educational institutions to attract top talent. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in Early Careers programmes and excellent stakeholder engagement capabilities. Join us to make a real impact in the food industry and advance your career in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Company Pension

Further Education support

Employee Discount Platform

Cycle to Work Scheme

Long Service Awards

GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications

• Experience in running apprenticeship and placement schemes.
• Knowledge of best practices in Early Careers programmes.
• Ability to create structured training plans.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of an Early Careers strategy.
• Lead the delivery of graduate & apprenticeship programmes.
• Design structured training plans tailored to pathways.
• Collaborate on recruitment campaigns and assessment.
• Build partnerships with educational institutions.
• Provide pastoral support to early talent cohorts.
• Act as an ambassador for Early Careers.
• Manage the Early Careers budget effectively.
• Produce reports on programme effectiveness.

Skills

Proven experience in designing, managing, and evaluating Early Careers programmes

Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship building capabilities

Skilled in developing learning content across multiple formats

Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and pastoral support

Tools

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

HR Platforms

Job description

Kepak is one of Europe’s leading food companies with manufacturing sites across Ireland and the UK. Kepak’s vision is to be a successful, sustainable, future ready Food Business with differentiation at its core, that is a great place to work. This vision is underpinned by our values of Responsibility, Ambition, Passion For Food & Teamwork.

Early Careers Lead

Are you passionate about giving opportunities to and nurturing the next generation of talent in the food industry?

At Kepak, we are on a mission to innovate, sustain and grow,our business and our Early Careers programmes are vital to that ambition. We are now recruiting an Early Careers Leadto help us take it to the next step.

As Early Careers Lead, you will be the driving force behind our placement, apprentice and graduate programmes, attracting top talent from diverse backgrounds, and equipping them with the hands on skills, knowledge and behaviours that they need to thrive during, and after, our programmes, as they progress their careers with us.

This is a pivotal role that will see you collaborating with senior leaders, education institutions and industry partners, to build programmes that are best in class, fill critical skills gaps and foster a culture of innovation, inclusion and long term retention.

This is your opportunity to make a real impact, in a great business, in an essential sector - the food industry, whilst advancing your own career in a supportive and forward thinking environment.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Impact: Support the development and drive the implementation of a business-aligned Early Careers strategy that supports workforce planning and talent pipelines
• Programme Delivery: Lead the end-to-end delivery of graduate, apprenticeship, and placement programmes, ensuring consistency, quality, and impact
• Learning & Development: Design and deliver structured training plans and learner journeys tailored to each Early Careers pathway
• Recruitment & Selection: Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to design and execute recruitment campaigns, assessment centres, and interviews
• External Engagement: Build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, training providers, and skills bodies
• Pastoral & Manager Support: Provide pastoral care to early talent cohorts and guidance to their managers and mentors to ensure a supportive learning environment
• Advocacy & Influence: Act as an internal ambassador for Early Careers, influencing stakeholders and promoting the value of early talent across the business
• Budget Management: Own and manage the Early Careers budget, ensuring effective use of resources and value for money
• Data & Insights: Maintain programme databases and produce regular reports and insights to monitor retention, progression, and overall programme effectiveness

Travel: Regular travel within the Ireland and the UK

• Proven experience in designing, managing, and evaluating Early Careers programmes
• In-depth knowledge of best practices in graduate, apprenticeship, and placement schemes
• Skilled in developing learning content across multiple formats to support the goals of EC programmes
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship building capabilities
• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and pastoral support
• Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) & HR Platforms

What can we offer you?

• Company Pension
• Further Education support
• Employee Discount Platform All Kepak employees are entitled to access to the WrkIt platform, which offers significant discounts and cashback with hundreds of brands.
• Cycle to Work Scheme You can buy a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!
• Long Service Awards We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees
• GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program help with a wide range of topics including mental health and wellbeing support, family and relationship advice, debt management, back to work support, and counselling for all Kepak colleagues and their families.