Kinisla Engineering Graduate 2027

Kinisla Group; Charleville; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinisla is launching a permanent, full‑time Graduate Programme designed to develop future senior leaders. The two‑year development programme starts September 2027, combining formal learning, hands‑on operational experience, mentoring and challenging projects across our dairy operations.

As a graduate in Engineering you will work with Operations, Supply Chain, Food Safety & Quality and Health & Safety teams, contribute to live projects, apply lean principles and build practical knowledge of dairy

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering with at least a 2:1 classification.
• Interest in building a career in FMCG/food manufacturing.
• Curious, eager to learn and open to feedback.
• Self-starter who prioritises effectively and handles changing priorities.
• Able to influence, listen and build trust with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Supporting plant operations and troubleshooting to maintain safe, reliable production.
• Contributing to energy efficiency, waste reduction and process optimisation.
• Collaborating with Supply Chain, Food Safety & Quality, Health & Safety and Operations.
• Supporting deployment of new technologies and automation systems.
• Participating in capital projects and lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Gaining practical knowledge of dairy technologies and processes.

Skills

Engineering mindset

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean thinking

Data-driven decision making

Education

Engineering degree (2:1 or higher)

Job description

Start Your Career with Kinisla!

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 Engineering at Kinisla:

At Kinisla, Engineering is central to the safe, efficient and sustainable operation of our business. From milk intake through processing to final product packaging, our engineers help ensure every stage of our vertically integrated value chain performs at its best. As a graduate, you will join an experienced team and contribute to live engineering activities and projects from day one. You will work closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Food Safety & Quality, Health & Safety and other teams across the business, building practical knowledge of our production facilities, technologies, processes and products.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Supporting plant operations and troubleshooting equipment issues to maintain safe and reliable production.
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives focused on energy efficiency, waste reduction and process optimisation.
• Collaborating with Supply Chain, Food Safety & Quality, Health & Safety and Operations to deliver cross-functional solutions.
• Supporting the implementation of new technologies and automation systems.
• Participating in capital projects, including equipment upgrades and facility enhancements.
• Applying lean manufacturing principles and data‑led decision‑making to improve performance.
• Building practical knowledge of dairy technologies and processes, including pasteurisation and cheese production.
• Developing a strong understanding of Kinisla’s product portfolio and its application across retail and foodservice channels.

Developing Kinisla’s Future Leaders

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 engineering 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 in Engineering or a related discipline.
• You can demonstrate an interest in building a career in Engineering within an FMCG and/or food manufacturing environment.
• 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 practical 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.