S&I Graduate

Dawn Farms; Naas; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 Days Annual Leave

Health Insurance Contribution

Pension Plan

Subsided Canteen

Training and Development Opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme (Free)

Bike to Work Scheme

Christmas savings scheme

Job summary

Dawn Farms in Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland, invites applications for an S&I Graduate to join the Science & Innovation Department. This full-time, fixed-term 2-year role offers exposure to state-of-the-art food research, product development, and cross-functional teamwork.

You will contribute to trial planning, data analysis, and technical documentation while learning new techniques and handling multiple assignments in a dynamic lab and manufacturing setting.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Food Fermentation, or related field.
• Strong understanding of food applications and processing.
• Excellent record-keeping and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to read, collect, analyse, and interpret technical data.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute practical experiments and trials in S&I kitchens, pilot plant, or factories.
• Collaborate with Project Managers on trial design, timelines, and improvements.
• Generate, interpret, and document data using Microsoft tools.
• Present results to drive decisions during experimental and prototype testing.
• Evaluate new ingredients, materials, products, or processes to build S&I capabilities.
• Develop expertise in process and analytical methodologies and update SOPs.

Skills

Food Science

Chemistry

Nutrition

Process Engineering

Food Fermentation

Data analysis

GMP & Food Safety

Project management

Microsoft Office

Education

Degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Food Fermentation, or related field

Tools

SharePoint

OneNote

Excel

Job description

Your recipe for a rewarding career starts here!

About Us

Established in 1985, Dawn Farms is a family-owned company and the largest dedicated supplier of cooked meat and plant-based ingredients and fermented and dried sausage products outside of the US. The company currently supplies world-leading food brands across more than 44 markets, including the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa. With over 1,000 employees we are committed to meeting the needs of our customers in a safe, innovative and sustainable way, all while strengthening the communities where they live and work.

Job Purpose

Dawn Farms is currently seeking an S&I Graduate to join our Science & Innovation Department to be based in our state of the art production facilities in Naas, Co. Kildare. The Science & Innovation (S&I) Graduate will play a key role in planning and testing new ideas, contributing to the growth of the business across different innovation platforms and markets. This position offers exposure to state-of-the-art food research and manufacturing, as well as diverse protein product development and applications. Candidates will work in a team environment and are expected to have a passion for science and technology, with knowledge in Chemistry, Nutrition, Process Engineering, and Food Science. This multidisciplinary role involves learning new techniques, conducting practical experiments/trials, and handling multiple assignments within the S&I team.

Positions

Full-Time, Fixed Term 2 years.

Location

Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Salary

DOE

Working Hours

39 hours per week, Mon. - Fri. (some flexibility required)

Role Responsibilities & Duties

• Plan and execute practical experiments and trials, designing and testing new or improved methods and products in the S&I Pure Culinary Science kitchen, pilot plant, or factories,
• Collaborate closely with experienced Project Managers, advising on trial design, timelines, potential hurdles, and improvements to achieve technical advances.
• Generate and interpret data, maintain SharePoint databases, and document results in OneNote and other Microsoft suite applications.
• Present data and results effectively to the S&I team to drive decisions during the experimental and prototype testing phase.
• Evaluate new ingredients, materials, products, or processes to build S&I capabilities.
• Develop expertise in process and analytical methodologies, preparing and updating specifications and SOPs.
• Capture key learnings and feedback to share within internal communications, improving our innovation process.
• Coordinate trial planning and knowledge transfer within the team.
• Work with cross-functional departments to execute collaborative project tasks.
• Provide scientific and technical guidance to other team members and departments as needed.
• Ensure food safety and adhere to health and safety policies, standard operating procedures, and good hygiene practices.

Key Deliverables

• Execution of practical trials, ensuring they are completed in a timely manner and based on the given brief.
• Update trial reports and communication platforms daily.
• Generation of high-quality reports and documentation, stored on SharePoint and OneNote.
• Completion and review of trial reports and products with Project Managers.
• Push projects to the next stage.
• Achieve technical advances during trials.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Food Fermentation, or related field.
• General understanding of food applications and processing.
• Excellent record-keeping and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to read, collect, analyse, and interpret technical information and data.
• Logical and scientific thinking applied to a wide range of problems.
• Ability to operate standard laboratory and pilot equipment following training.
• Troubleshooting skills are key to this role, and the candidate should be highly motivated and eager to learn.
• Project management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple activities simultaneously.
• Ability to distinguish colours and flavours.
• Understanding of GMP and Food Safety concepts.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in mathematical concepts such as percent, ppm, and basic algebraic equations.
• Ability to build constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
• Willingness to travel as required.
• Regularly required to lift and/or move materials or equipment up to 10kg and occasionally up to 20kg.

Why Dawn Farms?

We can offer an excellent opportunity to be part of a world-class team, equipping our teams with the knowledge and the necessary skills to achieve their full potential. Innovation is a key ingredient of our success in protecting our market position and keeping our competitive edge. To be truly innovative, we invest in recruiting and developing a highly skilled, ambitious and talented team.

What we can offer you?

• 22 Days Annual Leave.
• Health Insurance Contribution.
• Pension Plan.
• Subsided Canteen.
• Training and Development Opportunities for further career progression.
• Employee Assistance Programme (Free access/support to Life Coach’s, Dietitians, Work Relocation advice etc.)
• Bike to Work Scheme.
• Christmas savings scheme.

Dawn Farm Foods Ltd. is an equal opprtunities employer