Job Description
Technical Leadership Graduate Trainee
Start Date: September 2026A Triple Award-Winning Graduate & Training Initiative
As a Technical Leadership Graduate Trainee, you'll be right at the heart of how we make safe, high-quality food at scale. This is a hands-on, people-focused, detail-driven programme where you will build strong technical expertise and play a key role in protecting our products, customers and brands.
Are you motivated, ambitious, and hungry to grow into a future leader? Our 18-month Technical Leadership Programme is designed for graduates who want to lead people, drive performance, and make a measurable impact across our business. What matters most is your attitude, curiosity, and ambition to grow.
Programme Overview
• 18-month management development programme• Three 6-month site rotations across Pilgrim's Europe Technical functions
Rotation 1: Hyde (Sept-Feb)Rotation 2: Ashbourne (Mar-Aug)Rotation 3: Bromborough (Sep-Feb)
Your final placement location will be carefully matched to your interests, strengths, and development goals. Whichever site you join, you'll gain real responsibility across fast-paced operations and build a deep understanding of how exceptional food quality is delivered, maintained, and continually improved.
This is not an observational role — you'll roll up your sleeves, contribute to meaningful projects, and work closely with experts who will support, challenge, and stretch you throughout the programme.
What You'll Experience
You'll become part of a high-performing Technical function, championing food safety, quality and authenticity. You'll help deliver products and services that consistently meet — and exceed — customer and consumer expectations.
You will do this by:
* Building a strong understanding of the principles behind safe food production (hazards, prerequisites, allergens, traceability) and how quality standards are set, verified and maintained.
* Supporting day-to-day Technical and Quality activities, including completing checks, capturing data and maintaining accurate records.
* Auditing production processes, identifying opportunities for improvement and supporting structured problem-solving activities.
* Contributing to internal, retailer or customer audits and preparing evidence and documentation.
* Working with cross-functional teams to ensure standards, processes and behaviours deliver Technical Excellence every day.
Along the way, you will gain Food Safety and HACCP qualifications, enabling you to make fact-based, data-driven decisions and influence performance with confidence.
By the end of the programme, you'll have a complete understanding of how food is manufactured from end to end — and a clear ability to show how Technical leadership protects our people, processes, products and brands.
Grow Into a Confident Technical Leader
Throughout the programme, you'll develop capability in:
* Technical Knowledge & Expertise
* People Management & Development
* Effective Communication & Influence
* KPI Management & Data Analysis
* Customer & Stakeholder Management
* Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving
Your Career Pathway After the Programme
After successfully completing the programme, you will progress into a people-leader role within the Pilgrim's Europe Technical team — aligned to your strengths and long-term career ambitions.
You will:
* Continue to lead teams while building deeper technical expertise
* Play a critical role in delivering food safety and quality best practice
* Receive ongoing development, coaching and progression support
* Have the opportunity to apply for a fully-funded Mini MBA scholarship
This programme forms part of our Triple Award-Winning Graduate & Training Initiative, designed to develop the leaders who will shape the future of food.
Essential Criteria
You must have:
* A minimum 2:2 degree or a completed Degree-Apprenticeship
Plus the attributes that make a future leader:
* Genuine interest in food safety and quality
* Motivated, resilient and proactive
* Strong communication and organisational skills
* Willingness to rotate across sites
* Full UK driving licence
* Hunger to learn, lead and progress quickly
* Right to work in the UK (sponsorship is not available)
To find out more about this programme, visit: Graduate Trainee Programme ¦ Pilgrim's Europe
Graduate Trainee Programme ¦ Pilgrim's Europe
Add a Bit of Flavour to Your Foodie Career - A Plateful of Opportunities with Our Pilgrim's Europe Graduate Trainee Programme.
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