About Kerry
Kerry Dairy Ireland is a dynamic farm-to-fork business with a strong retail presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
With over 50 years of experience in milk processing and product innovation, we are a key player in the global food industry. Our portfolio includes beloved brands like Cheestrings, Charleville, and Dairygold. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our partnerships with local family farms and our dedication to sustainability.
Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing lands, produced by Irish family farms with one of the lowest carbon footprints globally. At Kerry Dairy Ireland, we are shaping the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.
Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities across southwest Ireland and manage 29 Farm & Home stores. Our global presence extends to key locations in Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China, employing over 1,600 dedicated professionals.
In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, showcasing our commitment to excellence and growth.
About the Role
We are excited to invite an RDA Technologist to join our RD&A team in Portadown! In this role, you will collaborate with our R&D and operations teams to drive projects through the development process efficiently.
Your mission will be to help us win in the market by standardizing approaches to:
* New Product Introduction trials and launches
* Process Improvements
* Profit Improvement Projects (PIPs)
Success in this role requires cross-functional collaboration to ensure all concepts and recipes align with our business strategy. You will build strong relationships with Marketing, Operations, and Commercial teams while adhering to the Kerry Purpose, Vision, and Values.
Key Responsibilities
* Interpret project briefs and coordinate gate zero meetings for site approval.
* Create feasibility studies outlining project timelines and resource requirements.
* Develop master schedules for projects and communicate with key stakeholders.
* Oversee product and packaging development and validation.
* Conduct trials from benchtop to pilot plant, ensuring compliance with site processes.
* Document nutritional information and shelf life for all products.
* Collaborate with procurement and finance for costings and communicate with brands for approval.
* Maintain thorough records of trial outcomes for future reference.
* Present new concepts to site SLT and stakeholders before final approvals.
* Conduct post-launch reviews of existing products through Consistency Panels.
Additional Responsibilities
* Prepare product samples for customers.
* Maintain NPD work areas to the highest standards of cleanliness.
* Follow the commercialization process post-approval in collaboration with quality and technical teams.
* Ensure quality transfer into the factory with site team support.