About Kerry
Welcome to Kerry Dairy Ireland, where we transform the farm-to-fork experience! As a vertically integrated business, we pride ourselves on our substantial consumer foods presence and our leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division. Our mission? To deliver high-quality dairy solutions with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.
With over 50 years of expertise in milk processing and product innovation, we are a key player in the global food industry. Our impressive portfolio includes market-leading dairy brands such as Cheestrings, Charleville, Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow, and our exciting new SMUG range. Our deep-rooted connections with 2,800 local family farms set us apart, creating captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers alike.
Our dairy products come from some of the world’s richest grazing lands, produced by farms with one of the lowest carbon footprints globally. Through a blend of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, we are proud to shape 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 the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Our reach extends to Northern Ireland and the UK, with key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.
Globally, we employ over 1,600 dedicated professionals across various countries, including the USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, showcasing our commitment to excellence and growth.
About the Role
Are you ready to make an impact? As the NPI Lead in Portadown for Kerry Dairy Ireland, you will oversee the introduction of new products, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and innovation. This is a 12-month maternity cover position.
Your role will involve close collaboration with various departments, including marketing, operations, and commercial teams, as well as external suppliers and agencies. You will be pivotal in maintaining our reputation for excellence and driving our strategic goals forward.
In this role, you will conduct factory trials on cheese and cheese snacking products, establishing process control parameters and validating product standards to ensure consistent product design.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage the NPI Process, collaborating cross-functionally as part of the R&D team to ensure a standardized approach to New Product Introduction.
* Communicate product quality standards as part of the NPI process and provide training for effective implementation.
* Organize and coordinate new packaging trials, ensuring outcomes are effectively communicated to relevant stakeholders.
* Oversee activities related to the introduction of new products into the factory using various systems.
* Work collaboratively with internal teams, suppliers, customers, and marketing.
* Coordinate with outside agencies and suppliers to ensure completion of activities required for the artwork approval process.
* Support process and profit improvement projects at the site level, ensuring changes align with defined capabilities while preserving product quality and meeting food safety and legal requirements.
* Build strong relationships with marketing, operations, and commercial teams to ensure customer care and adherence to our Purpose, Dairy Strategy, Vision, and Values.
* Stay informed about market trends, restrictions, regulations, customer requirements, and processes.
* Present samples and concepts to internal and external stakeholders.
Qualifications and Skills
* BSc in Food Science or equivalent.
* Experience in the food industry.
* Experience in artwork approval and packaging development is desirable.
* Strong project management and organizational skills, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability.
* Driven to overcome challenges and develop timely solutions.
* Numerical ability to record and analyze key process data.
* Highly organized multi-tasker, able to interpret data from multiple sources.
* Attention to detail with a structured approach.
* Displays tenacity and goes the extra mile to achieve results and deliver excellent service.
* Able to play a key role as a high-performing team member.
* Excellent communication skills.