Job Description

About Kerry
Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.
With over 50 years' experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.
Our dairy comes from some of the world's richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is 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 in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.
Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately EUR1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.
About the role
As the NPI Lead in Portadown for Kerry Dairy Ireland, you will be responsible for overseeing the introduction of new products and ensuring that these products meet the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and innovation.
Your role will involve close collaboration with various departments, including marketing, operations, and commercial teams, as well as external suppliers and agencies. You will play a critical role in maintaining the company's reputation for excellence and driving forward its strategic goals.
The successful candidate will carry out factory trials on cheese and cheese snacking products in the factory, establishing the process control parameters and validation of product standards to ensure that the operations team to manufacture products with consistent product design
Key responsibilities

• Management of the NPI Process, working cross functionally as part of the R&D team, ensuring a standardised approach to New Product Introduction
• Communicate the product quality standards as part of the NPI process and provide training to facilitate understanding and effective implementation
• Organise and co-ordinate new packaging trials and ensure that outcome if effectively communicated to relevant stakeholders.
• Own activities related with introduction of new products into the factory using various systems
• Work cross functionally with internal teams, supplier, customers, brand and marketing
• Collaborate with outside agencies and suppliers as appropriate, co-ordinate and ensure the completion of relevant activities required as part of the artwork approval process
• Support the delivery of process and profit improvement projects at site level, ensuring changes are introduced in accordance with defined capabilities, ensuring product quality attributes are preserved and Food safety and legal requirements are met
• Build relationships with marketing, operations and commercials and ensure customer care and adherence to our Purpose, Dairy Strategy, vison and Value
• Maintain knowledge of market trends, restrictions, regulations, customer requirements and processes
• Presentation of samples and concepts to internal and external stakeholders

• BSc in food Science or equivalent
• Experience in food Industry
• Experience in artwork approval, packaging development desirable
• Project management and organisational skills: demonstrate flexibility and adaptability
• Driven to overcome challenges and develop timely solutions
• Numerical ability to record and analyse key process data
• Highly organised multi-tasker, able to interpret data from multiple sources
• Attention to detail with a structured approach
• Displays tenacity. Goes that extra mile to achieve results and deliver excellent service
• Able to play a key role as a high performing team
• Excellent communication skills

Kerry Group