Kerry Graduate Programme 2027 - Research & Development

Key Programme Details

• Start date: September 2027
• Structure: you will be hired on a permanent contract, beginning with a 2-year rotational programme. You will complete two rotations across different RDA teams.
• Location: you will join one of our Kerry locations across Europe. Depending on your team and function, you could be based in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Poland or Denmark. Please note that you may be required to relocate as part of your rotations, therefore we are seeking candidates who are internationally mobile.
• Working model: on-site

Grow Your Future at Kerry

At Kerry, our purpose - Inspiring Food, Nourishing Life - comes to life through science, innovation and sustainable nutrition. From food and beverage to pharma, our teams use insight, technology and science-backed solutions to help solve real-world challenges for people, society and the planet.

Our impact reaches billions, but it starts with curious people, fresh ideas and teams who care about making a difference. If you’re looking for a place to learn, contribute and grow, Kerry could be the place for you.

Our Graduate Programme: Your First Step Towards Leadership

The programme combines:

• Rotations: complete two rotations over the 2-year programme, building breadth of exposure and readiness for future leadership roles.
• Leadership development: develop formal leadership skills through dedicated learning modules and ongoing career-focused mentoring.
• Strategic projects: work on projects that help solve real business challenges and give you the chance to make a meaningful contribution.
• Senior leader exposure: gain access to senior leaders who will help inspire, motivate and connect you to Kerry’s purpose and strategy from the start.
• Graduate networks: build relationships through our global and regional graduate networks, connecting with other graduates across the business.

Your RDA Journey at Kerry

As an RDA Graduate, you’ll work at the point where food science, consumer insight and customer needs come together. You’ll help turn technical ideas into relevant food and beverage solutions, learning how Kerry develops products that deliver on taste, nutrition, functionality, sustainability and commercial impact.

Across your rotations, you’ll gain hands-on experience in application, product development and customer-facing environments, learning how our RD&A teams translate science into practical solutions that meet market trends, customer briefs and real consumer expectations.

You could gain exposure to areas including:

• Food science, ingredient functionality and product application
• Customer briefs, market trends and commercial innovation projects
• Product development, formulation and application trials
• Recipe development, sensory evaluation and consumer-focused testing
• Data, digital tools and AI-enabled ways of working in RD&A and commercial decision-making
• Technical documentation, product accuracy and customer-ready solutions
• Cross-functional project work with RD&A, Sales, Marketing, Regulatory, Quality and Operations teams

What We’re Looking For

• You’re a graduate or soon-to-be graduate, on track for a 2:1 degree or equivalent in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Culinary Science, Food Business, or a related discipline
• You’re ambitious, open-minded and ready to learn through hands-on, lab-based work and real customer innovation projects
• You’re fluent in English and ideally another language
• You’re excited by science, technology and new ways of working, and keen to use data, digital tools and AI thoughtfully to improve how products are developed, tested and scaled
• You’re eligible to work permanently in Europe
• You’re open to travel and relocation as part of the programme

What’s in It for You

• Competitive package: a graduate salary and benefits package aligned to the country and location you join.
• International experience: opportunities to work with different teams, functions, and locations as part of a global business.
• A long-term career path: a permanent role from day one, with a structured programme designed to help you grow beyond your first placement.

Ready to Take the Next Step? Apply Now!

If this sounds like the kind of experience you’re looking for, we’d love to hear from you!

Please apply for one graduate programme only, so we can consider your application for the opportunity that best matches your interests. Multiple applications will be withdrawn.

Our graduate selection process includes:

• Application review
• Psychometric assessment
• Short virtual interview
• Final-stage virtual assessment centre