Kepak Supply Chain Graduate Programme 2027 - UK

Role Purpose

The Supply Chain Graduate programme at Kepak offers an in-depth experience across the various facets of our supply chain and operations. Graduates will be immersed in the end-to-end process, from production to customer fulfilment, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how different teams and functions interact to maintain inventory, ensure product quality, and meet customer expectations. The role is designed to develop well-rounded professionals who can navigate the complexities of a fast-paced, data-driven environment, ultimately preparing them for leadership positions within the company.

Key Responsibilities

•Inventory Management: Monitor and manage inventory levels across multiple production sites, ensuring a balance between stock availability and efficiency.

•Order Fulfilment: Collaborate with sales and planning teams to fulfil customer orders, ensuring that service levels are met or exceeded.

•Data Analysis: Utilise data to assess overall inventory positions, forecast demand, and identify trends or areas for improvement in the supply chain.

•Production Coordination: Engage with production teams to optimize processes, balance inventory targets, and ensure efficient use of resources across various factories.

•Cross-functional Collaboration: Act as a central point of contact between operations, sales, finance, and technical teams, explaining the logic behind decisions and ensuring alignment across functions.

•Problem Solving: Address and resolve issues that arise within the supply chain, adapting to variability in raw materials and changing customer demands.

•Quality Assurance: Ensure adherence to quality specifications, understanding that flexibility and adaptability are required due to the natural variability in livestock.

Key Competencies

•Numeracy and Data-Driven: Strong ability to work with numbers and data, using analytical skills to drive decision-making.

•Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to managing inventory, quality specifications, and operational processes.

•Communication: Ability to engage with a diverse range of personalities across multiple teams, maintaining clear and effective communication.

•Problem Solving: Agile in evaluating and resolving issues as they arise, often needing to find the balance between efficiency and quality.

•Adaptability: Comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift rapidly, requiring flexibility and quick thinking.

Other Role Information

•Location: This is a site based role, learning the end to end process. There will be opportunities to travel to other Kepak sites and external locations throughout the programme.

•Training: Initial period of hands-on training in production areas, followed by a transition to more desk-based roles focused on data analysis and inventory management.

•Progression: The role is designed to develop future leaders within the company, with opportunities for progression into more senior positions after successful completion of the scheme.

Our Graduate programme allows dynamic, motivated, hardworking, and passionate Graduates an opportunity start their career with one of Ireland & UKs leading meat businesses. The programme lasts 2 years.

You can expect:

• To be fully immersed into our Culture from day 1, working alongside key industry experts and Kepak leaders
• An opportunity to work in various departments across the business with a rotation plan tailored to your development, the rotations plan will vary by site
• Gain an in depth understanding of our brands and products, and our relationships with customers and consumers
• To learn key aspects of our business, whilst you develop your skills and knowledge
• The opportunity to develop personally and professionally through exposure to key projects, tasks and development activities that challenge you, all supported by a detailed learner journey and training plan
• A dedicated mentor and development program to support you both on the programme and into a role that best fits your skills

Start date: September 6th 2027

Starting Salary - £29,500, increasing to £31,000 in Year 2.

Read more about our programme and hear from some of our Graduates:https://www.kepak.com/careers/graduates/

Requirements

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for hardworking and ambitious Graduates, who want to learn and grow in a challenging and fast paced environment, by performing real roles as part of your rotations.

You must be mobile and willing to travel throughout the programme to undertake development activities at any of our sites in the UK and Ireland.

We will consider undergraduates from all disciplines and backgrounds.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

•Educational Background: Open to all degree disciplines; however, a strong numeracy skill set is essential.

•Skills: Proficiency in data analysis tools and familiarity with inventory management systems is advantageous.

•Industry Knowledge: A basic understanding of the meat processing industry and product specifications is beneficial.

•Experience: Previous experience in a similar fast-paced, data-driven environment is a plus, but not required.

Personal Attributes

•Resilience: Comfortable working in a challenging environment, including exposure to abattoirs and carcass locations.

•Team Player: Willingness to work collaboratively across different teams and functions, sharing the load and supporting colleagues.

•Versatility: Capable of stepping into various roles within the supply chain, rather than specializing too narrowly in one area.

•Precision and Focus: A driven individual who thrives in a repetitive, detail-oriented environment.

We will be looking for alignment with our Core Values:

Responsibility – Ability to work on your own initiative and take accountability for your actions

Ambition – You will have the willingness and confidence to challenge yourself to be the best you can be and be driven to succeed

Passion for Food – this is at the heart of everything we do, you must be passionate about every aspect of our industry

Teamwork – ability to build positive relationships quickly with people from all cultures and career stages is pivotal

Benefits

• Employee Discount Scheme
• Educational Assistance/ L&D
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme