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 €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

About the role

Due to the separation of Kerry Dairy Ireland (KDI) from Kerry, we are currently hiring a Senior Programme Manager to help enable KDI to de-risk its transformation, protect business operations during separation, and ensure all strategic initiatives are delivered in an aligned, accountable, and cost-effective way - supporting long-term autonomy, efficiency, and growth.

Key responsibilities

Lead end-to-end delivery of the ICT transformation programme, including SAP carve-out and TSA exit.
Develop and manage an integrated programme plan across SAP, cloud, data, EUC, and security.
Establish and run governance structures, steering committees, and reporting frameworks.
Coordinate internal teams and external partners to ensure timely, on-budget delivery.
Manage programme-wide risk, change, and financial tracking.
Ensure seamless transition to BAU with no business disruption.
Provide executive-level updates and strategic insights to support decision-making.

Qualifications and skills

In Kerry Dairy Ireland we understand that people have very different career trajectories and experiences. In order to be successful in this role we would be looking for the right competencies and aptitudes as well as your proven track record of success in a similar role and environment.

These include

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Management, Engineering, or a related field.
Certified in MSP (Managing Successful Programmes), PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP (Project Management Professional), and AgilePM or Scrum Master for hybrid delivery environments.
Proven track record delivering large-scale, multi-workstream programmes across infrastructure, applications, and cloud platforms.
Expertise in managing complex projects involving SAP, TSA exits, and vendor ecosystems.
Strong command of programme planning, RAID management, and governance frameworks.
Experienced in managing large programme budgets with disciplined cost control and forecasting.
Skilled in contract negotiation, vendor governance, and performance management.
Comfortable operating at executive and board level with strong stakeholder management and influence.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to translate complex delivery topics into business-relevant updates.
Deep understanding of risk mitigation, business continuity planning, and transitional operating models (TOMs).
Proven leadership in cutover, hypercare, and BAU handovers executed in a structured and low-risk manner.
Familiar with change management frameworks, training approaches, and business readiness planning.

Get in touch today!

In Kerry Dairy Ireland we benefit from the knowledge of our colleagues who bring a diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences. One team fostering an inclusive culture that, above all, inspires food and nourishes life. One culture where everyone brings their unique perspectives and experiences to help make us better, together. We are committed to nurturing an environment of positivity and inclusiveness, where everyone can be at their best, both personally and professionally.

Our recruitment, selection and assessment process are based on the skills and competencies of the specific roles and based entirely on merit. We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kerry Dairy Ireland and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.

Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry Dairy Ireland (KDI) employee will not solicit candidates through a non-KDI email address or phone number. In addition, KDI does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). KDI will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by KDI will be from official firm accounts bearing the KDI name.

Please note We do not accept CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies where Kerry Dairy Ireland terms of business have not been signed. Additionally, we will not consider or agree to payment of any recruiter fee under these circumstances. This also applies to CVs or candidate profiles sent directly to any Kerry Dairy Ireland Hiring Managers.

Senior Programme Manager

Job Description