Graduate Programme 2027 (Multi-Site)

Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Society Limited (The Group) is one of the leading dairy processors on the island of Ireland. The business is complex and ambitious with a milk supply pool of 2 billion litres of milk, drawn from over 3,200 family farms across 16 counties.

With the most modern dairy manufacturing facilities in 8 locations on a cross-border basis, the Group supplies to a broad customer base including some of the world’s foremost ‘blue chip’ companies across the dairy food ingredients, foodservice and consumer food channels on a domestic Ireland, UK, European and global basis. Internationally we export some 240 different products to over 100 countries worldwide.

The Group’s Agribusiness Division (Lakeland Agri) operates a state-of-the-art Animal Feed Manufacturing Facility and is a leading and innovative provider of the highest quality feeds and agricultural inputs to dairy, beef and sheep farmers across the north and south of Ireland.

2027 Graduate Programme:

We’re seeking passionate, ambitious and motivated graduates to join our Lakeland Dairies Graduate Programme, a 2-year structured rotational programme designed to accelerate your development and set you up for long term success.

Why Lakeland Dairies?

We’re fuelled by ambition to be the dairy co-operative of choice for customers, providing the highest quality dairy nutrition and to be your employer of choice to grow your career.

When you join the Lakeland Dairies team, you become part of a purpose-driven organisation made up of passionate, high-performing individuals who are ambitious, innovative, and deeply committed to sustainability. We take pride in the meaningful impact we make together.

What is our Graduate Programme?

Our Graduate programme has an excellent track record of successfully nurturing talent, injecting new perspectives and innovative thinking into our organisation across a range of key business areas annually.

What’s in it for you?

Structured learning and development
Real responsibility from day 1
One-to-One mentoring from experienced industry professionals
An accredited professional qualification
Participation in diverse projects and real business projects
Competitive salary package with excellent benefits
Networking and team building opportunities

Commencing in September 2027, our two-year Graduate Programme is designed to enhance your development through structured job rotations. You'll gain a broad range of essential skills and hands-on experience across key areas of the business setting you up for long-term success and growth

For 2027 intake we are seeking graduates to join us in…

Marketing
R&D
Quality
Human Resources
Agricultural Science
Procurement
Member Relations

What you need to apply?

We’re seeking ambitious, curious, and driven graduates who are ready to make an impact. Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

Academic Achievement: A minimum 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as Business, Food Science, Agriculatral Science, Marketing, HR.
Growth Mindset: Eager to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges across different areas of the business.
Strong Communication Skills: Able to collaborate effectively, present ideas clearly, and build relationships across teams.
Problem-Solving Ability: Analytical thinkers who can approach challenges with creativity and resilience.
Leadership Potential: Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and seeks opportunities to develop personally and professionally.
Team Player: Values collaboration and contributes positively to team dynamics.
Mobility & Flexibility: Willing to rotate across locations or functions as part of the programme Lakeland Dairies Ltd is committed to having an inclusive workplace where every employee feels they belong. If you require accommodations to be made during the recruitment process or have questions relating to accessibility, please contact us at careers@lakelanddairies.com.

We are committed to equality and believe in building a diverse organisation that is representative of and responsive to the needs of our customers and stakeholders.

A NOTE FOR RECRUITMENT AGENCIES:

We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a preferred supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!

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Research & Development Graduate

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