R&D Associate

R&D Associate
2025 Graduate Programme
Onsite/Hybrid Working

Tirlán 
Tirlán, is a world-class food and nutrition co-operative, with a diverse portfolio of quality ingredients, leading consumer and agri brands. 

Tirlán owns leading brands such as Avonmore, Kilmeaden Cheese, Millac, Solmiko, Truly Grass Fed, Premier Milk, Wexford, mymilkman.ie and GAIN Animal Nutrition.

We nurture a talented team across Ireland, the US, MEA and China, delivering annual revenues of over €3 billion, and over 2,300 people to manage our network of 11 processing plants and 52 agri branches. Our purpose is to nourish the world, while safeguarding our environment for future generations.

Role Profile
Our Graduate Programme is designed to take you through a series of real-world learning experiences, helping you build confidence in your abilities, and flourish in your career.

We are looking for people who care about the world and each other, who want to build their career with likeminded and passionate people. So if you want a career where you can truly make a difference, then we’d like to hear from you!

Tirlán is offering a unique opportunity for a graduate to join our Innovation team as a R&D Associate. This role will be onsite.

Located in our Innovation Centre in Ballyragget, this role reports to the Advanced Analytical Senior Manager and supports the delivery of our Research & Development functions. 

Responsibilities
•    Supporting the delivery of customer collaborative projects in conjunction with other R&D teams 
•    Working as part of a cross-functional team with customers and Tirlán functions 
•    Participating in and support of technical, analytical, functional and pilot scale testing 
•    Working closely with customer teams to complete projects on time and in scope 
•    Preparing and presenting products, new ideas and concepts 
•    Carrying out experiments, trials at bench and pilot scale and analysis of prototype products 
•    Keeping up to date with relevant technical developments in the field 
•    Championing health and safety by working together to deliver safety first


Requirements
•    High academic record to date and expected minimum of a 2.2 honours degree in relative discipline
•    Ambition to progress successfully in a career in R&D in an exciting, ever-changing and challenging environment 
•    Thinks commercially and delivers customer centric solutions 
•    Drives collaboration and builds partnerships to meet shared objectives 
•    Communicates clearly and can influence at all levels 
•    Demonstrates a thirst for knowledge with a desire to continually learn and grow 
•    Analytically minded with the ability to develop creative insights and execute change 
 

We offer
•    2 year structured graduate development programme
•    Site or team rotations as part of the programme
•    Year on year salary increment
•    Hybrid working 
•    Free parking incl. EV charging – where applicable
•    Bike to work scheme
•    Work/life balance and collaborative work culture
•    Career progression opportunities 

About us 
Through our expertise in research and development, customer insights, food safety and state-of-the-art manufacturing we bring innovative food and nutrition solutions to a global market.  Our new and vibrant headquarters in Kilkenny City operates as a collaboration hub where multi-functional teams come together in a hybrid work environment. 
 

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
We believe in the value of difference. We know that different perspectives, life experience and backgrounds can drive innovation and deliver growth. 
We welcome people from all walks of life without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, or disability status. 
 

Join our Talent Pool
Considering a new career in Tirlán but this isn’t the role for you? Join our talent community and sign up for job notifications at www.tirlan.com/careers
 

Tirlán is a Values Based Organisation