Placement Student - NPD
Location : Ballymena
Job Ref: UDF/2026/753
Employment : Part-Time Temporary
Closing Date : 16 October 2026 05:00 pm
Dale Farm Cooperative is a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers who supply us with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.
At Dale Farm virtually every career discipline is represented in our workforce, from production, engineering and distribution, to sales & marketing and food technology/quality assurance, to Finance, HR and IT through to general management. Our standards are high and when we recruit we are looking for those with energy and drive, who are keen for responsibility and motivated to succeed with a record of achievement and with the potential to develop as the company grows.
Culture
Our culture is based on setting best in class standards, working to-wards and delivering on committed objectives, striving for constant improvement and involving everyone in the company. We strive to develop our people and harness everyone's contribution to deliver a winning team.
Equal Opportunities
The company is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to a safe, inclusive and relationship based workspace.
Benefits
In return, we offer a high degree of responsibility, plenty of challenge, good opportunities for learning and personal development and rewarding benefit packages, all within a fast moving and results oriented environment.
- Proactively develop new concepts and products and to react to customer product briefs, liaising with marketing, commercial and other internal departments, and external customer contacts.
- Deliver improvements to existing products and processes in the areas of cost, ingredients, formulation, shelf life, and process improvement, with specific focus on cheese processing, performance & improvement projects.
- Work closely with sites and other departments to understand challenges and facilitate the integration of new ideas and solutions to these challenges.
- Bring new ideas into the business through attending conferences and exhibitions and liaising with suppliers and industry experts.
- Make up samples, maintain development lab facilities, and conduct or oversee production trials as appropriate.
- Complete product tests using various equipment and analyse data.
- To be actively involved with customers regarding visits, presentations, and product brainstorming.
- Play a key role in artwork approval for branded and own label packaging for new products, ensuring all pack copy information complies with current legislation.
- Complete all product specifications (in house and customer) for new and rejuvenated products ensuring they are in line with current requirements and legislation.
- Manage routine product compliance testing.
- To keep abreast of food, nutrition, and labelling legislation to ensure process and product compliance. Work proactively with ingredient and packaging suppliers to identify and complete improvements.
- To keep up to date with technical and product developments within the dairy industry providing technical support and interventions for continuous improvements via analysis, investigation and benchmarking exercises.
- Any other reasonable duties as required, as part of an inter dependent team.
- Currently completing a degree or equivalent in food science/technology or a related discipline.
- Creative, self-motivated, results orientated and have the drive and flexibility to succeed in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent recording skills to capture, codify and disseminate knowledge gained from development activities.
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively address external and internal customers and possess the desire to work with the team to drive forward success.
This is a part time fixed term role working 1 day per week until 31st March 2027.
We promote an open and supportive culture which is based on our core values
Teamwork | Positivity | Resolve | Ambition | Curiosity | Accountability
You can find out more about our organisation on our LinkedIn and Facebook Career pages and on our company website where you will find the link to apply;
linkedin.com/company/dale-farm-ltd/
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 16th October 2026
We are an Equal Opportunities employer
Only applications from EU Nationals or those with a valid permit to work in the UK will be accepted.
No unsolicited CVs from Agencies please.
