Product Developer Graduate

Start date: 2nd September 2026

Scheme duration: 2 years

Salary: £32,000 per annum + excellent benefits

Location: Nestlé Product Technology Centre, York

Are you looking for a graduate scheme that will empower you to unlock your potential whilst working for the world's largest food and drink manufacturer? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity for you

What will you do?

When you join our Product Developer Graduate Scheme, you will start a three year journey exploring the exciting world of chocolate science and technology. On the scheme, you will gain hands-on experience working alongside industry experts, deepening your understanding of product formulation, sensory evaluation and consumer insights.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of new chocolate products from concept to launch, while collaborating with cross-functional teams in marketing, quality assurance and supply chain management. This is your opportunity to bring creative ideas to life, experimenting with ingredients and processes to meet consumer demands.

With a focus on continuous learning and professional development, you will enhance your skills in project management and market analysis. If you are ready to make a tangible impact on a multinational business that values sustainability and quality, we invite you to apply and join us at Nestlé

What makes this graduate scheme exciting?

• Innovation and creativity: Cultivate the ability to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to meet consumer needs and market trends.

• Quality assurance and compliance: Understand the standards and regulations that govern food safety and quality, ensuring products meet industry requirements.

• Problem-solving skills: Strengthen analytical thinking and troubleshooting abilities to address challenges that arise during product development.

• Technical skills: Gain proficiency in relevant technologies and tools used in product development, such as formulation software and data analysis tools.

• Communication skills: Develop effective verbal and written communication skills to present ideas, collaborate with teams and engage with stakeholders.

What will you learn?

• Product formulation: Understand the science behind creating new products, including ingredient selection and formulation techniques.

• Sensory evaluation: Develop skills in assessing and analysing the sensory attributes of products, such as taste, texture and aroma.

• Market research and consumer insights: Learn how to gather and analyse consumer data to inform product development and marketing strategies.

• Project management: Gain experience in planning, executing, and managing projects, including timelines, budgets and team coordination.

• Cross-functional collaboration: Enhance your teamwork skills by working with various departments, such as marketing, quality assurance and supply chain.

Our commitment to you…

We will support you every step of the way, the following are just some of our offerings to enable you to thrive with us:

• Flexible working options

• Inclusive culture, join our variety of employee run networks

• Comprehensive benefits

• Pastoral support

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Potential relocation support (£2,000)

• Pets at work – bring your dog to work

• Physical fitness

• Prayer rooms

• Rewards and recognition

• Availability dependent upon site

Eligibility requirements

You will need to have the right to work in the UK that is not time limited and does not require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route either at the start of the scheme or upon completion.

You'll need to have a degree - this can be in any subject and at any grade. What's also important is your commitment to the scheme and your willingness to learn.

The recruitment journey

After you click "apply" you'll be prompted to answer a few questions to determine your eligibility for the scheme. If you qualify, we will invite you to complete an online assessment, which you can practice here. Please do not upload a CV, instead we ask you to upload any relevant qualifications to support your application.

Once you have completed this stage, we will notify you if you are selected to attend an assessment day which will be in February or March 2026. It may take a little bit of time between assessment stages to get back to you, we really appreciate your patience.

Adjustments

We recognise that each candidate has unique needs, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive application process. You will have the opportunity to discuss any specific requirements or adjustments you may need as you navigate through our recruitment process.

We may occasionally close job advertisements early in the event we receive sufficient applicants, so please don't delay in submitting your application.

At Nestlé, our values are rooted in respect – for our employees, our customers and our consumers. That's why championing diversity and inclusion is so important to us; when we embrace different perspectives and give everyone the chance to be the best they can be, we can think in new, creative ways that grow and enhance our business. We are committed to equal opportunity for all and we may collect relevant data for monitoring purposes during our candidate registration process. Be yourself, everyone else is taken