Graduate Scheme - Operational Excellence

Burton Latimer , United Kingdom
full-time

AI overview

The Graduate Trainee – Operational Excellence will enhance production efficiency and optimize processes through Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies within the FMCG sector.

At Weetabix, we believe that diverse teams drive better ideas, stronger decisions, and a more inclusive workplace for everyone. We’re committed to building an organisation where people from all walks of life feel they belong—where different voices, experiences, and backgrounds are valued and respected.

We're always looking to connect with talented individuals who can help shape the future of our business.

The Process

Step 1: Apply via our Careers Website.  A video submission will form part of your application, this is a chance for you to bring your CV to life!

Step 2: If your application is successful, you will be invited for a 1st Stage Virtual Interview from the week commencing 3rd February.

Step 3: Successful candidates from the virtual interview stage will then be invited to attend a Graduate Assessment centre at the Weetabix Burton Latimer site on the 25th and 26th February 2026.
Applicants significantly outside of the Burton Latimer area will have Hotel and Dinner costs paid for ahead of the first assessment day. 

Step 4: Successful candidates will join Weetabix on the Graduate Scheme in September 2026.

 

The Recipe!

The Graduate Trainee – Operational Excellence, will play a key role in helping us run our operational processes smoothly and find ways to make them even better within the FMCG business. This position is all about boosting production efficiency, optimising processes, and enhancing performance while keeping our factories and systems running effortlessly. As a trainee, you will get to engage in exciting projects designed to foster operational excellence and meet our goals for cost, quality, and delivery.

 

Operational Process Support:

  • Monitor and optimise daily operations, including scheduling and resource planning.
  • Analyse performance and identify process improvement opportunities.

Continuous Improvement Initiatives:

  • Participate in Lean Manufacturing and CI programs to enhance efficiency.
  • Implement process improvements using Six Sigma, Kaizen, and 5S methodologies.
  • Evaluate improvement impacts and suggest adjustments.

Engineering Reliability:

  • Helping our factories and processes deliver flawlessly.
  • Improving equipment reliability and leaning into deep problem-solving.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting:

  • Track KPIs like downtime and OEE.
  • Generate performance reports to identify trends and improvement areas.
  • Support warehouse operations and inventory accuracy.

Process Mapping and Standardisation:

  • Document workflows and develop SOPs.
  • Ensure compliance with operational and quality standards.

Problem-Solving and Root Cause Analysis:

  • Conduct root cause analysis and propose corrective actions.
  • Utilise tools like Fishbone Diagrams and Pareto Analysis.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

  • Collaborate with various teams to align operational and business objectives.
  • Participate in cross-departmental projects to improve efficiency.

 

Requirements

  • A Degree in an Engineering or Operations discipline - Achieved or expected to achieve a 2:1 (Hons)
  • Must have a right to work in the UK that is not time limited
  • A want to build a career in the Food Manufacturing Industry
  • Align with our Weetabix Ways Of Working, but most importantly we are looking for candidates who are excited about working with us, and show a genuine passion for the role and their career!

Benefits

Competitive Salary & Annual Flexible benefits including:

  • Annual bonus
  • Double matched ER contributed pension scheme
  • Annual Salary review
  • Healthcare plan
  • Access to 24/7 counselling service (in partnership with Grocery Aid)
  • Relocation allowance

 

Check out our website for more information: https://weetabixfoodcompany.co.uk/careers/

Please Note: Our company policy is not to advertise salaries as we want to benchmark all candidates based on skills and experience that need to be evidenced upon application and screening.

 

#HaveYouHadYourWeetabix

We are Weetabix. Home to the UK’s favourite breakfast cereal and muesli (Alpen), and a brilliant Drinks business. Our purpose is to help people live better lives by providing better breakfasts. We’re leading the cereal market with world class innovation, we win awards. And trophies. We created a whole new breakfast category with our Weetabix On the Go Drinks. Oh.., we also make Weetabix Minis, Weetos, Oatibix, Ready Brek, Alpen bars, and more. Bet you didn’t know that before. You do now. With all of this, we win with our customers. Home for us is in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside, we’re less than an hour from London and Birmingham. Agile working means we can be based anywhere and get the job done. We export to over 80 countries and we’ve got businesses in other locations around the globe too. We’re ambitious. And it’s all because we give our people the freedom and support to make the big decisions. It’s what we call The Weetabix Difference, and it’ll make all the difference to your career.A family owned business until 2003, Weetabix Food Company is now wholly owned by Post Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Post Holdings, Inc is a consumer packaged goods holding company operating in cereals, foodservice, food ingredient, private label, refrigerated and active nutrition food categories. Post Holdings, Inc is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: POST).

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