The Graduate Program

We’ve spent a lot of time listening to what graduates want and benchmarking the best practice graduate programs to create our two year program that will commence in February 2011.

We have limited our 2011 graduate intake to eight graduates to ensure we can provide you with interesting roles, targeted development and to ensure we can help you find a role which is a match with your career aspirations at the end of the two year program.

This is a great time to join National Foods as a graduate - We have recently become a part of the newly formed company Lion Nathan National Foods, which brings together two great companies and many of Australia and New Zealand’s favourite brands across dairy, juice and alcoholic beverages.   We have production facilities and sales offices in every Australian state, as well as New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.  

Our brands are in every household around the country and we have an exciting growth strategy in place. Lion Nathan National Foods employs more than 7,000 Australians and New Zealanders and delivers revenues in excess of AU$5.6 billion. Our products accompany life's sociable moments, whether it's a family meal or good times at the pub with mates.

At National Foods, our business foundations come from the farm and this is reflected in our down-to-earth, achievement-oriented approach, and the passion we have for our brands and what we do.

The Graduate program is made up of 4 key components:

1. Induction

As a graduate, you will join us in February 2011 with 7 other graduates and participate in a structured induction program which will provide an overview of our company, our culture, our industry, our brands, our people and our core focuses.

2. On-the-Job & Cross-Functional Exposure

You will then move into a role within one of our business functions working in Sales & Marketing, Research & Development, Finance, People & Culture, Logistics or Manufacturing Operations. Find out further information on what our functions do.

During your 2 years on the program, you will typically enjoy 3 job rotations of approximately 7-8 months each. Depending upon the graduate role you join, you’ll be exposed to how we develop and trial new products, manufacture products, sell domestically & internationally to customers, market to consumers, distribute to customers, develop our people, report on our financials and review new business opportunities. This will really cement your understanding of how National Foods works as well as help you find the right career opportunities for you.

Depending upon your role, your rotations may include you working at a combination of our regional sites, interstate locations as well as our Docklands head office.

3. Targeted Development

Your rotations are real jobs, you will learn on the job and attend targeted formal development days throughout each year to build your business and leadership skills. In addition, you will be matched with a mentor – a peer in the first year to assist with your orientation into the business and to provide coaching on company & functional knowledge and skills. In second year you will be matched with a Senior Mentor to provide exposure to other areas of the business, provide advice on career and leadership development, create networking opportunities and to share their knowledge, expertise and skills.

4. Feedback & Career Path

Throughout the program you will receive regular informal and formal feedback and have the opportunity to provide us feedback about the program. Based on your experiences, identified strengths, ambitions and business requirements, you are able to apply for roles advertised internally at any stage during the second year of the program, potentially moving across functions. The Graduate Steering Committee will review your progress frequently and in return for demonstrated achievement, work closely with the business to help facilitate a job placement that matches your career aspirations and our business requirements.

Applications for Graduate positions close on 31st March 2010