Brine System Operator - 1st Shift Antigo, WI

Sartori Cheese Brand•Antigo, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Brine System Operator oversees the brine and hauling process of cheese production, ensuring compliance with safety, sanitation, and quality standards and maintaining a clean, sanitized work environment. The role is based on-site at the Antigo Creamery in Antigo, Wisconsin, and works from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a 2/2/3 rotation. No travel is required. The position has no direct reports. The operator monitors and records brine parameters, documents cheese weights, counts, and vat locations, and handles cheese wheels using hoops, brine tanks, overhead cranes, brine cages, and forklifts. The role also includes rotating and storing products, heat treating brine, and cleaning and sanitizing brine tanks, racks, the brine room, equipment, and other plant areas in accordance with sanitation schedules and protocols. The work involves frequent standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching, and regularly lifting up to 50 pounds. The environment is regularly wet, humid, and cool, with temperatures ranging from 50 to over 90 degrees. The operator may occasionally handle chemicals and work on elevated surfaces, including stacking cheese racks up to 18 feet tall. The work area is noisy, and hearing protection is required. Required protective equipment for hazardous materials or loud equipment includes safety goggles, rubber or latex gloves, a lab coat, and hearing protection. A face shield, chemical-resistant apron, and steel-toe shoes or boots are also recommended.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, particularly for weight measurements and product counts.
Ability to read and comprehend work-related documents and follow written or oral instructions.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with good communication and collaboration skills.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and good judgment.
Must complete internal forklift operation training and certification within the designated training period.
Must complete internal training and certification for overhead crane operation.
Able to meet the physical demands of frequent standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching, and regular lifting of up to 50 pounds.
Good vision, including the ability to distinguish colors and focus on close and distant objects.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalency.
Food manufacturing experience.

Responsibilities

Comply with company safety policies, HACCP guidelines, and Good Manufacturing Practices.
Immediately report food safety or quality concerns to management or authorized personnel.
Monitor, maintain, and record brine solution parameters, including temperature, salinity, sorbate levels, solution depth, and pH.
Accurately document cheese wheel weights, counts, and vat locations within brine tanks.
Remove cheese wheels from hoops, assign them to appropriate brine tanks, and document assignments.
Operate overhead cranes and brine cages to load and unload cheese wheels in and out of brine tanks.
Coordinate product rotation and storage to optimize vat space and manage inventory.
Use a forklift to transport cheese wheels to production areas and place wheels on racks.
Heat treat brine to control microbial activity while following safety protocols.
Regularly clean and sanitize brine tanks, racks, the brine room, and associated equipment.
Perform routine plant cleaning, including rinsing and scrubbing, and follow Master Sanitation Schedule protocols.