Cheese Maker

Michigan Milk Producers Assoc•Middlebury, IN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cheese Maker is responsible for upholding food safety standards, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). This role involves learning and understanding the entire cheese make process, monitoring changes, and managing various aspects of cheese production. The Cheese Maker will also mentor and train apprentices, delegate duties to cheese processors, and ensure all equipment and sanitation procedures are followed correctly. Accurate record-keeping and adherence to company policies are essential.

Requirements

2-4 years of cheese making experience.
Experience in the food industry.
Ability to lift 50 pounds.
Applicant must be willing to abide by and follow all food safety laws.
Experience in a manufacturing environment
Experience in the food industry
Positive attitude
Friendly, approachable demeanor
Ability to work in a warm and humid environment.

Nice To Haves

Flexible schedule as production forecasts can change.
Flexibility with your schedule as production can change on short notice.

Responsibilities

Uphold Food Safety
Follow all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Learn and understand the entire cheese make process while monitoring changes.
Monitor pH throughout the make process.
Mentor and train cheese make apprentices and table operators.
Delegate and assign duties to cheese processors.
Monitor the CIP and COP setup.
Monitor charting: provide legible paperwork, correct completion of all logs and record keeping including ATP swabbing and chemical titration.
Monitor sanitation of all necessary tools and cheese making equipment.
Monitor operations of the HTST: sanitize within 15 minutes of startup (Cut in/ Cut out/HSCO), accurate chart installation and labeling, while maintaining a forward flow of product throughout the production run.
Monitor proper operations of the vats: agitators, knives, pumps, valves and temperatures.
Monitor proper operations of tables: grates, traverse, chain, gaskets, rakes, motors, augers, pre-draw, curd wash, rake feet.
Monitor proper pasteurization of cheese make. Report all issues to Production Management right away.
Monitor Cheese make acidity development and pH.
Be able to set a vat by monitoring incoming milk pH, temperature, and add rennet cultures.
Monitor Milk coagulation, check set, make decision of when to cut the curd.
Monitor vat cut, curd size and curd heal, vat agitation speed, vat cook, vat pre-draw, vat pump over.
Monitor table operations, curd transfer, curd agitation, curd size, curd wash, pre-draw, whey draining, agitator and traverse speed, curd pH and temperature, salt addition, curd size, agitations, raking, shoveling.
Ensure all necessary hook ups are in place.
Ensure proper time management of the cheese make process.
Ensure all team breaks are assigned and completed.
Ensure all accidents are reported.
Ensure all company policies are maintained.
Complete inventories on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
All other tasks as assigned