Cheese Operator

Glanbia•Clovis, NM

About The Position

The Cheese Operator oversees the dolly washer, vacuum sealers, boxmaker, closer, and tube liner inserter to maintain areas and provide quality packaging for 640-pound cheese blocks. The role performs equipment operation, packaging, cleaning and sanitation, quality inspection, recordkeeping, and support across the production line. The operator follows applicable occupational safety and food safety requirements, including FSMA, Safe Quality Foods, FDA, and Pasteurized Milk Ordinance requirements where specified. The position also supports Glanbia’s values through collaboration, process improvement, training, customer focus, and meeting performance expectations. Employees may be assigned other duties as needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED preferred.
Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to solve practical problems and handle situations with limited standardization.
Ability to prioritize tasks, handle multiple projects simultaneously, and delegate assignments.
Ability to comply with safety policies, practices, and procedures.
Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Manual dexterity to reach and handle items, work with fingers, and perceive attributes of objects and materials.
Ability to identify and distinguish colors, see clearly at close range and at 20 feet or more, perceive a broad visual field, judge distances and spatial relationships, and adjust focus.
Ability to perform the essential duties efficiently and accurately, with or without reasonable accommodation, without creating a significant safety threat to self or others.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED is preferred.

Responsibilities

Operate and clean dollies using the prescribed scrubbing and sanitizing procedures; ensure each dolly has a clean cheesecloth and spray it with Delvocid after placement.
Use the dolly squaring tool to check dollies when running Arena; record Delvocid lot codes each time the sprayer is filled.
Perform and sign off environmental cleaning by the end of each shift; assist the angle washer or tube liner operator when needed.
Operate vacuum pumps and vacuum sealers; load fresh boxes, place slip sheets, fold bags, and fit bottom boards and irons to boxes.
Inspect Tosca iron legs using the leg jig and reject damaged packaging components; prevent box jams and resolve jams or contact Level 3 when unable to resolve them.
Inspect cheese blocks for foreign material and foam the area when production is stopped.
Operate and clean the banding machine and assemble boxes; inspect box assembly, maintain a supply of 640-pound boxes, reject defective components, and contact Level 3 or ATL when the banding machine is not operational.
Prepare towers for CIP, clean towers, and refill and thread plastic wrap on the machine.
At the closer station, fill the Delvocid sprayer and complete the log; remove and dispose of cheesecloth, inspect blocks, spray cheese, place slip sheets, fold bags, and add press boards, springs, top boards, and top irons.
Insert white card stock on each side of boxes for labels; prevent jams, maintain the inverter, push dollies when not in production, and foam and scrape the specified decking, tracks, and inverter areas.
Place a blue tube liner in each box, keep liners stocked, reject dirty or damaged liners, and check for bent tabs with the dolly squaring tool when running Arena.
Maintain records in accordance with good manufacturing practices and applicable local and state laws; follow GPS processes and Southwest Cheese non-negotiables.
Comply with applicable occupational safety and health standards, rules, and procedures, and applicable food safety regulations and mandates.
Research issues and incidents collaboratively and communicate professionally, honestly, and transparently.
Work with internal and external teams to implement process improvements and procedural changes.
Assist in training new team members and facilitate or oversee training and standard operating procedure reviews.
Proactively support customer needs, take ownership of requests, and engage internal teams in a timely manner.
Meet or exceed role metrics and keep knowledge of products, processes, and services current.
Provide leadership through example and sharing knowledge and skills; prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects, and delegate assignments as needed.
Report unsafe activities, participate in team efforts toward departmental and company goals, and perform other duties as assigned.