Dairy Pilot Plant Manager

University of Wisconsin Stout•River Falls, WI

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Dairy Pilot Plant Manager for the UWRF Dairy Plant and Freddy’s Dairy Bar in the Department of Animal and Food Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. This is a 12-month Academic Staff appointment. The role involves teaching industry short courses, managing dairy plant production operations, overseeing retail management of Freddy's Dairy Bar, and engaging in professional outreach. The manager is responsible for assuring compliance with State and Federal standards, managing departmental budgets, maintaining HACCP certification, training employees, and leading regulatory inspections and audits. The position also includes project management for facility renovations, working with technical experts, overseeing contract management, and managing relationships with various stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Animal/Dairy Science or related
Current holder of Wisconsin Cheese Makers license or ability to obtain license; assistance will be provided to obtain license for a candidate with appropriate qualifications and experience
Documented significant experience in dairy plant processing and manufacturing
Current holder of, or ability to obtain: State of Wisconsin Certified Pasteurizer Operator
Trained Industry Supervisor for the purposes of Appendix N of the Pure Milk Ordinance
State of Wisconsin Certified Milk Hauler
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in the workplace environment and mentor students
Ability to maintain accurate documentation of financial and manufacturing activities
Ability to conduct appropriate quality assurance testing
Ability to pass a post-offer employment test
Hold a valid driver’s license to obtain Wisconsin certification to drive University vehicles
Legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of ice cream manufacture, formulation, and ingredient functions
Documented teaching experience in traditional classroom/laboratory or outreach settings
Documented experience with product marketing and business plan development

Responsibilities

Teach industry short courses, to include: Cheesemaking Short Courses, Pasteurization Certification Short Course, HACCP Workshop
Teach skills pertaining to dairy manufacturing such as safety, sanitation, processing, raw ingredient handling, storage, and quality control
Curriculum development ongoing for additional industry short course
Assure raw materials, process parameters, sanitation procedures, and finished products comply with State and Federal standards
Manage plant production operations and establish production priorities to ensure product is produced efficiently and within cost parameters while maintaining plant safety, quality and sanitation standards
Define/establish departmental overhead budget requirements and spend within the agreed limitations
Maintain HACCP certification and meet the requirements for PCQI and SQF Practitioner responsibilities
Manage and audit quality programs and maintain proper documentation
Administer hold product dispositions. Follow-up and coordinate the release and/or removal of hold product through the proper channels
Assure the training of employees in the areas of noncompliance, GMP’s, HACCP, color code, sanitation procedures, net weight, and sensory attributes
Supervises plant engineering activities to minimize operating costs and recommend appropriate equipment and operational changes as needed
Ability to trace a suspect product through a mock product recall within 4 hours
Develop and manage retail food safety programs; design, implement and maintain food safety systems; responsible for validating changes to food safety fundamentals (prerequisite programs)
Host and lead regulatory inspections and audits; ensure regulatory non-compliance corrective actions are identified and taken; ensure product regulatory compliance
Train, and mentor dairy plant employees. Evaluate employees for promotion to lead staff positions and/or terminate
Schedule staff according to production needs
Liaison between the dairy plant and chemical sanitation company to ensure sanitation compliance
Liaison between pest control company and university for dairy plant FSMA compliance. Submit and manage work order requests to ensure completion for repairs in the dairy plant
Provide leadership and dairy processing expertise for facility renovation
Work with technical experts in process piping and equipment design and installation
Oversee contract management with vendors and suppliers
Track and communicate project progress, and budget with administration
Identify and prioritize gaps in project performance
Manage relationships with project stakeholders, including participating in tours, and campus visits
Support facilities on project materials as relates to PMO and ATCP 65 regulation
Manage Advisory Committee relationships and scheduling of dairy plant product trials
Hire, train, mentor staff for serving customers
Submit deposits according to accounting procedures
Ensure food safety compliance is met
Maintain adequate level of inventory, order or pick up supplies as needed
Schedule staff to maintain open hours, Mon-Fri
Create and market specials and new items, monthly or as needed
Work with other departments on campus to collaborate on special projects, i.e., Homecoming, Freshmen orientation, Admissions etc.
Advertise Freddy’s Dairy Bar on social media to increase customer traffic and community awareness
Participate in professional organizations, representing UW-River Falls i.e., Master Cheesemaker Licensing Board, IFT, WCMA, NCCIA, IDFA, ACS
Collaborate with potential clients in new product creation and dairy plant rental to meet budget goals
Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures in alignment with strategic initiatives and objectives
Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing information, making recommendations to leadership, and representing the interests of the unit
Directs and supervises the day-to-day laboratory operations, quality control programs, and/or staff of a work unit to ensure compliance with organization and regulatory agency standards
Monitors program budgets and expenditures
May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees
Develops and facilitates trainings regarding scientific experimentation, technical procedures, and equipment operations to various audiences