Cheese Maker presso Prairie Farms

Job Title: Cheese Maker

Pay: $25.50/ Hour. Annual wage increases in October*

Immediate Supervisor: Production Supervisor/ Operations Manager

Summary: The Cheese Maker is responsible for overseeing the cheese making process to produce a finished product which meets or exceeds the requirements of cheese standards and those of the customer.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform all functions associated with processing milk into cheese within the guidelines of the standard operating procedures.
• Follows a specific recipe and time constraints to achieve optimum yields.
• Safely and effectively operate pasteurizing equipment.
• Control cheese culture using time and temperatures with good manufacturing programs.
• Understand the function, application and use of cultures, molds, coagulants, enzymes and milk.
• Knowledgeable in cleaning chemical application and safety.
• Ensure proper knowledge of Critical Control Point.
• Perform sanitation requirements and master sanitation schedules.
• Keeps accurate records of all actions, runs accurate tests and takes accurate samples.
• Clean and sanitize equipment according to procedures.
• Document chemical concentrations.
• Assist in any other areas of the manufacturing plant when necessary.
• Complete scanning of ingredients into a batch tracking system.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Valid Wisconsin Cheese Maker license, or the ability to obtain (training paid for and provided by the Shullsburg Creamery).
• Pasteurizer Operator Certification
• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent skills by experience.
• Prior knowledge of cheesemaking, dairy ingredients and product processing.
• Must possess a high attention to detail and produce quality, accurate work and quickly detect/ correct errors.
• Ability to multi-task and self-direct/ self-motivate.
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)
• Must be willing to work flexible hours as required.
• Must be able to verbally communicate, understand and write in the English language.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, stand or walk for prolonged periods of time.  The employee is required to use hands and fingers to operate, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms on a repetitive basis.  The employee must be able to push, pull, and move up to 100 pounds. The employee must be able to physically lift up to 50 pounds. Requires visual acuity to review written documentations; ability to hear and understand speech.   There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.    There is exposure to a variety of physical conditions such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, and exposure to heat/cold temperature changes.  

 Prairie Farms is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law