Cheese Technical Process Manager

As a Cheese Technical Process Manager serves as Darigold’s Master Cheese Maker, and brings the expertise in cheese making, process optimization and quality to deliver an exceptional product. The Cheese Technical Process Manager is a subject matter expert who is responsible for the management of our cheesemaking process, partnering across commercial, supply chain and with our Sunnyside operations team to execute cheese making to meet the standards of Darigold & our customers quality & specifications. This role supports Sunnyside cheese plant and monitoring all cheese making process. Including monitoring ingredient inventory, milk volume, vat recipes and finished product chemistry results. Training cheesemakers and operators on multiple styles of cheeses. This position requires leadership skills with strict adherence to GMP, sanitation, safety, timekeeping, and personal conduct rules. In addition, this function will support the B2B Sales group as relates to cheese sales and customer technical support. This person will support plant productivity and performance improvements; support the technical requirements for the cheese Ingredients Sales team; and provide research for technical demands including those from sales, customers and plant / process services as well as supporting new product and process efforts.

The ideal candidate for this role has excellent technical skills and attention to detail. You work well independently and with a team, know how to prioritize your work and multi-task to meet deadlines. You are also best described as personable, high performing, eager to learn, and as having a great attitude.

What You Will Do

• Optimize cheese production operations to ensure quality and yield targets are met.  Day-to-day support and guidance in all cheese product and process technical demands.
• Manage product and process trials, ensuring work is properly documented and involving all relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to the site-wide continuous improvement initiatives, both as team leader and as a team member.
• Assist cheese operations to ensure equipment sanitation is 100% compliant with internal expectations, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Manage supplier and vendor documentation (raw materials, food contact packaging, ingredients, bulk fluid suppliers etc.). Obtain necessary documentation for new materials.
• Work with the Technical Services and QA teams to ensure that all customer questionnaires and food safety and quality requests for information are addressed appropriately.
• Provides professional, supportive, and responsive to customers and process personnel.
• Brings best practices and consultation to the design and layout of new and modified plant processes and equipment.
• Assists engineering in the analysis and troubleshooting of problems as well as the integration of new equipment and processes.
• Provides for and is focused on adherence to all US and appropriate global health and safety standards.
• Provides for product conformance in line with all US and appropriate global standards.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with process and department team members.
• Review vat recipes to finished product chemistry results while making vat adjustments.
• Understand cook temps, cuts, stirring speeds and ingredient additions times to vats.
• Monitor, including testing of fat, protein, salt, moisture, pH, and other chemistry components on finished products.
• Work with plant operations team to manage starter programs (bulk starter and direct vat set).
• Able to work with HMI systems on recipes, times, valves, pumps, and other equipment.
• Create and review daily make sheets, vat deck CCP/PC’s quality check sheets.
• Follow in-process quality checks on cheese while adjusting recipes as needed.
• Conduct inventory checks on cultures and other cheese make ingredients.
• Responsible for strict adherence to GMP’s for all employees
• Accurate recordkeeping and specific paperwork
• Able to flex schedule to observe and support during specific cheese make style of operations.
• Conduct thorough investigations on out of spec product along with microbiology results.
• Daily team stand downs on updated make process and make schedule with clear communication.
• Understand fortification in cheese make process.
• Partner with R&D cheese make project improvements.
• Monitor and obtain cheese make KPI’s.
• Support plant operations in customer complaint investigation and resolution.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Bring:

• Undergraduate degree in Food Science, Science (Microbiology/Chemistry), Engineering or associated discipline is required; or an equivalent level of expertise based on a combination of qualifications and experience.
• At least 7 years’ experience in a technical, operations or quality assurance function in a food manufacturing facility is required. Experience with cheese manufacturing is required. Previous experience in a direct supervisory role is highly preferred.
• Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint preferred; as well as aptitude to learn specialized programs. 
• Certified and licensed as Cheesemaker and HTST operator.
• Prefer certified in HACCP and/or PCQI certified.
• Food manufacturing experience

Nice to Have’s

• Bilingual (Spanish) a plus but not required.
• Understanding of industry best practices and standards to produce high quality cheese.
• Deep knowledge of how to build and optimize manufacturing process to commercial goals while delivering quality & safety outcomes.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communications skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities. Proficient in multi-tasking, prioritizing, and staying organized.
• Ability to work reliably and autonomously, within a broader team structure.
• Ability to take initiative and completely resolve issues with minimal management intervention.
• Ability to analyze and resolve customer needs by referring to instructional material and/or peers/management; as well as the ability to use good judgment in finding solutions that fall outside normal guidelines.
• Able to work effectively with plant manufacturing teams and serve as an ambassador to our customers regarding our process.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results through others, as well as the ability to operate independently as required.
• Ability to work with a vision toward continuous improvement.
• Not afraid to challenge status quo and present new approaches to drive business and operational improvement.
• Demonstrate a high level of innovation. Ability to ‘think outside the box’ and arrive at creative and novel solutions to problems when faced with constraints or limited resources.
• Ability to translate theoretical and/or academic principles into solutions that can be practically implemented in a commercial manufacturing environment. 

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Benefits of Working at Darigold

We understand that as an employee, benefits that support you and your family in and out of work are important. We’re proud to offer eligible positions a competitive total rewards package – that includes:

• 401k with competitive employer matching
• Comprehensive medical, dental & vision benefits
• Employer paid life & disability coverage.
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 8 weeks paid parental leave.
• Education assistance
• Employee assistance program
• Community giving through matching donations.
• Compensation range: $101,090.00-$151,634.00 (individual wage based on previous experience, knowledge, and skills)
• Relocation Assistance

Our Commitment to Diversity

Achieving our vision to Lead Dairy Forward requires cultivating and supporting a team with varying backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are committed to providing a workplace based on mutual respect where all employees feel included and can bring their best and authentic selves to work every day. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer. We welcome all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, creed, religion, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. As a condition of employment applicants offered a role will be required to successfully pass our pre-employment background screen, receive a negative drug screen result & confirm eligibility to work in the U.S. We participate in E-Verify - please follow the links for details, English / Spanish & view our Right to Work Statement, English / Spanish.

Salary : $101,090 - $151,634