Lead Cheesemaker

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title : Lead Cheesemaker

Supervisor : Creamery Manager

Employee Status : Year-round; Full-Time

Exemption : Hourly; Non-Exempt

Start Date : immediate opening

Location : in-person

Pay range : $18.60 / hour

Compensation after demonstrating competence in cheesemaking and processing (approximately 3-6 months after hire) : $19.60 / hour

Who We Are

Shelburne Farms is an education nonprofit on a mission to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future. We offer transformative learning experiences to help educators and students create a better world. Our home campus is a 1,400-acre working farm located on the traditional, unceded and contemporary homelands of the Winooskik band of the Abenaki.

What We Do

Engage youth and people of all ages in learning experiences that inspire them to build just, diverse, resilient, caring communities.

Steward our working lands and heritage buildings as we embody values of place and community through caring for and sharing our natural, agricultural, cultural, and human resources.

Collaborate with educators and other local, national, and international partners to advance education for sustainability worldwide

Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Shelburne Farms recognizes that justice, equity, and access are central to sustainability. We are committed to translating these values into action across the organization by improving equitable outcomes in our culture, programs, and services. Shelburne Farms is working to create experiences of belonging for all, including BIPOC, LGBTQ communities, people with disabilities, and people of all economic realities. We are passionate about building and sustaining a diverse and welcoming working and learning environment for all program participants, guests, and staff.

Who We’re Looking for

You’ll support one of our many tangible expressions of the Farm’s mission and goals by collaborating with other farm operations in producing, aging, packaging and shipping our excellent cheddar cheese (along with other farm products). The cheese team is integral to supporting a healthy local food system and providing an inspiring farm-based campus for learning for the Farm’s various programs and activities.

What You’ll Do

Lead a cheese production day throughout every step of the process from the arrival of milk to final press. Make cheese in either a Lead or Assist capacity on average 3 days per week. Work closely with the Head Cheesemaker to adjust the daily make process based on changes in the milk.

It is reasonable for training to last approximately 1-2 months, and competency to be achieved after approximately 6 months.

Assist with cheese processing 1-4 days per week. This includes preparing batches of cheese to be processed; printing labels; cutting, waxing, packaging, and accurately labeling cheese for retail sale; precise record keeping.

Participation in food safety and sanitation programs. This includes daily cleaning and sanitation, record keeping, internal monitoring and quality assurance.

Assist with equipment maintenance and calibrations.

Participate in our weekly sensory program. Work with our Tasting Team to grade batches of cheese and track cheese quality.

Assisting in performing order fulfillment and shipping throughout the year. This will become the main job responsibility during the month of December.

Lead Farm visitors through the Meet the Cheesemaker education program that happens daily during the summer (expected after approximately 2-6 months)

Become proficient in an additional project or responsibility in the cheese department (expected after 2-6 months). Examples include, but are not limited to :

Hauling the milk from the dairy to the cheese facility 1-2 mornings per week.

Providing sales and marketing assistance at farmer’s markets, food shows, demos, etc. weekly during the summer and other times as needed.

Core Qualifications

Prior cheesemaking experience required for this role.

If this job interests you and you do not have prior cheesemaking experience we encourage you to apply for our Entry Level Cheesemaking and Processing Assistant position.

Basic food safety experience including familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

Able to work four days a week, 10-hour shifts (6 : 30 am - 4 : 30 pm), with some overtime depending on the work week. Ability to work one weekend day.

Commitment to the values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion

We foster a learning environment and welcome candidates with all levels of skills, knowledge and experience working in the food processing industry. However, no food processing or cheesemaking experience is necessary to apply.

Additional Valued Qualifications

Not required to apply but will greatly assist in your training and onboarding process

Passionate about artisanal cheese and excited to make cheddar cheese.

Food manufacturing experience.

PCQI, HACCP or HARPC certification.

Experience with technical equipment such as pH meters and moisture analyzers.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Ability to work up to 10 hour days on your feet in hot and cold environments

Repetitive lifting of up to 65 pounds and stacking blocks of cheese in our coolers.

Carrying cheese blocks on a ladder.

Repetitive movements of hands and wrists to perform fine-motor movements.

Cleaning chemicals and sanitizers are used.

Must be able to understand and use production machinery safely.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Benefits

For year-round, full-time staff : Benefit summary here for 2025 benefits.

Deadline to Apply

Applications will be reviewed as received until the position is filled.

To Apply

If our vision and mission excite you, we hope you will share with us your experience and skill set that you feel would qualify you to make a contribution to the Farm.

In your application, please include :

Submit a resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, address :

Why are you interested in this position?

How do your experiences, values, and / or efforts demonstrate your commitment to the values of diversity, justice, and equity?

How did you hear about the position?

Please submit contact information for three references.

Shelburne Farms will provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation to fully participate in the application process.

If you would like to request an accommodation or with any general application questions and support, please contact Casey Sullivan our HR Director, at jobs@shelburnefarms.org, 802-985-0370 or in-person at 352 Farm Barn Lane, Shelburne, VT 05482 (office located in the Farm Barn on the Shelburne Farms property).

At Shelburne Farms, we value equitable access to employment opportunities and career growth as central to our organization’s commitments and our collective future. We are committed to offering employment to individuals who face barriers to employment including but not limited to those who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Women and non- binary individuals, domestic violence survivors, individuals with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, and those with non- traditional educational backgrounds. We utilize inclusive hiring practices and are committed to shifting our resources towards amplifying and uplifting historically marginalized communities to provide a fair and just opportunity for employment.

Shelburne Farms is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and we strongly stand against discrimination and harassment of any kind. Candidates with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences are strongly encouraged to apply.

4 days / week, working 10-hour days, from 6 : 30am -4 : 30pm; one weekend day per week required

Salary : $19 - $20