Cheese Plant - Quality Controller

Open Country Dairy Ltd; Waharoa; On-site; NZD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Country Dairy Ltd in Waharoa, NZ, seeks a practical Cheese Plant Quality Controller to coordinate quality control across liquids, cheese and butter production. 12.25-hour rotating shifts (two days on, two nights on, four days off) apply, reporting to the Cheese and Butter Plant Manager.

This full-time role emphasizes quality, safety, and environmental standards. Responsibilities include inspections, sampling, CCPl monitoring, lab sample management, audits, data reporting, and maintaining

Qualifications

• Strong computer literacy and ability to operate QA systems.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Good time management and attention to detail.
• Commitment to health and safety in a production environment.
• Experience in dairy industry or food manufacturing is advantageous.
• Diploma in Cheese Technology or equivalent qualification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Pre-start and in-process inspections and sampling across processing plants.
• Monitor quality and critical control points, including milk reception checks.
• Collect and despatch product samples to external laboratories promptly.
• Support plant hygiene, GMP and compliance with SOPs.
• Participate in plant audits and surveillance activities.
• Gather quality data, prepare reports and escalate out-of-spec results.
• Uphold high standards of personal hygiene and safety in production.

Job description

About The Company

Open Country Dairy is New Zealand's largest independent dairy manufacturer, producing a wide range of dairy ingredients and products for global markets. Since 2004, we have built a reputation for quality, operational excellence, and innovation, backed by modern manufacturing facilities and a strong commitment to our people.

We are looking for a practical and quality-focused Cheese Plant Quality Controller to join our Waharoa team. Reporting to the Cheese and Butter Plant Manager, you will help coordinate quality control across Liquids processing, Cheese & Butter manufacturing ensuring our products and processes meet the required quality, safety, hygiene and environmental standards.

This is a permanent full-time position working 12.25-hour shifts on a rotating roster of two days on, two nights on, followed by four days off.

What you will be doing

• Conduct pre-start / in-process inspections and sampling across various processing plants
• Monitor quality and critical control points, including milk reception checks.
• Manage the collection and timely despatch of product samples to external laboratories
• Support plant hygiene, GMP and compliance with standard operating procedures.
• Participate in plant audits and surveillance activities
• Gather quality data, prepare reports and escalated out-of-specification results.
• NCEA Level 3, School Certificate, Sixth Form Certificate, or an equivalent secondary or relevant vocational qualification.
• Core Dairy Level 3 Certificate unit standards.
• Experience with process or systems administration and working with suppliers.
• Strong computer literacy and clear written and verbal communication skills.
• A high standard of personal hygiene, presentation and attention to detail.
• Good time management and the confidence to uphold quality and hygiene standards in a production environment.
• A strong commitment to health and safety and the physical fitness required for the role.
• Experience in the dairy industry or food manufacturing.
• A Diploma in Cheese Technology or an equivalent qualification.
• Knowledge of dairy processing, aseptic sampling, auditing or HACCP.

What you will bring

It would be an advantage if you have

If you are safety-conscious, comfortable working across a busy manufacturing environment and committed to maintaining high-quality standards, we would like to hear from you.