1st Shift - Cheese Operator

Dairy Farmers of America; Le Mars (IA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Competitive pay

Paid vacation

Career growth

Healthcare benefits

Referral program

Tuition reimbursement

Uniforms provided

Family farms

Job summary

DFA/Kemps is hiring cheese operators to batch and process multiple product families, ensuring GMP compliance and sterile practices. The role involves operating equipment, testing products, and maintaining accurate records in a fast-paced environment.

Schedule is Tuesday–Saturday, 5:00 am–1:00 pm, with competitive pay and benefits including 401(k), healthcare, vacation, and tuition reimbursement. Join a farmer-owned Dairy Farmers of America brand and help deliver quality dairy to communities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred
• Warehouse, production, or general work experience preferred
• Certification and/or License - may be required during course of employment

Responsibilities

• Maintain familiarity with cheese making equipment and provide quality inspections.
• Test, monitor, and batch all products per procedures and policies.
• Ensure curd is processed promptly to protect freshness and texture.
• Maintain communication with other departments and notify about problems affecting production.
• Fill out paperwork clearly and accurately with required information.
• Document information in accordance with SOPs.
• Analyze process and equipment data to improve quality and throughput.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Report food safety and quality issues to management.
• Maintain safe working conditions and comply with health and safety regulations.
• Follow GMPs and company regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation rules.

Skills

Teamwork

Record keeping

Computer systems

Fast-paced

Clear communication

Follow directions

Basic math

English literacy

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Certification/licence

Job description

Job Summary

DFA/Kemps has immediate job openings for well-versed cheese operators to perform an array of functions including

ensuring optimum quality products through batching and processing of various product families following regulatory standards and ensuring the product and process is clean and sterile.

Cheese Operators will be responsible for processing finished or raw materials, while following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and communicating effectively with all departments and meeting daily deadlines.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Maintain familiarity with all applicable cheese making equipment and provide quality inspections on all related items
• Test, monitor, and batch all products in accordance to established procedures and policies
• Ensure curd is over and processed as soon as possible to protect curd freshness and texture
• Maintain communication with other departments, supervisor, and employees and notify them of any problems and/or concerns that may restrict the efficiency of production
• Ensure all paperwork is filled out in a clear, legible, and accurate format, and completed with required information
• Ensure all required information is documented in accordance with SOP’s
• Analyze process data and equipment performance data to improve quality, throughput, and troubleshoot
• Utilizing continuous improvement mindset, assist in identifying opportunities to improve processes
• Report any food safety and food quality related issues to management immediately
• Maintain safe working conditions for employees and compliance with all state and federal regulations regarding health and safety issues
• Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements
• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required.
• Other duties may be assigned as required

DFA/Kempts is a farmer-owned brand of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a dairy marketing cooperative owned by more than 12,500 family farmers. Our mark matters and it represents the wholesomeness of dairy that we share with our communities and loved ones. DFA manufactures a variety of dairy products, including cheese, butter, fluid milk, ice cream, dairy ingredients and more, under well-known and established regional brands. Our fingerprints touch thousands of brands across the marketplace, and we’re passionate about delivering the simple pleasures of dairy to people everywhere, straight from our family farm-owners. At DFA/Kempts we are proud to provide families with fresh, delicious dairy.

By joining DFA, you can help us continue to make a difference that matters. We care deeply about the well-being of our neighbors and friends, and we celebrate the diversity of our company and our world. It takes an incredible team to deliver the goodness of dairy and enrich our communities - come join us!

Our Cheese Operators Make

• $26.98 per hour

Schedule

Tuesday - Saturday 5:00 am - 1:00 pm

Benefits

• 401(k) with company contribution*
• Competitive pay
• Paid vacation and holidays*
• Career growth opportunities - we promote from within!
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Service recognition and employee rewards*
• Employee referral program
• Tuition reimbursement*
• Uniforms provided
• Work for dairy farm families

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred
• Warehouse, production, or general work experience preferred
• Certification and/or License - may be required during course of employment

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Able to effectively work in a team environment
• Able to legibly write entries for record keeping
• Able to use company computer systems
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Able to follow directions
• Able to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

Reporting to this Position

• None

backup support to position(s)

• N/A

Travel

• No travel required
• 5%-15% (1-3 times per year)
• 15%-25% (1-2 times per quarter)
• 25%-50% (up to 1 week per month)
• 50%-75% (up to 2 weeks per month)
• 75%-100% (3+ weeks per month)

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans

26.98