Head Cheesemaker

Ballerina Farm; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health benefits including medical, and

Parental Leave

Job summary

Ballerina Farm is seeking an inspired Head Cheesemaker to help build and grow a world-class cheese program at its Hideout production site. The role will lead the production and aging process from start to finish, combining traditional techniques with modern efficiency.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical cheesemaking experience, a passion for the science and craft of cheese, and a proven ability to train and lead a team toward high quality, consistent results in a regulated dairy

Qualifications

• Commercial dairy/creamery cheese production experience.
• Strong knowledge of cheese, cultures, aging, and milk chemistry.
• Ability to scale recipes and optimize production systems.
• Commitment to food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
• Leadership and training skills to mentor a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead batch production per established recipes for cheese, milk, butter, yogurt, and ice cream.
• Safely operate dairy equipment including pasteurizers and separators.
• Maintain sanitation routines and CIP/COP protocols to meet food-safety standards.
• Monitor temps and times; perform basic quality tests on fat/solids.
• Oversee packaging, labeling, and FIFO inventory management.
• Maintain production logs and regulatory records per FDA/USDA/state requirements.
• Direct day-to-day cheese production and schedule coordination with other teams.
• Conduct trials to improve recipes, processes, yield, and consistency.
• Train and develop team members; enforce SOPs and quality expectations.
• Collaborate with Culinary, Retail, and E‑Commerce for product launches.

Skills

Cheesemaking experience

Leadership

Quality control

Dairy production

SOPs

Job description

Head Cheesemaker

Ballerina Farm

Hideout, Utah |On-site

Full-time

About Ballerina Farm

A family-run enterprise based in the high mountain valley of Kamas Utah, Ballerina Farm aims to make the world a more wholesome place starting with the soil beneath our feet. What began as a family sharing their farm life and a love for the food raised and grown, has become a worldwide community with aspirations to guide anyone who wants to live a more rooted and intentional life in harmony with nature. Today, initiatives span, content, agriculture, food production, retail, e-commerce, hospitality, and a growing collection of products and experiences inspired by creation, nature, the farm, the growing team, and our friends around the world. We take pride in creating things with intention, quality, and care—from the food we produce to the products we offer and the experiences we create for our customers. At the heart of Ballerina Farm is a desire to share the beauty, simplicity, and richness of farm life with people everywhere.

About Our Creamery

Our Creamery is located just 10 minutes from our dairy farm, where our A2A2 cows produce exceptional, farm-fresh milk. We take a thoughtful, hands‑on approach to our dairy production, including low-temperature pasteurization and leaving our milk unhomogenized to preserve its natural flavor and character.

Our goal is simple: make delicious, high-quality dairy products for our local community and beyond. Our growing product line currently includes fresh milk, flavored drinks, butter, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream.

We’re a hardworking, collaborative team that takes pride in making great products together. As Ballerina Farm continues to grow, you’ll have the opportunity to learn, contribute, and be part of building something special from the ground up.

The Role

Ballerina Farm is seeking an inspired Head Cheesemaker to help build and grow a world-class cheese program at Ballerina Farm. Currently focused on soft‑ripened cheeses, this role will have the opportunity to develop new products, refine our cheesemaking practices, and lead the production and aging process from start to finish.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical cheesemaking experience, a passion for the science and craft of cheese, and an understanding of both traditional and modern production methods. They have a high standard for quality and are equally comfortable working hands‑on as they are developing production systems, maintaining consistency, and training and leading a team.

What You’ll Do

• Batch Production: Accurately weigh, measure, and mix raw ingredients according to established recipes for milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, and ice cream.
• Machine Operation: Safely operate and monitor dairy equipment, including pasteurizers, bottle fillers, and separators.
• Sanitation (CIP/COP): Perform daily cleaning and sanitizing of vats, pipes, and tanks using Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) and Clean-Out-of-Place (COP) protocols to meet strict food safety standards.
• Quality Assurance: Monitor processing temperatures and times; conduct basic lab tests for fat and solids content to ensure consistent quality.
• Packaging & Inventory: Package finished goods, apply accurate labeling and date codes, and move stock to cold storage or shipping areas using the FIFO method.
• Documentation: Maintain precise production logs and regulatory records required by the FDA/USDA or state health departments.
• Lead the day-to-day cheese production program, ensuring products are produced safely, consistently, and according to established recipes and quality standards.
• Manage production schedules and coordinate cheese production with overall food production, inventory, and sales needs.
• Conduct trials and document results to improve recipes, processes, yield, quality, and consistency.
• Train and oversee team members involved in cheese production, ensuring they understand proper techniques, food safety practices, and quality expectations.
• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures for cheese production and continuously identify opportunities to improve efficiency and product quality.
• Collaborate with Culinary, Retail, E-Commerce, and other teams to understand customer preferences and support product launches and seasonal initiatives.

What You’ll Need

• Experience working in a commercial dairy, creamery, artisan cheese operation, food production facility, or similar environment.
• Basic math proficiency for recipe scaling; ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Comfortable working in varying temperatures (refrigerated storage and hot processing areas) and wet conditions.
• Must obtain a valid Utah Food Handler's Permit
• Strong understanding of milk chemistry, cultures, enzymes, fermentation, coagulation, pH, moisture, aging, and affinage.
• Experience producing a variety of cheese styles is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements related to dairy production.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to consistency and quality.
• Ability to train, mentor, and develop others.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and work for extended periods.
• Ability to work in refrigerated, warm, and humid production environments.
• Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to bend, reach, push, pull, and perform repetitive movements.
• Ability to safely operate production equipment and work around hot liquids, cold environments, and wet surfaces.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means building a cheese program known for exceptional quality, consistency, craftsmanship, and food safety. The Head of Cheese Making will establish strong production systems, develop exceptional products, maintain rigorous quality standards, and help build a scalable cheese operation that reflects the quality and values of Ballerina Farm.

This is an opportunity for a skilled cheesemaker who is passionate about their craft and excited to have meaningful ownership over the development and growth of a cheese program from production through the final product.

About the Opportunity

• This is a full-time position
• This position required work to be performed on-site at our production site in Hideout, Utah.

Perks and Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and more.
• Parental Leave

Ballerina Farm is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace for all employees and applicants. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.