Production Manager - Cheese

FrieslandCampina; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and education opportunities

Collaborative culture

Career development

Job summary

FrieslandCampina is seeking a Production Manager – Cheese for its Darlington, Wisconsin operations. This role involves overseeing daily cheese manufacturing processes and ensuring product quality and compliance with safety standards. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree related to Food Science and at least 6 years of leadership experience in food manufacturing, particularly in cheese production.

You'll lead a team focused on continuous improvement and drive operational excellence, contributing to better nutrition for the world and the livelihoods of farmers.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of leadership experience in dairy or food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of fermentation, curd handling, and aging.
• Experience with large-scale production and automated systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily cheese production operations.
• Ensure compliance with EHS, GMP, and food safety standards.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership in dairy manufacturing

Knowledge of cheese production processes

Problem-solving and continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Engineering

Job description

Production Manager - Cheese Darlington Wisconsin (US) Operations & Manufacturing 40+

We are seeking an experienced Production Manager – Cheese to oversee end-to-end cheese manufacturing operations. This role ensures safe production, consistent product quality, and efficient operational performance while fostering a strong culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily cheese production operations including milk intake, pasteurization, curd formation, pressing, and aging.
• Ensure compliance with EHS, GMP, and food safety standards while promoting a strong safety culture.
• Monitor and adjust production plans to meet demand and customer requirements.
• Analyze production metrics such as yield, downtime, and efficiency to drive performance improvements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives including lean manufacturing and root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to align production priorities.
• Optimize production output, throughput, and overall operational efficiency.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of leadership experience in dairy or food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of cheese production processes including fermentation, curd handling, moisture control, and aging.
• Understanding of GMPs, food safety regulations, and industry standards.
• Experience with large-scale production and automated systems preferred.
• Fast‑paced manufacturing and office environment following GMP standards.
• Exposure to chemicals, allergens, enzymes, and moderate-to-high noise levels.
• PPE required including safety footwear, gloves, eye protection, and lab coat.

The Production Manager – Cheese will lead a team of production staff and supervisors, ensuring strong engagement, accountability, and performance.

• Lead, train, and develop production team members and supervisors.
• Assign work, set priorities, and monitor team performance.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage staffing, recruitment, and performance management processes.

Ways of Working

• Act with respect, integrity, and inclusiveness.
• Drive for excellence and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate effectively and contribute to shared team success.

Why work with us:

An inspiring purpose

Better nutrition for the world and a good living for our farmers, now and for generations to come.

A cooperative culture

Driven by global collaboration, respect, and shared success

Space to aim higher, with autonomy and a clear focus

Your growth fuels ours

We invest in your personal and professional development through training and education.

Do you have any questions?

Please contact our recruiter Molly Nelson