Production Specialist - AM Shift

Grande Cheese Company; Juda (WI); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Night shift premium ($3)

Weekend shift premium ($2.25)

Job summary

Grande Cheese Company is seeking production specialists to perform diverse duties across dairy production, packaging, and equipment operation. Tasks include setup, monitoring, testing, data recording, and quality assurance to meet company standards.

Roles cover intake and warehouse functions, ensuring safe milk handling, accurate inventory, and efficient production flow in a high-performance environment.

Responsibilities

• Carry out production duties from preparatory to critical stage processes such as loading/unloading, setup, monitoring, and data recording.
• Operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot dairy production equipment to ensure optimal performance.
• Monitor packaging equipment and ensure continuous flow, correct codes/labels, and timely adjustments.
• Coordinate unloading of milk from trucks and transfer to proper storage, ensuring milk quality and safety.
• Inspect, weigh, sample, and manage inventory in intake and warehouse areas to maintain efficiency.

Skills

Dairy Production

Packaging

Equipment Operations

Intake

Receiving & Inventory/Warehouse

Job description

$3 Night shift premium (6pm - 6am) and $2.25 Weekend shift premium (Saturday and Sunday shifts).

Grande Cheese Company is a family owned enterprise built on a tradition, quality and outstanding performance. We are dedicated to our cultural pride, professional excellence and to the dignity and respect of our Associates.

Overview

Grande operates in a High Performance Work Team (HPWT) structure. A HPWT is an Associate inspired and led journey of continuous growth and improvement to foster Grande Mission and Culture. We strive to empower Associates to develop their knowledge and skills through our Skill Block model. In this model, Associates are assessed and placed into a "skill block" that identifies and aligns with their abilities and knowledge within a specific job area. Along with possessing and maintaining knowledge of those skills, the following describes the overall duties, responsibilities and expectations, encompassing all skill levels, of this position. Not all duties may be required to be performed until the necessary skills are attained.

Production Specialists include the positions of Dairy Production, Packaging, Equipment Operators, Intake, and Receiving & Inventory/Warehouse. Individuals in these roles will perform processes involved in cheese/whey manufacturing, processing and/or distribution ensuring product is produced and delivered according to company specifications, quality and safety objectives.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

1. When working in Dairy Production:

a. Carry out a variety of production duties from preparatory to critical stage processes such as loading and unloading, setup and monitoring of equipment, stirring/mixing, cooking, testing, analyzing, inspecting, final preparation, recording data and providing feedback to Process Leaders.

b. Setup, monitor, calibrate, and troubleshoot equipment to ensure everything is operating effectively. Make adjustments as needed to accommodate weight, temperature, time and sensory changes.

c. Ensure production is running efficiently and processes follow Grande and regulatory standards.

2. When working in Packaging:

a. Operate packaging equipment and ensure continuous flow of product, ensuring proper execution of processes pertaining to diversity of products and multiple product lines.

b. Monitor for proper positioning, spacing, sealing, and correct codes/labels. Independently make decisions to correct and prevent issues as needed in a timely manner.

c. Perform visual inspection for any defects and rework or discard defective products based on procedures.

d. Setup, calibrate, make adjustments, troubleshoot and perform general maintenance to the packaging equipment.

3. When working in Equipment Operations:

a. Operate, inspect, calibrate, adjust, and troubleshoot dairy manufacturing equipment, and perform preventive/general maintenance as needed to ensure optimal performance.

b. Closely monitor instruments and equipment to ensure processes are moving through the stages correctly, and that overall production is flowing efficiently.

c. Perform sampling and testing related to temperatures, moisture, consistency, fat, protein, pH, etc. and record data appropriately.

4. When working in Intake:

a. Coordinate unloading of milk from trucks and transfer to proper storage unit(s) while following all Grande and regulatory procedures to ensure highest quality and safety of milk to go into production processes.

b. Ensure prevention of expired milk by properly prioritizing and unloading trailers in the correct order. Ensure operation of CCP (critical control points).

c. Verify seals, wash tags, and weights from farm pick-up slips to ensure milk has not been tampered with.

d. Properly agitate, collect milk samples for quality testing, and for payments in accordance with regulatory standards.

e. Load out cream, whey and milk from storage areas for appropriate processing.

f. Perform monitoring of equipment, temperatures, and sanitation to ensure milk quality.

g. Maintain inventory and order supplies (i.e. seals, filters) and starter to keep production running efficiently.

h. Operate, inspect, and troubleshoot intake equipment. Perform general maintenance as needed.

5. When working in Receiving & Inventory/Warehouse:

a. Handle receiving of materials from approved suppliers consistent with terms of corporate contracts. Inspect condition of trailers upon arrival for any damage, possible contaminates, proper temperature, insects, etc. Unload and inspect all incoming materials to ensure accurate items and quantities. Ensure received items are properly placed in designated areas and accounted for.

b. Assist packaging operations to prepare pallets for transfer and storage. Setup internal transfers