Production Operator Lead

Job Type: Regular

People are at the heart of our success. Our culture encourages collaboration, transparency, and accountability in order to generate value and achieve sustainable results. Being part of the team means committing to an environment where everyone’s impact truly matters.

At Agropur, accountability means owning challenges and taking concrete action to achieve results.

An environment that empowers you to take action:

• Rate of Pay: $30.33/hour

• $1.50 Night Shift Differential Pay

• NIGHT SHIFT: 7pm-7am, 2-2-3 Schedule

• Double time on Sundays

• Competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package focusing on your physical, financial, and emotional health to include the following perks as well as the standard benefit offerings:

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short and Long-term Disability Insurance

  • 401(k) with up to 7% company contributions

  • 3 Weeks PTO on day 1

  • Paid holidays and 2 floating holidays

  • Paid parental leave

• Advancement Opportunities

• Healthy work/life balance

• 2 pay increases within first year

What you’ll be responsible for each day:

The Production Operator Lead performs all tasks involved in the production of Agropur’s products, ensuring safe and efficient production by following standard work methods and practices. The Production Operator Lead works in all areas of production as needed, assisting all departments in the plant to ensure cheese is in-spec according to customer requirements (fat, moisture, piece count, quality).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Obtain and maintain knowledge of Agropur’s production/cheese process and all equipment/machinery involved.

• Act as back up for plant employees as needed due to breaks, illness, vacations, etc.

• Molders/String

  • Ensure equipment/machinery is operating properly to maintain the quality of cheese to established standards/customer specifications; adjusting and communicating with Laboratory and Packaging departments as needed.

  • Assemble hydra molder during start-up and product changes.

  • Assemble String Machines during start-up.

  • Shut down machine/disassemble at shift’s end.

  • Properly set up form on molders, identifying all forms used according to customer specifications.

  • Properly set up string horns, identifying all horns used according to customer specifications.

  • Complete and document proper CIP/Sanitation.

• ACV’s

  • Working knowledge of running the Milk UF, Permeate pasteurizer, milk pasteurizer, milk separator and cream pasteurizer.

  • Knowledge of all the documentation needed for equipment in the pasteurizer room.

  • Responsible for all ACV procedures in the cheese making process.

  • Ensure milk fats are consistent; adjusting as needed.

  • Ensure the make schedule, recipe and standardization methods are loaded properly in the HMI program.

  • Complete and document proper CIP/Sanitation.

• AFV’s

  • Operate the AFV’s, which includes the pH meter, water addition, and rework addition.

  • Troubleshoot problems with the cheese and salting tables as needed.

  • Complete and document proper CIP/Sanitation.

• Whey Processing

  • Starting up Whey separator, Whey pasteurizer, Whey RO and POL.

  • Properly monitor equipment in whey department and make necessary adjustments throughout the shift.

  • Completing CIP on whey separator, whey pasteurizer, whey RO and POL.

  • Maintaining silo schedule for concentrated whey and water silos.

  • Complete and document proper CIP/Sanitation.

• Brine System

  • Ensure the brine system is running and balanced properly.

    • Adding salt and water as needed.

    • Transferring brine from flume to brine tanks.

    • Start up, shut down and CIP of the Brine UF system.

    • Selecting and running correct flumes based upon production schedule and equipment needing to run for production.

  • Complete and document proper CIP/Sanitation.

• Cooker System

  • Ensuring correct recipes are selected based upon production schedule for make type.

  • Ensuring correct cookers are being used based up production schedule, molder pods and string pods being used for the day.

  • Adjusting cooker temps as needed.

  • Shutting cookers down and completing transfer line flushes for each cooker cell.

  • Complete and document proper CIP/Sanitation.

• Obtain and maintain technical knowledge in cheesemaking to make accurate real-time decisions related to the cheese making process.

• Adhere to the master cleaning schedule and gasket program.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist Production Supervisor in training and development of new employees; including instructing new employees on proper procedures, safe working practices and producing a quality product.

• Assist Production Supervisor with delegation of employees and troubleshooting processes as needed.

• Completing and signing off on Pre-op inspections prior to machines starting up.

• Stop any observed GMP violations.

• Take immediate corrective action in the absence of supervisor, report issues to supervisor.

• Meet goals and objectives established with production supervisor.

• Understand and adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices and Standard Operating Procedures.

• Safety Protocol

  • Stop any observed unsafe acts and obey facility safety rules and procedures.

  • Correct or report any observed safety hazards.

  • Support safety policies and programs.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

The individual who will own this role:

Education Required:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.

Experience Required:

• Minimum five (5) years of related experience required.
• Previous work experience in a food safety/manufacturing environment required.

Certification/Licensure Required:

• HTST Operators License required.
• Cheesemakers License required.
• PCQI required.
• Forklift or Powered Pallet Jack (in-house training provided) required.

Skills Required:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with colleagues and individuals inside and outside the organization.
• Results driven, bottom-line oriented, strive to exceed goals, and motivate self and others to achieve positive outcomes.
• Able to provide current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others, identifying issues and taking appropriate action.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, adapt to a changing environment quickly, and think independently.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills, establish priorities, ability to multitask, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate attention to detail, quality and cleanliness in work.
• Follow one- or two-step verbal instructions; read and follow written instructions; perform routine and repetitive tasks; carry out detailed but uncomplicated written or verbal instructions; complete simple checklists and required documentation.
• Ability to solve problems by adapting knowledge and experience.
• Basic math plus fractions, decimals and percentages.
• Basic computer operational skills; able to input and retrieve computerized information.
• Dedication to meet the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; acts with customers in mind.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively at all levels in a collaborative team environment.
• Exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others and work to maintain constructive working relationships.

AA/EEO – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Where you’ll be working:

• Our Little Chute, WI, plant is home to about 140 employees. This facility is a top manufacturer of IQF sticks that are supplied to the appetizer industry. Next to the plant is our well-known Simon’s Specialty Cheese store, which has about 20 employees. Simon’s is a Wisconsin-themed store, with everything from meats and cheese to clothing and craft spirits.

• Agropur’s US operations produce 1 billion pounds of quality, award-winning cheese each year. We create more than 20 different varieties and provide whey protein and dry ingredients which are by-products of the cheesemaking process. As one of the world’s largest dairy producers, Agropur partners with some of the most recognizable food, beverage and nutrition brands to help feed the world. Better Dairy. Better World. Agropurus.com

An environment that values engagement and encourages everyone to take initiative.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Agropur welcomes people from all backgrounds and origins. We are proud to be an employer with a diverse community and are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all employees and applicants. We will work with candidates who request accommodation. Please note that an adequate knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec. Agropur uses artificial intelligence technology to assist our recruiters in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position.

In this text, the use of the masculine gender to designate persons is intended only to lighten the text.