Cheese Grading Supervisor
At Hilmar Cheese Company we improve lives around the world through wholesome dairy products. Since our founding in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company has been committed to innovation and sustainability. Our state-of-the art production facilities convert an abundance of locally sourced high-quality milk into a variety of nutritious cheeses, whey protein and lactose. The Cheese and Ingredients that we produce create a wide variety of retail and food service products from sliced and shredded cheeses, to protein supplements and infant formula. We are a trusted partner to premier food and beverage brands in more than fifty countries helping bring their vision into reality.
Throughout our decades of success and growth we have remained committed to our mission and values and these principles unite our people and guide all that we do.
A Typical Day
The Cheese Grading Supervisor is responsible for supervising and developing the cheese grading program, overseeing graders in carrying out their duties and to make recommendations for final disposition of products. The employee is expected to drive and lead the group in the continuous improvement of Hilmar Cheese products and processes. The role will support the grading coordinator in defining and developing the grading processes and systems used to monitor cheese produced by Hilmar, providing feedback to the technical and operations teams on cheese performance, looking at routine performance and supporting trials.
Job Responsibilities
• Responsible for coordinating and sampling of cheese products for final sensory evaluations and recommendations for final disposition.
• Supervises the pulling of samples for cheese lab, micro lab and independent labs as requested.
• Monitor grades and analytical data to keep grading team on track.
• Supervises the tracking and reporting of cheese as needed through PIN system.
• Participate in all R&D that incorporates cheese functionality tracking as assigned.
• Responsible for recommendations to improve quality of cheese products.
• Assist with Cheese Production, Sales and Quality Assurance with selection of products for customer evaluations.
• Assist with Cheese Grading Coordinator in answering product performance concerns.
• Assist with Cheese Selection for State, US and World Competitions.
• Responsible for training grading team and applicable HCC trainings.
• Supervising the reporting of all cheese sensory results in SAP, cheese grading summary and all re-grades, under-grade exceptions and others as assigned.
• Travel to work with customers and witness conversion of our products to gather information to assist production in making adjustments.
• Support grading training and development program and associated activities, classes and events.
• Coach and train graders and participate in on the job, buddy training by traveling to all HCC locations if needed.
• Place high priority on food safety and sanitation by understanding and executing HCC’s food safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
• Hold self and others accountable to HCC’s food safety & sanitation guidelines and policies by communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates.
• Prioritize safety above all other job duties by having a safety first approach at all times.
• Participate in departmental safety teams and report any safety issues, observations, opportunities to your teams and follow up.
• Promote Company Culture.
What You Will Need
• High School Diploma and 10 years’ related experience OR Associate’s degree and 5 years’ related experience OR Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Process Engineering or similar field plus 3 years’ related experience OR Master’s degree.
• Knowledge of industrial cheese grading
• Knowledge of production operations management for quality, yield and cost
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Software such a Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
What Will Put You Ahead
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Process Engineering or similar field plus 5 years’ related experience or Master’s degree plus 1 year related experience.
• Advanced knowledge of cheese making.
• Previous experience working, and developing food recipes.
• Background with process improvement programs and procedures.
• SAP, JMP, and Historian experience
Physical Demands & Work Environment
The role has periods of time when the work environment is sedentary and conducted in an office environment balanced with frequent occasions that require prolonged walking or standing, lifting/ carrying/handling moderate weight objects on a regular basis. Is required to wear PPE and have a regular presence in manufacturing and warehouse environments in both temperature controlled and uncontrolled locations. Must frequently interact with people verbally. Specific details of the essential functions of the position is available in the Job Safety Analysis, made available on request.
Safety and Food Safety is a company-wide responsibility and each employee must know their role in the manufacturing and distribution of safe, wholesome, and high quality products and expected safe behavior in our work environment.
Food safety is a companywide responsibility and each employee must know their role in the manufacture and distribution of safe, wholesome, and high quality products.
This description is a general statement and does not include other duties as assigned
Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/EEO. We participate in E-Verify.
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5B:Salary Range: USD (68879.0 - 103319.0) ANN
The final compensation offered within this range will depend on factors including the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Nearest Major Market: Merced