Job Description

Job Summary: We are seeking a skilled Cheese Production Specialist to manage and oversee all aspects of cheese manufacturing operations, ensuring the highest standards of product quality, food safety, and efficiency. The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of cheese-making processes, milk handling, fermentation, and ripening, along with experience in running automated dairy equipment and leading production teams. Key Responsibilities: Supervise daily cheese production activities from milk standardization, pasteurization, curd preparation, cutting, molding, pressing, salting, and ripening. Ensure adherence to cheese recipes, production parameters, and process controls to maintain product consistency and quality. Monitor critical control points (CCP) and process conditions in compliance with food safety standards (FSSC 22000, HACCP). Collaborate with the Quality Assurance team for sampling, testing, and continuous improvement of cheese products. Manage and optimize yield, minimize losses, and improve plant efficiency. Operate and troubleshoot cheese vats, separators, molders, brining systems, and packaging equipment. Maintain hygiene standards and supervise cleaning and sanitation protocols in the production area (CIP and manual cleaning). Train and guide production operators and junior staff on best practices in cheese making and handling. Assist in product development trials, recipe modifications, and new product launches. Maintain daily production reports, batch records, and documentation for audits and traceability. Qualifications and Skills: Bachelor’s degree/Diploma in Dairy Technology, Food Technology, or related field. 3–5 years of hands-on experience in cheese production in a dairy processing environment. Strong knowledge of cheese-making processes (hard, semi-hard, soft cheeses), milk standardization, cultures, enzymes, and fermentation control. Understanding of dairy processing equipment operation and troubleshooting. Good knowledge of GMP, food safety standards, and production documentation. Strong leadership and team management skills. Analytical and problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mindset. Preferred: Experience with different cheese varieties (cheddar, mozzarella, processed cheese, gouda, etc.). Exposure to automated cheese-making plants and packaging lines. Familiarity with SAP or other ERP production modules. Knowledge of yield improvement and cost control initiatives.