Cheese Operations Manager

Come join the Tillamook Team where our philosophy is “Dairy Done Right.” As an independent farmer-owned cooperative, we have been guided by good, honest values since 1909. We believe in putting quality over profit, natural over artificial, and that hard work can never be outsmarted. We’re taking a stand for real food because everyone deserves better.

About you:

What does real food mean to you? Is your favorite dish a cheesy casserole? Perhaps a decadent and indulgent ice cream? Either way, your identification with food is important to us. People who fit well here at Tillamook have a commitment to quality in everything they do. Our team members understand our vision, contribute to our mission, thrive on innovative thinking, hard work and good, honest values.

About us:

Our team members understand our vision, contribute to our mission, thrive on innovative thinking, hard work and good, honest values. We live by these shared values: We are Good Stewards, We believe in Uncompromising Quality, We work as One Team, We Play to Win, and We Genuinely Care for each other.

What you will do:

The Cheese Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the cheese department at the Boardman plant for efficient operations. Responsibilities include supervising Data Analyst, Technical Manager, Cheese Make, & Manufacturing Supervisors in the cheese department. Duties will also include assisting in managing the department, including payroll, scheduling, GMPs, SOP’s, safety, sanitation and operation of equipment and troubleshooting and solving problems with processing equipment, issue work orders. Responsibility for delivering results across all KPI’s.

Here’s a day in the life:

• Provide leadership and supervision for the Cheese Plant
• Maintain the day-to-day Cheese Plant operations
• Effectively motivate, train and communicate with supervisors and team members to assure superior levels of safety, reliability, sanitation, and quality
• Interview, hire, complete performance appraisals and disciplinary action when necessary as well as addressing and resolving employee concerns
• Ensure individual and team levels of performance meet or exceed goals and expectations
• Prepare and conduct team meetings as necessary for proper communications and development
• Work with the Engineering and Quality Assurance staff to create a cooperative environment on their assigned shift
• Develop expert knowledge of the production process and all associated equipment
• Participate in and lead project teams that improve safety, quality, reliability, sanitation and reduce waste, including Lean and/or Six Sigma
• Reinforce a sense of urgency during production runs and periods of machine downtime
• Effectively communicate issues to the management team
• Ensure compliance with USDA, OSDA, FDA, and other regulatory product safety requirements
• Monitor use of standard operation procedures (SOP’s)
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business or related field preferred.
• Dairy and/or Cheese Manufacturing strongly preferred
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience with strong leadership qualities, proven history of delivering sustainable results
• Green or Black Belt Six Sigma Certification preferred
• Complete understanding of computer-driven process controls for a dairy manufacturing facility, and PC literate
• Proven track record or meeting or exceeding KPI’s and process improvement
• Possess solid financial background and experiences to understand daily, monthly, and annual to date impact of line efficiency, material yield, and labor productivity for the Cheese Plant
• The ability to work with groups of people with varying levels of education, expertise, and backgrounds
• Possess a passion for diversity and inclusion, including a proven record of accomplishment of leading diversity initiatives and delivering results
• Ability to achieve results through others
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Need to be flexible to work various hours and weekends

Industry-leading benefit and reward programs:

We offer outstanding benefits to our employees. For more information, please visit the careers page: www.tillamook.com/careers.

We are committed to creating a diverse culture and inclusive conditions where all employees are heard, valued and feel a sense of belonging. We rely on different perspectives, thoughts, backgrounds, and cultures to inform our work, to help us be better as a brand and as an employer and to fuel our success. We are seeking talent from a wide range of diversity, perspectives, and backgrounds to join our exceptional organization and help us build our future.

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a Drug-Free Workplace. EEO/AA