Production Manager - Cheese

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily cheese production operations including milk intake, pasteurization, curd formation, pressing, and aging.
• Ensure compliance with EHS, GMP, and food safety standards while promoting a strong safety culture.
• Monitor and adjust production plans to meet demand and customer requirements.
• Analyze production metrics such as yield, downtime, and efficiency to drive performance improvements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives including lean manufacturing and root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to align production priorities.
• Optimize production output, throughput, and overall operational efficiency.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of leadership experience in dairy or food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of cheese production processes including fermentation, curd handling, moisture control, and aging.
• Understanding of GMPs, food safety regulations, and industry standards.
• Experience with large-scale production and automated systems preferred.

Work Environment

• Fast-paced manufacturing and office environment following GMP standards.
• Exposure to chemicals, allergens, enzymes, and moderate-to-high noise levels.
• PPE required including safety footwear, gloves, eye protection, and lab coat.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, train, and develop production team members and supervisors.
• Assign work, set priorities, and monitor team performance.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage staffing, recruitment, and performance management processes.

Ways of Working

• Act with respect, integrity, and inclusiveness.
• Drive for excellence and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate effectively and contribute to shared team success.