Process Operator

Company: Tillamook County Creamery Association
Location: Boardman
Posted on: May 16, 2023

Job Description:

Process Operator

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.

We invite members of all diverse communities to join our workforce. At Tillamook, we believe that inclusion and diversity are central to our cultural strategy. In order to achieve our growth ambition and compete and win in the marketplace, we believe we make better decisions and build stronger teams when we invite and rely on diverse perspectives, thoughts, backgrounds and cultures into our work and to fuel our innovation and growth. To us this means creating a climate of inclusion where all employees feel valued and a sense of belonging.We believe this will make us a better consumer brand and employer.

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:

This position requires one to take initiative, be dependable, adaptable, maintain a positive attitude and integrity, and work well with others. The Process Operator is responsible for the production and testing of the different stages in the cheese-making process. This position is responsible for ensuring that the steps for producing a product that meets TCCA's high standard of quality are taken and notifying the Team Lead and Supervisor when issues arise that would jeopardize that quality. They will record all necessary information used to track the manufacturing of product produces at this facility. This position requires knowledge of all areas in the plant: Utility, Operator (including Milk Receiving), Starter, Post Process and Cheese Vats.

Here's a day in the life:

• Vat Deck:
• Monitor and record the system and supplier lot numbers, amounts and addition times for all ingredients.This includes milk, color, starter, rennet, salt, and jalapenos/habaneros.The vat operator will also be responsible for recording the system lot number for the bags
• Monitor and record the cheese making steps according to the recipe for the product being produced that day.This will include the temperature of the milk during filling, the firmness of the set and the temperature of the cook
• Monitor and record acid production by the starter bacteria
• Be able to explain each step in the cheese making process and what is occurring chemically and physically to the product at that step
• Communicate with Post Process Operators, Team Leads and Shift Supervisor
• Post Process:
• Start and operate the milk HTST and to provide pasteurized or heat shocked milk to the vat operator as per the production schedule
• Perform component testing of milk silos per procedure posted in the lab by the FT1 analyzer, communicate to vat operator, and post in log book
• Standardize the cheese milk with sweet cream per standardization document
• Process whey received from the vats per raw whey processing document
• Operation Monitoring & Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems. Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly
• Pasteurize raw whey cream and sweet cream
• Operate the Separator and Clarifier as needed
• Starter Maker:
• Sample and test finished starter for activity
• Sample starter tanks and submit for in-house microbial testing, phage and cell count testing
• Produce starter and clean starter vats
• Manage the inventory of the starter cultures and media to ensure proper rotation and notify the supervisor when levels approach normal reorder points
• Communicate with shift supervisor or plant management of any unusual occurrences that may arise
• Other duties as assigned by your Team Lead, Supervisor, and/or Management
  Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  
  • High school diploma or GED required
  • 1-3 years of food manufacturing experience. Cheese make experience preferred
  • Weekend and off-shift work is required
  • Duties may include repetitive motion of hands and lifting up to 45 pounds
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem solving skills
  • Licensing (as required by management):
  • Milk Sampler/Grader
  • Pasteurizer
  • Forklift
    Physical Requirements:
    
    • Occasional lifting supplies using equipment.
    • Standing raisin and lowering u to 45# from to a height of 55".
    • Seldom lifting equipment.
    • Standing liftin and car in to 45# at waist height for 6 feet.
    • Occasional lifting supplies using equipment.
    • Standing raisin and lowering 45#.
      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

Keywords: Tillamook County Creamery Association, Yakima , Process Operator, Other , Boardman, Washington