1st Shift Processing Associate at Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery – New London, Wisconsin

Join the always-growing family at Ellsworth Creamery as we work with our cooperative of local farmers to create award-winning cheese! Committed to our Team, Craft & Community, Since 1910.

ABOUT ELLSWORTH CREAMERY: At Ellsworth Creamery, our team members are more than employees; you are like family and we want you to succeed. This culture has contributed to the longevity of our staff, whose careers at Ellsworth Creamery span 10, 20 and even 50 years!

At our New London facility, our focus is on functionality in our cheeses. This facility produces easy melts, high-temperature restricted melt cheeses, and pasteurized processed pizza cheese for versatile culinary applications.

Benefits Package:

• Full Time employees are eligible for benefits on the 1st of the month, following 30 days of employment.
• Medical, Health Savings Account, Dental, Vision, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital insurances available.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other free resources.
• 401k match, Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay!

Under the direction of the Blending and/or Sanitation Supervisor, the Processing Team Member is responsible for anticipating and meeting the Company’s evolving needs and objectives. The Processing Team Member assists with achieving daily production demand and ensuring the make of high-quality products. Assuring safety, quality and performance objectives are a foundational expectation for this role.

Members will be trained and are expected to become proficient in the following areas that comprise the workload of the Processing Team: Cheese Batcher: to provide correct grouped cheeses under specific formula for production Barrel Dumper: to dump and slice barrels of cheese in the production line for the finished product

Ingredient Batcher: to provide accurate ingredient formulas for cheese production

Loading Belt / Track: to transfer cheese onto conveyor belt for grinding

The list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management deem necessary.

• Execute the company’s business strategies to achieve the goals of the Director of Operations
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory standards including but not limited to: Human resources, Good Manufacturing Processes, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Food and Drug Administration, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer protection, Safe Quality Food, and the United States Department of Agriculture
• Safely and efficiently operate production machines and/or equipment. Production equipment is used to perform production tasks such as forming, filling, wrapping, and packaging or otherwise process materials.
• Ensure that all ingredients and packaging are handled within the manufacturing facility in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations, internal food safety requirements, and organic requirements and in accordance to regulatory standards that are established by GMP, OSHA, FDA, WDATCP and USDA.
• Ensures the presence, accuracy, and legibility of required information on all production documentation. This includes ingredient and packaging lot code information; ingredient and packaging quantity information; in process fill weight checks; in process lot code verification; production downtime; and any abnormalities that occur during a production run.
• Develop required skills and knowledge to a level of depth appropriate to keep production as highly functional as needed to meet organizational goals and objectives.
• Thorough understanding and ability to rotate into all positions of processing including batching, barrel dumping, ingredient batching and track.
• Inspect all raw cheeses for mold, dirt or unsanitary conditions and properly discard any unusable product.
• Properly organize storage of ingredients and raw cheese supplies.
• Complete training on hand trucks, forklifts and other power equipment necessary to successfully complete job functions.
• Properly use cheese scale to accurately weight the needed amount of cheese slabs requested by each formulation.
• Work cohesively with Quality Assurance Supervisor to report any questionable quality or unsanitary findings
• Responsible for chemical safety
• Responsible for following all Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures
• Responsible for the disassembly, cleaning, sanitizing, and reassembly of all production equipment.
• Check all gaskets and O-rings for wear and replace when necessary
• Complete all daily documentation.
• Promote a safe, secure, and positive work environment for all Wohlt Employees.
• Other duties as appropriate or assigned.

Candidate Requirements:

• Ability to read and follow directions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer knowledge is a plus, but we will train as needed.
• High school diploma, equivalent, or eagerness to learn and work in the dairy industry.
• Must pass forklift operations training.

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift 50+ lbs. repetitively.
• Ability to push 500lb. barrels of cheese on a track.
• Stand for up to 8 hours per shift.
• Pass a drug & alcohol screen as well as a general background check.

Work Environment

• Food plant environment. Must adhere to all food and plant safety policies and regulations.