Production Team Member (Cheese Room) - Temp to Hire

Pineland Farms Dairy Company (PFDC) proudly sources milk from local dairy farmers to create award winning cheese in our Bangor, Maine food manufacturing facility. We are looking for a full time employee to join our Production team, which is responsible for making our cheese and preparing it for aging. Do you have food experience, especially in a restaurant kitchen or deli? Are you a reliable team player? Do you enjoy seeing the results of your hard work every day? If the answers are Yes, Yes, and Yes, this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

The schedule for this position is Tuesday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:30 pm/Until Done, with the end of shift determined by recipe completion, cleaning, and sanitation inspections. Team members are required to stay until completion of duties, which may result in overtime. Starting pay is $18.00/hour. Cheese making is a physically demanding process, flipping cheese, raking curd, and routinely handling 40-65 pound blocks of cheese. It also requires the ability to work on your feet all day in a hot environment, similar to a restaurant kitchen. If you are a hands on person who thrives in an active work setting, cheese making may be for you!

Key Responsibilities:

In our Cheese Room, team members make several varieties of cheese according to established recipes, processes, and procedures.

• Set up the room for each day’s cheese make, follow daily cheesemaking procedures, and complete closing protocol at the end of the day.
• Operate machinery and equipment according to production procedures, including pre and post operational inspections.
• Prepare finished cheese for storage by removing 40-65 pound blocks of cheese from the press and metal forms (de-hooping) and ensuring packages are correctly sealed.
• Visually inspect product as it is made, pressed, and packaged for any defects or issues.
• Clean and sanitize the room and equipment using established CIP (clean-in-place) and COP (clean-out-of-place) protocols in accordance with Quality Assurance standards.
• Understand the cause and effect that your decisions have on the cheese making process.
• Work in harmony with the other members of the Production Team to ensure operations run smoothly.

General:

• Execute assigned duties with minimal supervision in a satisfactory and timely manner
• Follow all company safety policies and procedures
• Maintain Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and sanitation procedures
• Perform all other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Reading & writing proficiency (English language); may require reading and interpreting departmental SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
• Basic math skills (demonstrated understanding and ability to do simple calculations)
• Strong preference given to candidates with food service experience, especially in a restaurant kitchen or deli; manufacturing or warehouse experience also helpful
• Mechanical aptitude a plus, as this is a hands-on position
• Ability to work well as part of a team
• Good communication skills
• Ability to multi-task and adapt to changing priorities

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to move at a quick pace: Frequently
• Standing: Long periods.Constantly
• Sitting: Rarely
• Walking: Frequently
• Bending, Twisting & Stretching: Frequently
• Lifting: Heavy (26-50 lbs), with some Very Heavy (>50 lbs): This is a physical job, handling 40 lb blocks of cheese (encased cheese is approx. 65 lbs)
• Pushing/Pulling: Transferring cheese from cooking vat to finishing tables and moving pallets with the assistance of a pallet jack. Frequently
• Environment: Hot. Work takes place in a humid area with temperatures occasionally reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Use of chemicals: Frequently

Employee Benefits:

• Health insurance, with employer paid HSA and HRA
• Dental insurance
• Life, long term, and short-term disability insurance (100% employer paid)
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan (401(k) with employer match)
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount on our products as well as those offered by other Pineland Farms divisions

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18