Cheese Making Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Vacation Relief Operator
Come join the Tillamook Team where our philosophy is "Do Right By Every Bite." 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:
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.
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 Vacation Relief 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 is a day in the life:

• 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.
• Willing to cover other areas but not limited to Towers, Milk Receiving, Boxer and Cold Store
• Must be flexible to support different shifts and teams for vacation coverage
• Cover meal times and breaks for all areas
• Other duties as assigned by your Team Lead, Supervisor, and/or Management.

Skills you'll need:
Education:

• High school diploma or GED required.

Experience:

• 1-3 years of food manufacturing experience. Cheese make experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to pass physical requirements including a pre-work physical

Industry leading benefit and reward programs:
HIS POSITION IS LOCATED ON-SITE AT OUR BOARDMAN, OREGON FACILITY.
Process Engineer
Come join the Tillamook Team, one of the fastest-growing dairy brands in the US, where we Play to Win to create over 200 dairy products in 7 different categories: cheese, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter, cream cheese and frozen meals.
Our Uncompromising Quality has led us to become the #1 Cheddar, #2 Cream Cheese and #3 Family Size Ice Cream brand, but we're not stopping there. We're loading up for our best years to come and want you to join us.
As a farmer-owned cooperative since 1909, we know that being Good Stewards for our stakeholders and doing a little extra always pays off. We're looking for team members with a One Team and Genuine Care mindset who are inspired to share the delight of the Tillamook brand with each other and others every day.
What you will do:
The Process Engineer owns the interface between fluid processing equipment, product, and utility systems, and leads the design and implementation of solutions to improve quality, reduce cost, and support customer demands for new products. The Process Engineer works closely with the Whey Production Manager and Procecss Technologiest to support the New Product Development group, and with the plant maintenance and engineering team to enhance profitability and growth by reducing operating costs and downtime.
Here's a day in the life:
• Own the engineering of the cheese, and powder production processes from milk receiving to cheese block formers, through WPC-80 and lactose manufacturing finished packaging.
• Collaborate with the Sales amp; Marketing teams to lead feasibility studies for new products.
• Evaluate, research and develop new/alternate materials, process methods, equipment and technologies.
• Provide technical support when growth, modernization and expansion occurs in cheese, and whey production and processing capacity to meet market demands with state of the art systems.
• Develop and implement processes, procedures, and methodology to improve efficiencies and quality of dairy products produced.
• Collaborate with Production, R amp;D, Quality and Finance to define expected operational success criteria and operational costs for proposed projects.
• Specify pumps, valves, and instrumentation in collaboration with the engineering automation team.
• Preparation of the RFP including clear statement of work, project success criteria, process flow diagram, equipment specifications, FAT expectations, and T amp;Cs adequate to support accurate vendor proposals.
• Verify performance of new equipment and process installations.
• Lead resolution of vendor technical performance issues with new equipment or processes.
• Provide design and operational oversight for utility systems and critical production and utility equipment.
• Provide technical support for maintenance when requested.
• Develop and track performance and maintenance of large rotating equipment such as centrifuges, fans, and compressors.
• Initiate, plan and lead capital and non-capital maintenance and equipment projects to ensure timely and cost-effective achievement of project objectives.
• Manage small to mid-sized capital improvement projects.
• Large project team member / SME (subject matter expert)
• Project regulatory compliance (ODA, USDA, FDA, SQF, PSM/RMP)
• Mandate adherence to all safety guidelines and work to provide a safe work environment for all employees.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with employees, supervisors and the general public.
• Communicate difficult concepts and negotiates with others to achieve the optimal solution.
• Act as a team player and be able to interact with staff at all levels of the company.
• Work under pressure, meet deadlines, and be flexible in working on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrate excellent time-management skills with the ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Demonstrate knowledge of P amp;ID development and engineering specifications development. Experience with piping layouts, tank/storage handling, and fluid diversion, mixing of fluid medias specific to cheese/dairy or CIP processes, as well as pumps, and valves.
• Solves moderately complex problems; takes a new perspective on existing solutions; exercises judgment based on the analysis of multiple sources of information.
• Demonstrates design capabilities in specification, verification, and calculation of fluid and thermal based processes
• Utilize a computer with intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Professional Engineer license preferred.
• Bachelor's or higher degree in engineering, chemical, mechanical or technical discipline or equivalent relevant work experience.
• 5+ years food or beverage manufacturing processes.
• Have experience with the following: Mass balance process flows and calculations, heat exchange (conceptual, theoretical, & applicable), and food or dairy packaging experience.
• Experience working with multi trade based vendors/contractors.
• Show familiarity with USDA Dairy and 3A Sanitary Design Standards.
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 culture of inclusion 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
TCCA prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability status (including those related to pregnancy and childbirth), protected veteran status, membership/non-membership in a labor organization, or any other characteristic protected by law.