1

Whey Plant Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... Plant operator * Assist in the teardown of whey separator, reverse osmosis unit, and heat exchangers as needed * Notify the Cheese Manufacturing Manager or Maintenance Department of equipment ...

Job Summary Provides vacation coverage for any position within the whey plant and occasionally ... Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers ...

Plant Manager

Syracuse, NY · On-site

$160 - $185/hr

Manage plant operating budgets, labor costs, capital expenditures, and overall financial ... Whey protein processing * Butter manufacturing * Nonfat dry milk (NFDM) production * Condensed milk ...

Directly manage operational employees through functional leads establishing daily objectives ... Comply with GMP's in the plant * Assist in the maintenance of Food Safety and Quality system ...

Job Summary Provides vacation coverage for any position within the whey plant and occasionally ... Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers ...

As a Senior Maintenance Manager, Whey & RSPC, the role will carry out responsibilities such as but ... Advise plant leadership and team members on policies, procedures and appropriate sourcing resources ...

As Plant Manager of the Friendship, WI location, you will be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day leadership of a complex whey processing facility, leveraging engineering principles ...

As Plant Manager of the Friendship, WI location, you will be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day leadership of a complex whey processing facility, leveraging engineering principles ...

As Plant Manager of the Friendship, WI location, you will be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day leadership of a complex whey processing facility, leveraging engineering principles ...

As Plant Manager of the Friendship, WI location, you will be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day leadership of a complex whey processing facility, leveraging engineering principles ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Whey Plant Manager information

See salary details

$68K

$81.6K

$97.5K

How much do whey plant manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for whey plant manager in the United States is $81,600.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,500.00 and $88,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a whey plant manager?

Whey Plant Managers are professionals responsible for overseeing the operations of facilities that process whey, a byproduct of cheese manufacturing. Their duties include managing staff, ensuring production efficiency, maintaining quality and safety standards, and coordinating with other departments to meet production goals. They also monitor equipment, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Effective Whey Plant Managers combine technical knowledge with leadership skills to ensure smooth and safe facility operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a whey plant manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Whey Plant Manager, you need a background in dairy science, food processing, or engineering, with experience in plant operations and management. Familiarity with food safety regulations, quality control systems like HACCP, and plant management software is typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These skills ensure efficient production, compliance with regulations, and a safe, motivated team that meets operational goals.

What are common challenges faced by a whey plant manager, and how can they be addressed?

Whey Plant Managers often encounter challenges such as ensuring consistent product quality, maintaining compliance with food safety regulations, and optimizing production efficiency. Balancing these priorities requires strong leadership, attention to detail, and effective communication with cross-functional teams such as quality assurance, maintenance, and logistics. Proactively implementing preventive maintenance programs and fostering a culture of continuous improvement can help address operational bottlenecks and minimize downtime. Additionally, staying updated with industry best practices and regulatory changes is essential for long-term success in this role.

What states have the most Whey Plant Manager jobs?

States with the most job openings for Whey Plant Manager jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Whey Plant Manager jobs?

For Whey Plant Manager jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Whey Plant Manager job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 2% Full Time, 2% Temporary, 84% Contract, and 10% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $81,600 per year, or $39.2 per hour.

Whey Systems Operator - 2nd Shift Antigo

Antigo, WI • On-site

Sartori
Food and Drink Manufacturing • 501 - 1,000 employees

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago


Sartori Cheese rating

5.6

Company rating: 5.6 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

SUMMARY 

The Whey Systems Operator is responsible for the start-up, shutdown, and sanitation of all whey plant processes, including: whey separator, producing concentrated whey using a reverse osmosis system, operation of heat treatment system, and operation of a polisher system according to established company procedures.  This 2nd shift position works a 2-2-3 rotational schedule.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned. 

  • Operates whey separator to produce whey cream from raw whey produced in cheese making. 
  • Operates reverse osmosis/polisher system to produce high quality concentrated whey by controlling whey flow rate, pressures, and temperatures, etc. Directs all products to proper storage silos. Tests finished product throughout operations.  
  • Monitor product levels, flows and temperatures in raw whey tanks, whey sweet cream tanks, whey tanks, cow water tanks, product balance tanks, and reverse osmosis system.  Records all information on production log sheets. 
  • Loads concentrated whey into tanker trucks.  
  • Responsible for sanitation of all whey plant equipment and documentation. 
  • Tests outgoing loads and completes necessary documentation.  
  •  Monitor levels in the high strength tank and load out waste.  
  • Ensures USDA compliance with Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) procedures. 
  • Keeps track of whey plant cleaning chemicals, keeps supply barrels full, assists and directs unloading and storage of all chemicals received during shift.   
  • Complies with all company safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), and good manufacturing practices (GMPs). 
  • Routinely required to perform intake duties to include testing for antibiotics, unloading of milk tankers, and intake sanitation, as well as all required documentation and paperwork. 
  • Washes RO system, whey heat treat and polishes water system, whey tank, and reserve silo. 
  • Immediately reports any food safety or quality issues to management or other individuals authorized to initiate action. 
  • Required to train new Team Members on duties and responsibilities in whey plant.  

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES 

  • May be required to perform duties normally done by the 2nd shift operator and the Intake/Whey Plant operators.  
  • Assists in the teardown of whey separator, reverse osmosis unit, and heat exchangers as needed.  
  • Notifies the Cheese Manufacturing Manager or Maintenance Department of equipment problems.  
  • Participates in USDA inspections. 

QUALIFICATIONS  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

  • High school diploma or equivalent is required (GED). 
  • 2-3 years of experience in food manufacturing is desirable. 

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

  • Knowledge of operator interfaces to operate automated equipment. 
  • Good computer and mechanical skills.  
  • Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.   
  • Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.   
  • Ability to speak effectively with managers, truck drivers, and other Team Members.  
  • Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  
  • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.   
  • Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.  

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS 

May need to be certified to run milk antibiotic tests for incoming milk. 

Bulk Milk Weigher / Sampler License desirable. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   

While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The Team Member frequently is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance on milk trucks, catwalk, building roof and cooling towers, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The Team Member is occasionally required to sit and talk or hear. The Team Member must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and maneuver barrels of chemicals weighing up to 550 lb. using a two-wheeled barrel dolly.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.   

WORK ENVIRONMENT  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is often exposed to extreme, non-weather-related heat, wet and/or humid conditions as well as occasional exposure to outside weather. The Team Member is often exposed to hazards such as moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places such as trucks, catwalk, building room and cooling tower; toxic and/or caustic and acid cleaning chemicals. The Team Member is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and minimal risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud and requires hearing protection to be always worn in the production environment.  

Occasional overtime may be required. 

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED  

While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member may be required to work with separator hand tools, hammer, wrenches, jacks, refractometer, pH meter and other testing equipment, water hoses.  

PPE’s REQUIRED 

Personal protective equipment that is required when working with hazardous materials or loud equipment includes: safety goggles, rubber or latex gloves, lab coat, and hearing protection.  Other recommended PPE includes face shield, chemical resistant apron and steel toe shoes.  See Chemical Hygiene Plan for details. 

Trial12


What Sartori Cheese employees say

Pay

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom