Cheese Maker job description

About the job

We are looking for a cheese maker to turn milk into fresh and aged cheeses such as ricotta, white cheese and mozzarella, following set recipes and food safety requirements.

Duties and responsibilities

• Receive milk and check its temperature, acidity and fat content before processing
• Pasteurize milk and standardize its fat content for each cheese
• Add starter cultures, rennet and salts in the quantities the recipe sets
• Cut, cook and drain the curd at the right time
• Mould, press and salt cheese or place it in brine
• Turn ageing cheeses and monitor ripening-room temperature and humidity
• Clean and sanitize equipment and vats after every batch
• Record ingredient quantities, temperatures, times and test results for every batch

Working conditions

• Shift work, with early starts when the milk arrives
• Humid rooms and cold stores, in hygienic workwear

Requirements

• Intermediate diploma in food processing or animal production, or a vocational certificate in dairy processing
• 3 to 6 years of experience in cheese and dairy production

The years of experience follow the level you choose when posting.

Skills

• Cheese making
• Milk pasteurization
• Curd handling
• Cheese ripening
• Food safety and hygiene
• Basic milk testing
• HACCP

Preferred

• Experience making buttermilk (laban), yoghurt and butter
• A food safety training certificate