Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Whey & Ingredient Process Optimization

This role develops and implements in-process targets for solids/lactose/protein recovery, yield, throughput, and efficiency across whey and ingredient manufacturing. It monitors performance, reduces product loss, evaluates processes and equipment, and recommends improvements to quality, consistency, and operational results. The position provides technical direction and troubleshooting support to Operations and Quality, leads work involving whey protein concentrate, lactose, and other ingredient products, and optimizes filtration, concentration, evaporation, crystallization, drying, separation, and related systems. It also analyzes operating data, identifies root causes of deviations, implements sustainable corrective actions, and establishes methods to track membrane performance and product loss.

Product Quality, Functionality & Customer Support

The position provides technical expertise on whey and ingredient product composition, functionality, performance, and quality attributes. In partnership with Operations and Quality, it ensures products meet in-process standards, finished-product specifications, and customer requirements; investigates quality and performance concerns; and coordinates containment, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and follow-up. The role evaluates how raw materials, processing conditions, and equipment affect finished products; supports product development, commercialization, and plant implementation; responds to customer technical needs with Quality and Sales; identifies improvement opportunities; and documents evaluations, trials, process changes, conclusions, and recommendations.

Capital Projects & Continuous Improvement

The role develops and maintains one- to five-year capital plans and leads projects that improve whey processing, ingredient production, solids recovery, efficiency, quality, and supporting infrastructure. Responsibilities include managing scope, budgets, schedules, vendors, contractors, installation, startup, and validation while coordinating with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality and other stakeholders. The position leads trials, evaluations, validations, startups, and related training; ensures projects meet technical, operating, budget, and timeline expectations; and measures results through operational and financial performance data.

Food Safety, Safety & Regulatory Responsibilities

The position promotes a strong safety and food safety culture and ensures that whey and ingredient operations and assigned projects comply with applicable workplace safety, food safety, environmental, operational, customer, and company requirements. It participates in incident investigations, root-cause analysis, corrective-action development, and follow-up; identifies process, equipment, product-quality, and project risks; coordinates preventive and corrective action; and consistently supports company sanitation, environmental, Good Manufacturing Practice, safety, and food safety standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Owns the day-to-day performance of the department, ensuring safety, quality, and operational standards are consistently met along with schedules, staffing plans, and processes.
Executes departmental goals and priorities aligned with company strategy.
Establishes, monitors, and delivers KPI’s aligned with departmental and organizational goals.
Leads and develops Supervisors and Leads to ensure strong execution and team effectiveness.
Reinforces culture, expectations, and leadership behaviors established by the organization.
Ensures role clarity and accountability across their team to drive efficient operations.
Builds and maintains a highly engaged, performance-driven team environment.
Supports talent development by coaching employees and identifying growth opportunities.
Drives accountability through regular performance discussions and follow-up.
Identifies operational challenges and implements solutions to improve performance.
Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements.
Executes continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency and cost control.
Utilizes data and metrics to improve decision-making and performance.
Supports budget adherence by managing resources effectively.
Coordinates and supports execution of projects within scope and timelines.
Communicates effectively across departments.
Partners with cross-functional teams to improve operations.

COMPETENCIES

Leadership / Accountability

Business Acumen
Communication Proficiency
Problem Solving / Analysis
Technical Capacity

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position supervises supervisors, leads, and/or employees and is responsible for the day-to-day direction, coordination, and performance management of the assigned team.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands for this position primarily involve sedentary and light activity. The employee may be required to sit, stand, walk, and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

TRAVEL

This position will require occasional travel.

Required Education, Experience & Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science, Dairy Manufacturing, Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field. An equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and experience may be considered.
Five to ten years of relevant experience in dairy processing, whey processing, ingredient manufacturing, food manufacturing, process engineering, or a related technical field.
Minimum of five years of leadership, supervisory, project management, or significant functional leadership experience in a manufacturing or technical environment.
Working knowledge of whey and ingredient manufacturing processes, solids recovery, yield optimization, process improvement, and product quality requirements.
Demonstrated experience leading process-improvement initiatives or capital projects.
Experience analyzing operational data, identifying performance trends, evaluating root causes, and implementing corrective actions.
Understanding food safety preventive controls, Good Manufacturing Practices, sanitation requirements, and manufacturing documentation.
Strong computer, communication, documentation, and data-analysis skills.
Ability to work effectively with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Sales, vendors, contractors, customers, and company leadership.

Preferred Education, Experience & Certifications

Master’s degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
Experience with whey protein concentrate, lactose, or other whey-derived ingredient manufacturing.
Technical experience with filtration, concentration, evaporation, crystallization, drying, separation, or related dairy-processing technologies.
Experience evaluating ingredient composition, functionality, quality, and customer performance.
Experience managing capital projects, project budgets, vendors, contractors, and equipment startups.
Preventive Controls Qualified Individual training or another relevant food safety credential.
Bilingual in English and Spanish.

OTHER DUTIES

This job description is not designed to cover all duties. Responsibilities may change at any time.

Monday - Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; additional hours as needed for trials

Valley Queen

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