Sr. Technical Cheese Supervisor

For our future state-of-the art 600+ person Lubbock, TX cheese and whey manufacturing facility, Leprino is seeking a Sr. Technical Cheese Supervisor to support production from the ground up. Leprino Foods broke ground on the $1 billion facility in the summer of 2022. The plant will become operational in 2025 with Phase 1 and will become fully operational by 2026 with Phase 2.

​​The Senior Technical Cheese Supervisor works closely with the Cheese Department to manufacture cheese products of the highest quality and in constant alignment with customer specifications. This position provides technical expertise to improve root cause analysis that lead to improvements of Cheese department operations. This role is instrumental in providing process, procedural, and analytical expertise in the development of training material used to train all cheese department staff.​ 

Job Duties

• ​​Develops, manages, and publishes daily make plans. 

• ​Monitors product quality by participating in product evaluation and grading activities for the plant, and providing guidance to reduce customer complaints, problem product, and to improve product in-spec performance.​ 

• ​​​Provides technical and operational expertise for the manufacturing of cheese product to improve cheese yields encompassing fat retention, unaccounted for butterfat, and controllable yields.​ 

• ​​Contributes to the development of the department’s budget, UBF, and Y&E analysis, and provides insights focused on milk, ingredients, and starter variances. 

• ​Performs gap analysis and recommends improvement strategies.​​ 

• ​​Reviews PSOPs for accuracy and enforces utilization in production areas. 

• ​Supports initiatives around technical training plant employees.  

• ​Develops the plant Trainee and evaluates performance.​ 

• ​​Leads the Employee Engagement Team that supports Cheese production improvements for the plant and company. 

• ​Coordinates maintenance and engineering activities and manages performance for department projects, trials, corrective action work orders, focused on continuous improvement opportunities.

• Provides ongoing technical support to cheese department employees by implementing frequent assessments of production floor, processes, operational practices, and equipment in order to evaluate continuous learning opportunities within the department. 

• ​Coordinates project data collection and information on trials and other R&D initiatives in order to establish needed action plans or follow-up by plant.​ 

You Must Have (Minimum Qualifications & Experience): 

• College Degree in Food Science, Dairy Technology or related field, or similar work experience 

• 12+ years of experience in food manufacturing 

• 5+ years of experience in technical cheese making 

• Proficient computer knowledge, with familiarity or ability to learn SAP or other manufacturing computer systems 

We Hope You Have (Preferred Qualifications & Experience): 

• Dairy/Cheese manufacturing experience preferred 

• Previous technical experience with Leprino Foods cheese making process  

Leprino Foods celebrates and supports diversity. We believe in equal opportunity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture that uses the unique talents, experiences, background, and perspectives of each individual employee.

Offering You In Return:

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino Foods could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, nine paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino Foods’ history dates back over 70 years, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We’ve grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by Jim and the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the “World’s Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company.” To help us achieve that bold vision, we’re looking for our secret ingredient: You. A motivated team member who is the best at what you do. Three people in a small corner grocery store in the early 1950s have now grown to almost 5,000 employees throughout 16 global locations. Will you join us on our journey?