Dairy Pilot Plant Manager

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Position Title:

Dairy Pilot Plant Manager

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Laboratory Manager

Job Duties:

POSITION SUMMARY:

Dairy Pilot Plant Manager for the UWRF Dairy Plant and Freddy’s Dairy Bar in the Department of Animal and Food Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. This is a 12-month Academic Staff appointment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Teaching – 25%

• Teach industry short courses, to include: Cheesemaking Short Courses, Pasteurization Certification Short Course, HACCP Workshop

• Teach skills pertaining to dairy manufacturing such as safety, sanitation, processing, raw ingredient handling, storage, and quality control

• Curriculum development ongoing for additional industry short course

Dairy Plant Management/Project Management - 40%

• Assure raw materials, process parameters, sanitation procedures, and finished products comply with State and Federal standards

• Manage plant production operations and establish production priorities to ensure product is produced efficiently and within cost parameters while maintaining plant safety, quality and sanitation standards

• Define/establish departmental overhead budget requirements and spend within the agreed limitations

• Maintain HACCP certification and meet the requirements for PCQI and SQF Practitioner responsibilities

• Manage and audit quality programs and maintain proper documentation

• Administer hold product dispositions. Follow-up and coordinate the release and/or removal of hold product through the proper channels

• Assure the training of employees in the areas of noncompliance, GMP’s, HACCP, color code, sanitation procedures, net weight, and sensory attributes

• Supervises plant engineering activities to minimize operating costs and recommend appropriate equipment and operational changes as needed

• Ability to trace a suspect product through a mock product recall within 4 hours

• Develop and manage retail food safety programs; design, implement and maintain food safety systems; responsible for validating changes to food safety fundamentals (prerequisite programs)

• Host and lead regulatory inspections and audits; ensure regulatory non-compliance corrective actions are identified and taken; ensure product regulatory compliance

• Train, and mentor dairy plant employees. Evaluate employees for promotion to lead staff positions and/or terminate

• Schedule staff according to production needs

• Liaison between the dairy plant and chemical sanitation company to ensure sanitation compliance

• Liaison between pest control company and university for dairy plant FSMA compliance.

• Submit and manage work order requests to ensure completion for repairs in the dairy plant

• Provide leadership and dairy processing expertise for facility renovation

• Work with technical experts in process piping and equipment design and installation

• Oversee contract management with vendors and suppliers

• Track and communicate project progress, and budget with administration

• Identify and prioritize gaps in project performance

• Manage relationships with project stakeholders, including participating in tours, and campus visits

• Support facilities on project materials as relates to PMO and ATCP 65 regulation

• Manage Advisory Committee relationships and scheduling of dairy plant product trials

Retail Management Freddy’s Dairy Bar – 20%

• Hire, train, mentor staff for serving customers

• Submit deposits according to accounting procedures

• Ensure food safety compliance is met

• Maintain adequate level of inventory, order or pick up supplies as needed

• Schedule staff to maintain open hours, Mon-Fri

• Create and market specials and new items, monthly or as needed

• Work with other departments on campus to collaborate on special projects, i.e., Homecoming, Freshmen orientation, Admissions etc.

• Advertise Freddy’s Dairy Bar on social media to increase customer traffic and community awareness

Professional Outreach – 15%

• Participate in professional organizations, representing UW-River Falls i.e., Master Cheesemaker Licensing Board, IFT, WCMA, NCCIA, IDFA, ACS

• Collaborate with potential clients in new product creation and dairy plant rental to meet budget goals.

 

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures in alignment with strategic initiatives and objectives

• Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing information, making recommendations to leadership, and representing the interests of the unit

• Directs and supervises the day-to-day laboratory operations, quality control programs, and/or staff of a work unit to ensure compliance with organization and regulatory agency standards

• Monitors program budgets and expenditures

• May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees

• Develops and facilitates trainings regarding scientific experimentation, technical procedures, and equipment operations to various audiences

Department:

Animal and Food Science J043500

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Animal/Dairy Science or related

• Current holder of Wisconsin Cheese Makers license or ability to obtain license; assistance will be provided to obtain license for a candidate with appropriate qualifications and experience

• Documented significant experience in dairy plant processing and manufacturing

• Current holder of, or ability to obtain:

  • State of Wisconsin Certified Pasteurizer Operator

  • Trained Industry Supervisor for the purposes of Appendix N of the Pure Milk Ordinance

  • State of Wisconsin Certified Milk Hauler

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in the workplace environment and mentor students

• Ability to maintain accurate documentation of financial and manufacturing activities

• Ability to conduct appropriate quality assurance testing

QUALIFICATIONS PREFERRED:

• Knowledge of ice cream manufacture, formulation, and ingredient functions

• Documented teaching experience in traditional classroom/laboratory or outreach settings

• Documented experience with product marketing and business plan development

How to Apply:

Applicants are required to apply online at Career Opportunities. UWRF will not consider paper, emailed or faxed applications.  Applicants are required to provide:

• Resume

• Letter of interest specifying qualifications and experience (cover letter)

Inquiries should be addressed to:
Grace Lewis

Search Chair

grace.lewis@uwrf.edu

Deadline to Apply: Initial review of applications will begin upon receipt. For full consideration, applicants should submit all required materials on or before May 5, 2026. 

The selected candidate must be able to pass a post-offer employment test and hold a valid driver’s license to obtain Wisconsin certification to drive University vehicles.
 

Employees receive excellent benefits including exceptionally low-cost comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits; employer match of Wisconsin Retirement System contributions of 7.20%; an attractive amount of paid leave per year in addition to paid sick leave. To learn more about our benefits, go to

https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/quickguidefasl.pdf

UW-River Falls does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 715-425-4941.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the final candidates may be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 

Title IX Notice 

As required by Title IX and federal regulations, UW-River Falls does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs or activities, including in admission and employment. Questions about the application of Title IX may be referred to UWRF’s Title IX Coordinator at titleix@uwrf.edu; the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights; or both. For more information, please see students.uwrf.edu/titleix. 

Criminal Background Check and Reference Check Policy 

Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you, your most recent employer, and all previous Universities of Wisconsin institutions and State of Wisconsin agency employers from the past seven (7) years to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment per Universities of Wisconsin Administrative Policy 1275. 

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies can be viewed at www.uwrf.edu/police/annual-security-and-fire-safety-report or call University Police at 715-425-3133 for a paper copy. 

Reasonable Accommodations 

UW-River Falls provides reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or an accommodation in applying because of a disability, contact hr@uwrf.edu or 715-425-3518. 

Academic Freedom & Freedom of Expression 

The University is committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression, and provides all members of the University community the broadest possible latitude to explore ideas and to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn, pursuant to Regent Policy Document 4-21 Commitment to Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.