CHEESEMAKER

JOB DESCRIPTION

Calling all cheese- lovers! Mozzarella, cheddar, ricotta, feta, swiss, fresh curds and brie are just a few of the types of varieties of cheese you’ll learn to make and master in the career of a cheesemaker. Similar to winemaking, cheeses generally go through the same core processes and there are small variances that transform the texture, taste, smell and type. This is a highly rewarding and engaging career allowing you to work as part of a close-knit team to make high-quality artisan products. If you’re looking for a position where you’ll be up and moving around and have the opportunity to work on all the different phases of production and with all types of machinery, this is the career for you!

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

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All cheesemakers work with their hands using a great deal of equipment and machinery. Cheese manufacturers come in all shapes and sizes from tiny artisanal shops of 1-5 employees to mega establishments with hundreds of staff. The artisan shops use more manual and traditional processes, the medium sized businesses use a good amount of equipment and some automation, and the large businesses are almost entirely automated. Regardless of the size, there’s a lot of movin’ and shakin’ that takes place– walking, standing, heavy lifting, cleaning, pushing, digging, forming, pouring, etc.

You’ll be required to wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the different parts of the plant which could include steel toe boats, hair and beard nets, masks, gloves, aprons, lab coats, etc. Facilities are maintained at comfortable temperatures making them ideal working conditions.

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FACT: Canada produces over 1,050 varieties and brands of cheese!

CHEESEMAKER SALARY

Low Range

$29k+ annually

$15 per hour

Average

$42k+ annually

$22 per hour

High Range

$58k+ annually

$30 per hour

*Annual salary calculated by 37.5 hr work week, and by a 52 weeks per year

Cheesemaking is truly an art, and while there are recipes and standards for production, your senses play a key role in achieving the right texture, consistency, and quality of the final product. Being a hard worker and a productive and dependable team member will help secure a higher salary, however, true progression in this career path comes from learned experience and an eye for detail. Expert cheesemakers who lead the organization’s cheese production will earn an ongoing salary, whereas cheesemakers and cheesemaker helpers are more likely to earn on an hourly basis. That being said, most cheese companies operate on standard and consistent hours from Monday to Friday, and the hourly wage is effectively a salary. Some companies may offer additional evening or weekend shifts to keep their product targets on schedule, especially during busy seasons. Many employers offer standard health and wellness benefits including dental and vision care, as well as vacation time. Cool perks include product discounts and access to the freshest cheese on the market yummm!

CHEESEMAKER JOB DUTIES

Some of the key responsibilities you’ll have in this role are:

Operate all aspects of cheese manufacturing including automated equipment and manual controls

Participate in the production of cheese which could include: homogenization, drying, rehydrating, aging, cooking, smoking, etc’

Operating different equipment for various types of raw materials and using equipment to shape mixtures into desired product shapes

Safely operating a variety of different machinery in the cheesemaking processing including machines that blend, pump, separate, hoist, turn, cut, etc

There are many different monitoring activities that cheesemakers perform such as monitoring the temperature and humidity conditions of cheese aging rooms, monitoring pH levels in vats, tasting cheeses for quality and composure, etc

Follow and maintain all SOPs, food safety and quality measures as outlined

Accurately follow prescribed cheese-making procedures ensuring consistent quality products

Prepare and monitor bacterial cultures for cheese production process and take lab measurements to follow cheese production

Prepare, operate and monitor cheese vats and other manufacturing machinery

Keep equipment and machinery clean and sanitized following all SSOPs

Participate in completing all documentation of GMPs, H&S and HACCP-related items

Help perform equipment checks and report any issues to the management team and maintenance teams.

BECOMING A CHEESEMAKER

Competitiveness & Availability

Cheese is one of the most diverse products on the market taking many shapes and forms, some cheeses are consumed fresh daily and others take years to go to market. Once you go cheesy, you never go back… once you learn the process, there are not a lot of turnovers, many people often stay in this line of work fine-tuning their senses to mastery for their whole career. This job is physically demanding and requires mechanical aptitude. You’ll find positions in cheese-making across Canada, however, a greater number of positions are available in Quebec or in large dairy-related organizations.

Advancement Opportunities

Without prior experience, you’ll start as a “Cheesemaker Helper” assisting the Cheesemaker in his or her duties. Once you learn the ropes over a few years, you’ll be able to advance into the Cheesemaker position. There are numerous steps in cheesemaking and while there are recipes and procedures to follow, an eye for detail is essential. There’s also a lot of science behind the product and therefore an education in cheesemaking, biology, and food science is critical to ongoing advancement opportunities and leading new product development. In smaller operations, there may not be much opportunity for advancement due to the limited number of positions available, but at the same time, there’s ample opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the art.

Education

Many employers require a Food Safe Level 1 certification and completion of your high school diploma or equivalency. Any prior experience in cheesemaking or machine operation is highly sought after. If you’ve dabbled in homemade cheeses, this is also an asset. Throughout Canada, some Colleges offer a certificate or diploma program in cheese making, food science or food processing technologies. While you can (and do) learn on the job, programs like these can bring you up to speed faster and expose you to the full gamut of possibilities – fast-tracking your career. Some employers are also looking for certifications in forklift operation, WHMIS, pasteurization operator, etc. Understanding HACCP and other food safety regulations is important for this role. If you don’t have previous experience or education, you may want to consider some short courses in food safety and other industry-related topics, such as:

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
Quality Assurance/ Quality Control
Sanitation & Equipment operation
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Introduction to HACCP
Workplace & Industrial Safety
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Introduction to Cheesemaking 101

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