Company Overview
Valley Milk, LLC is a state-of-the-art dairy processing facility located in Turlock, California. We specialize in producing high-quality dairy ingredients, including milk powders, cream, Ultra Filtered milk and anhydrous milk fat (AMF). Our success is driven by our commitment to safety, quality, operational excellence, and the dedication of our team members.
Position Summary
The Milk Receiving Supervisor provides daily leadership and supervision of eight Milk Receiving Team Members. This role oversees all milk receiving activities to ensure the safe, efficient, and accurate receipt, inspection, sampling, unloading, and storage of incoming raw milk and other dairy ingredients. The supervisor is accountable for team performance, operational efficiency, milk quality, sanitation, regulatory compliance, and a safe working environment.
Additionally, the Milk Receiving Supervisor is responsible for solids management and milk standardization. This includes initially helping develop the processes and establishing the governance, standards, and systems for the team and operations to follow in planning and distributing available solids such as permeate generated from the UF process, A serum and B serum from the AMF process, and reconstituted rework product from packaging. The goal is to maximize solid recovery, efficiency, and profitability while consistently providing in-specification raw materials to support production.
The supervisor partners with logistics planning and operations to ensure all available solids are fully utilized through the established processes, with a focus on identifying and eliminating sources of waste and applying mistake-proofing to reduce errors.
This position collaborates closely with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Milk Supply and Logistics, and Production to support continuous plant operations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Milk Receiving Operations
- Oversee all milk receiving operations, including inspection, sampling, unloading, and proper storage of raw milk and other dairy ingredients.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, GMP, and regulatory requirements.
- Lead the development and implementation of standardized processes and governance for solids management and milk standardization.
- Identify and eliminate sources of waste (such as waiting, excess motion, defects, overprocessing, and underutilized talent) in receiving and solids processes.
- Establish clear standards, routines, and controls that incorporate mistake-proofing, so the team and operations can consistently plan solids distribution, prepare in-spec raw materials, and maximize solid recovery and profitability while reducing the chance of errors.
- Partner with logistics, milk supply, and production planning to optimize receiving schedules and solids utilization within the established processes.
- Maintain a safe working environment and actively support continuous improvement and problem-solving.
- Assist in relieving operation supervisors as needed.
- Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, and Production teams to resolve issues in real time and support uninterrupted plant operations.
Team Leadership and Supervision
- Lead, coach, and supervise a team of eight Milk Receiving Team Members, including scheduling, training, performance management, and daily accountability.
- Directly supervise eight Milk Receiving Team Members.
- Assign daily work responsibilities and establish clear performance expectations.
- Manage team schedules, attendance, staffing coverage, and overtime.
- Provide coaching, training, feedback, and performance evaluations.
- Address employee performance and conduct concerns in partnership with Human Resources.
- Develop team member skills through structured training and cross-training.
- Promote teamwork, accountability, and respectful communication.
- Conduct regular team meetings and communicate operational priorities.
Quality and Food Safety
- Ensure incoming milk meets established quality and acceptance specifications.
- Enforce Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety procedures, and applicable dairy regulations.
- Ensure proper milk sampling, testing, handling, and traceability.
- Coordinate with Quality Assurance regarding product deviations and rejected loads.
- Maintain accurate receiving records and required documentation.
- Ensure compliance with established cleaning and sanitation procedures.
- Support internal and external audits and corrective actions.
Safety and Compliance
- Maintain a safe working environment and enforce company safety standards.
- Ensure team members follow required PPE, lockout/tagout, chemical handling, and equipment safety procedures.
- Conduct routine safety observations and address unsafe conditions.
- Participate in incident investigations and corrective action implementation.
- Promote proactive hazard identification and safe work practices.
- Support daily Gemba Walks and continuous improvement activities.
Equipment and Maintenance
- Monitor milk receiving equipment for safe and reliable operation.
- Coordinate equipment repairs and maintenance needs with the Maintenance Department.
- Ensure completion of required equipment inspections.
- Identify and communicate equipment failures or operating concerns.
- Support preventive maintenance and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensure proper execution and documentation of applicable Clean-in-Place (CIP) procedures.
Required
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Minimum three years of experience in dairy processing, milk receiving, or food manufacturing.
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and manufacturing safety practices.
- Ability to supervise and develop a team in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong organizational and documentation skills.
- Basic computer proficiency.
Preferred
- Previous supervisory or lead operator experience.
- Experience in a dairy processing or milk powder manufacturing facility.
- Familiarity with milk receiving equipment, CIP systems, and automated controls.
- Knowledge of CDFA and FDA requirements applicable to dairy receiving operations.
- Experience with employee training, performance management, and continuous improvement.
Key Performance Indicators
Performance will be evaluated in the following areas:
- Safety: Compliance with safety standards and proactive hazard prevention.
- Milk Quality: Proper handling, acceptance, and documentation of incoming milk.
- Receiving Efficiency: Timely tanker unloading and minimal avoidable delays.
- Equipment Reliability: Reduced downtime and timely maintenance communication.
- Team Performance: Attendance, accountability, training completion, and operator development.
- Sanitation: Proper completion of cleaning and CIP requirements.
- Cost Management: Effective staffing, overtime control, and reduced product losses.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, with assistance when appropriate.
- Ability to climb stairs and ladders, bend, reach, and work around manufacturing equipment.
- Ability to work in wet environments and varying temperatures
