North Country Creamery is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented individual to join our team in a combined herd and creamery role. This position offers a variety of hands-on tasks with both our milking herd and our farmstead creamery.
Hours: 30–40 hours per week
Pay: starting $16.50/hour, increases with proficiency and tenure at creamery
Schedule: Sundays and Mondays off
Work Breakdown:
2 days/week milking and other herd-related duties
1–2 days/week as cheese make–day assistant
0.5–1 day/week general creamery tasks and projects
Qualifications
Strong attention to detail, cleanliness, and sanitation
Willingness to learn, take initiative, and ask questions
Clear communication with team members and owners (in person meetings and via WhatsApp)
Ability to follow written SOPs and protocols
Herd Responsibilities
Milking:
Milk herd 2 mornings per week (Tues & Wed), starting around 8:30 AM
Follow established SOPs for milking procedure and herd health protocols
Communicate herd updates with the team
Milk Bottling:
Bottle milk on Wednesdays after milking (approx. 2 hours)
Seasonal & General Tasks:
Assist with rotational grazing: setting paddocks, fixing fence and water lines (Tues–Sat in summer; can set up several days in advance)
Possible tractor work (pasture clipping, winter chores, feeding hay, etc.)
Assist with various projects (building/maintenance/repair tasks as needed)
Creamery Responsibilities
Cheese Make–Day Assistant (Typically Thursdays, and potentially Saturdays)
Follow and sign SOPs, GMPs, and SSOPs as part of training
Work closely with the cheesemaker and respond to needs throughout the make day
Primary Tasks:
Assist with lifting vat lid (starting ~10–11 AM)
Bring down cheese molds from storage room as needed
Set up outside area for whey transfer
Help “hoop” cheeses (filling molds with curd)
Assist with cleanup and replacing vat lids
Wash COP tank/vat
Complete last rotation/flip if using cheese press
Secondary Tasks:
Restock dairy products in the farm store (record in log)
Label cheese bags
Fill yogurt cup bins
Wash dishes
Weekly/monthly cleaning
Package curds (as needed)
Flip Camembert (as needed)
Finish boxing yogurt (as needed)
Other Creamery Tasks
Assist with cutting and packaging cheese
Assist with weekly/monthly deep cleaning tasks
Tend cheese cave
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.