Starter Operator

Date: Oct 7, 2025

Location: Gooding, ID, US, 83330

Company: Glanbia

starter operator

Job Description

Supervisor’s Title:             Production Team Leader

Department:                        Production

Location:                           Gooding Cheese

Exempt Status:                   Hourly

 

At Glanbia Nutritionals Inc., our portfolio centers around dairy and non-dairy nutritional ingredients. We co-innovate and deliver ingredient solutions and precision premixes for use in the mainstream food and beverage, infant and clinical, and functional nutrition markets. We are the number one provider of whey-based nutritional ingredients globally and the number one producer of American-style cheddar cheese. Our protein systems have transformed the bar and beverage categories — bringing increased levels of protein, cleaner labels and greater product functionality to market. We have a direct presence in 21 countries, with manufacturing facilities in the US, Germany and China, and international sales and technical offices around the world.

Essential Functions

  • Washes and sanitizes starter vessels (cans) and lines
  • Fills cans with water and whey
  • Checks and calibrates probes using different levels of buffers so the probe will accurately read pH levels in the cans
  • Adds media (food for the bacteria) to the whey as necessary
  • Pasteurizes mixed starter to kill existing bacteria
  • Sets with cultures (adds new bacteria to culture the cheese)
  • Monitors charts to see if all are working properly
  • Uses probes to test starter for pH levels
  • Performs plate stains (when making rod and coccus starter) to determine how many of each type of bacteria are present
  • Clean and scrub all equipment, floors and drains to maintain sanitary room
  • Collects and sends weekly whey samples to starter suppliers
  • Perform inventory counts
  • Unload Salt and Culture delivers and store in proper location. Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act which are applicable to his/her own actions and conduct.
  • Complies with all applicable food safety regulations and mandates (Safe Quality Foods, Food and Drug Admin, Pasteurized Milk Ordinance)
  • Perform other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

  • Regular and timely attendance required

Glanbia Values

Delivering on Glanbia’s Values:

  • “Showing Respect” - Research issues & incidents with internal teams, business partners and customers in a collaborative manner that includes professional, honest and transparent communication.
  • “Find a Better Way” - Work with internal and external teams to implement process improvements and/or procedural changes that eliminate non-value added activities and drive more business value.
  • “Winning Together” - Assist with training of new team members.  Facilitate or oversee training and standard operating procedure reviews to ensure new hires develop proficiency of role.
  • “The Customer’s Champion” - Proactively engage to support our customer needs on an end to end basis and strive to meet or exceed SLA timelines.  Take ownership of customer requests and engage with internal teams as needed and within a timely manner.
  • “Performance Matters” - Meet or exceed all key metrics in line with expectations for role.  Continually update knowledge of products, product changes, processes and services offered to deliver a dynamic customer experience.

 

Qualifications

  • This position requires knowledge of the cheese making processes or 6 months experience in cheese production in a plant environment

 

  • Computer experience helpful
  • Must be dependable and trustworthy
  • Must be accurate in taking samples and performing tests
  • Get along and work well with people
  • Cannot have any lifting restrictions
  • Forklift certified
  • Ability to operate (or learn to operate) necessary equipment
  • Excellent record required in safety, attendance, and punctuality
  • Ability to stand and walk the entire shift if needed
  • Ability to read and write instructions in English
  • Knowledge of the proper use of all cleaning chemicals
  • Must be able to work weekends, and overtime as required

 

Typical Physical Activity

Physical Demands

The physical demands described represent those that must be met by an employee and the work environment characteristics are those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements

While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is required to:

  • Continuously (76%-100%) standing and walking.
  • Frequently (51-75%) lift and/or move objects weighing 26-60 lbs.
  • Frequently (51-75%) use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
  • Occasionally (25-50%) sit, talk and hear, climb and balance, and reach with hands and arms.
  • Specific vision requirements for this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less); depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships); ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Typical Environmental Conditions

May be exposed to ___85+______ noise levels in which hearing protection will be needed.

Disclaimer

Must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately without causing significant safety threat to self or others.  The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.

 

Are you someone who likes to make it happen, make it better and make it fun? If so, our company offers you an excellent opportunity to do really interesting work and develop a career in a dynamic and innovative environment that is all about making you and our business successful.

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a wide variety of candidates, and we will give your application consideration, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. 

 

At Glanbia our culture will celebrate individuality, knowing that together we are more.


Nearest Major Market: Twin Falls