The College seeks a Dairy Processing Supervisor for its on-campus dairy processing center (DPC). The position will report to the Executive Director of the Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech. This is a 12 month, on campus, full-time position expected to start August 3, 2026. The position is responsible for producing dairy products from campus generated fluid milk, supervising the DPC staff, actively engaging in the delivery of academic labs and training held in the dairy processing center, meeting all legal product and facility certification requirements, customer satisfaction, vendor relationships, budget management, professional development, new dairy product development, and community engagement.
Work assignments may while mostly weekday hours, some evening, or weekend hours might be required. The incumbent is directly involved in the delivery of trainings, labs, or classes involving dairy processing. Classes, trainings, and labs may be online or face-to-face on campus, depending on the College's need. Online classes may be synchronous, asynchronous, hybrid, or HYFLEX delivery format.
Creating and maintaining a "farm to fork" campus and dairy production environment through the production of dairy products for consumption by the campus is a priority. As such, a cooperative working relationship must be maintained with Cobleskill Auxiliary Services, faculty, the College farm staff, and entrepreneurs.
The position is located at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech requiring a full-time on-campus presence
About the Department
SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech's Institute for Rural Vitality has a strong history of providing services to entrepreneurs through the Mohawk Valley Farm and Food Business Incubator (FFBI) its USDA funded Value-added Producer Accelerator Program. The funded entrepreneurial activities include technical support for microentrepreneurs and microenterprises in the development of marketable products and services utilizing the expertise and substantial infrastructure of the FFBI, SUNY Cobleskill, and our Partner Organizations. Participants access a virtual education platform, one-on-one consultation, matchmaking events and services, technical assistance and education. SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech's unique campus is home to a dairy processing center, a USDA certified meat and fish processing center, three certified kitchens, a brewing and distilling lab, and a food packaging facility to enhance its entrepreneurial offerings.
Responsibilities
- Oversight of the operations of the campus Dairy Processing Center (DPC).
- Production of[PD1] [FS2] dairy products from raw milk produced by the campus dairy farm in a cost-effective manner that ensures the DPC generates a net profit (other than personnel).
- Arrange and coordinate product distribution.
- Keeping accurate production and financial numbers. This includes maintaining Centerpoint and utilizing as the main financial record keeping program.
- Work with the Institute for Rural Vitality staff collaboratively to develop new DPC products to supply CAS with dairy products to facilitate SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech being a farm to table campus and to generate revenue for the campus.
- Provide training and instruction for dairy processing labs, IRV trainings and prospective IRV program participants.
- Know and operate the DPC following all HAACP regulations that apply.
- Create and follow all necessary SOPS in order to operate the DPC according to all State/Federal regulations.
- Provide tours to the public and prospective students while meeting the required production schedule.
- Operate the DPC following all NYS Ag and Markets regulations/inspections.
- Manage student workers and staff.
- Producing and supplying bagged milk products to meet CAS's consumption needs.
- Managing and operating the DPC with minimal staff.
- Determining a production schedule to supply CAS with dairy products that minimizes waste, maximizes efficiency of the DPC equipment and labor, and moves the campus toward a self-sufficient farm-to-table campus for dairy products.
- Development of DPC staff to ensure on-going DPC operations.
- Increase production quantities to lower the unit cost of dairy products.
- Continue to create new dairy products from the DPC that CAS needs to supply the campus food.
- There are occasional travel requirements associated with this position.
- After hours events are sometimes required with the position.
Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Background in food manufacturing, food preparation, and/or dairy processing
- Understand dairy production regulations and requirements.
- Familiarity with and knowledge of dairy processing equipment.
- Ability to maintain customer and vendor relationships.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Familiarity with SUNY Cobleskill's and the Institute for Rural Vitality's mission, vision and programming.
- Basic ability with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook for email management.
Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the aforementioned minimum qualifications, it is preferred the candidate also have:
- A bachelor's degree in business, agricultural business management, food manufacturing, or a related program.
- Two to Three years of Dairy Processing plant experience
- Product development experience.
- Experience training others.
- A mechanical inclination and abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook.
- Familiarity with accounting software for billing and budgeting.
Pay: $51,261.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
