Herd & Creamery Assistant @ North Country Creamery

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