Milk Testing Technician

Business Sector: Manufacturing

Job Title: Milk Testing Technician (Maternity Cover)

JOB PURPOSE: To provide daily accurate testing of all milk samples for Farm payments and milk quality & food safety requirements.

REPORT TO: Farm Relations Manager

LOCATION: Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities associated with this role include, but are not limited to the following:

Daily operation of the Bentley IBC testing machine include machine set up, calibration, adjustments and daily shut down as per prescribed in the operating manual and laboratory procedures and that all checks are recorded. . . Liaise with support engineer on any operational issues, correct minor issues where possible.

Thermoduric testing conducted by plate analysis twice per month for each milk supplier.

Routine maintenance of testing machines will be required.

Daily transfer of all test results to the Manager validation system.

Daily sorting of the milk samples and ensure milk samples are set up in test batches for the combi technician.

Ensure all farm milk samples are tested as per the test schedule and Milk standards requirements and any issues with missing or low volume samples are logged.

Daily testing of bulk milk & silo samples as per schedule and as required.

Support the testing of all farm samples for antibiotics to the agreed schedule.

Collate and prepare all milk samples required for routine external testing and as required for business needs,

Testing of individual farm milk samples as required.

Cover milk intake and all Farmer testing conducted in the milk laboratory, daily as required.

Conduct the proficiency testing to schedule and ensure the reporting paperwork is completed.

Ensure stocks of all testing solutions are maintained and flag any orders required to manager.

Deal with farmer queries /phone calls in the absence of manager /supervisor

Liaise with farm advisers as required for testing of samples, queries, investigations as required.

Attend meetings and training as required.

Be proactive in managing milk testing and dealing with problems and issues as they arise and ensure all relevant issues are communicated to your manager /supervisor.

KEY SKILLS / ATTRIBUTES / CORE COMPETENCIES:

Comfortable with operating testing equipment.

Organised with attention to detail.

Effective communication skills.

A broad knowledge of the Dairy Industry and Good Dairying Practices.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUES / CORE BEHAVIOURS:

Excellent verbal communication skills

Good problem solving and time management/scheduling skills.

Highly motivated, flexible with the ability to work on own initiative