Now Hiring: Food Safety and Quality Specialist – Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.

Position Summary

Join our affiliate company, Hoffmann Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc., the makers of Cedar Crest Ice Cream! As a Food Safety and Quality Specialist, you’ll help make sure every product made at our plant meets federal, state, and company quality and food safety standards. You’ll perform day-to-day product and environmental testing, maintain the plant’s food safety programs (SQF, HACCP, allergen control, and recall readiness), and serve as a primary point of contact for regulatory inspectors and third-party auditors.

This is a hands-on role that splits time between the laboratory, the production floor, the freezer, and the office. You’ll work alongside production, sanitation, and plant management to solve quality problems at the source, not just document them. Success in this role is measured by audit readiness, accurate and complete documentation, and the consistent quality of every product that leaves the plant, so consumers can be confident that what they enjoy is safe and meets or exceeds state and federal requirements.

Location: Cedar Crest Production Plant – [Cedarburg / Manitowoc], WI

Pay Range: $21-$31/hour dependent upon certifications and experience

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Quality Assurance Manager, Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.
• No direct reports; provides functional direction to production and sanitation associates on quality and food safety matters

Key Responsibilities

• Perform routine and investigative product testing, including pH, titratable acidity, fat, total solids, sweetness (Brix), standard plate count, coliform, and Listeria, to verify products meet federal, state, and company standards.
• Carry out environmental monitoring (air, drains, and surfaces) and cleaning verification swabs to confirm sanitation effectiveness.
• Maintain the plant’s Safe Quality Food (SQF) program and keep the facility audit-ready at all times.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), the HACCP plan, and other quality and food safety programs.
• Coordinate the plant’s allergen control program, and develop and maintain ingredient statements and nutritional labeling.
• Formulate mixes for processing, develop and maintain flavor recipes, and support research and development of new and existing products.
• Maintain all required quality documentation, including Certificates of Analysis (COAs), kosher certificates, lab results, pasteurization records, and X-ray and metal detector checks.
• Accompany regulatory inspectors and third-party auditors on all plant inspections, preparing and presenting the programs and records they require.
• Own recall readiness: maintain the recall plan and conduct a mock recall twice per year.
• Investigate and respond to customer quality concerns, identifying root causes and following through on corrective actions.
• Set product weight standards, perform spot checks, and sample products.
• Train associates to test products and follow quality procedures, and partner with sanitation, production, and plant management to resolve quality issues quickly.
• Record, file, and trend results in the plant’s computer systems so emerging issues are flagged early; order and maintain lab supplies.
• Participate and present at company meetings, and perform other duties as assigned by the Quality Assurance Manager.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in food science, chemistry, biology, or a related field required.
• 3–5 years of quality control experience in a food manufacturing facility; dairy or frozen dessert experience a plus.
• Current certification in HACCP, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), Safe Quality Food (SQF), or Pasteurizer Operation preferred.
• Able to perform all required product, microbiological, and environmental testing independently.
• Working knowledge of federal and state food safety regulations, GMPs, and allergen control.
• Computer proficient, with a good grasp of mathematics and algebra for mix formulation and lab calculations.
• Strong documentation habits and clear, professional communication skills — this role must convey quality issues to associates, management, and auditors alike.
• Positive, cooperative, and willing to take on whatever quality issue needs to be addressed, with a commitment to integrity, confidentiality, and continued learning.

Physical Demands

• Regularly stands, walks, and bends throughout the plant, and lifts up to 50 lbs.
• Works in varied environments, including the office, laboratory, production area, and freezer and refrigerated areas.
• Regular exposure to wet production areas and laboratory chemicals; required PPE must be worn.

Schedule

Full-time. Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional Fridays. Hours may vary based on workload and quality issues that need to be addressed.

Now Hiring: Production Worker – Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.

Position Summary

Join our affiliate company, Hoffmann Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc., the makers of Cedar Crest Ice Cream! Do you enjoy ice cream? We’d love to have you on our team. Cedar Crest has immediate full-time openings on all shifts at our production plant in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

As a Production Worker, you’ll help make and handle the ice cream and frozen desserts that leave our plant every day. We’re looking for skilled, experienced production workers who bring excellent attention to detail, follow all health, safety, and food safety requirements, and communicate well with their team.

Location: 2000 S. 10th Street, Manitowoc, WI (in person)

Positions Available

• Freezer – Full-Time, 2nd Shift: 2:00 p.m. to midnight

• Freezer – Full-Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• Production – Full-Time, 1st Shift: 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Early Set-Up – Full-Time: 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Production Supervisor / Shift Supervisor, Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and support production and packaging equipment to keep lines running safely and on schedule.

• Early Set-Up: prepare lines, equipment, and materials so production can start on time.

• Freezer: receive, stage, store, and move finished product in the freezer, keeping product organized and protected.

• Perform quality checks as directed and report any product, packaging, or equipment issues to your supervisor right away.

• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety, allergen, and sanitation procedures at all times.

• Follow all health and safety rules, wear required PPE, and help keep work areas clean and organized.

• Communicate clearly with teammates, supervisors, and the next shift so information is passed along accurately.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting pay from $17.00 per hour.

• Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; a health savings account (HSA); life insurance; and a 401(k) with company match.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.

• 2 years of manufacturing experience required; food or dairy manufacturing experience a plus.

• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to following health, safety, and food safety requirements.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work well as part of a team.

• Reliable attendance and the ability to work the assigned shift.

Physical Demands

• Regularly stands, walks, bends, and reaches for the full shift, and lifts up to 50 lbs.

• Works in a fast-paced production environment, including refrigerated areas and, for Freezer positions, extreme cold in freezer storage.

• Required PPE must be worn in production and freezer areas.

Schedule

Full-time, in person. Shift times are listed under Positions Available above.