Continuous Improvement Analyst

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America's largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms, Bison, Milk for Life, and Intense Milk. Here, you'll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day.

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement Analyst is responsible for monitoring, recording, and supporting production processes on the production floor to ensure consistent quality, food safety, and efficiency. This role spends approximately 90% of the time on the manufacturing floor observing equipment, checking process parameters, and verifying that operations meet established standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor critical process parameters (temperature, flow rates, pressures, timings) across pasteurization, separation, homogenization, filling, and cleaning cycles.
• Conduct routine process checks to verify compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), regulatory requirements, and quality standards.
• Record data accurately in control logs, digital systems, and batch records.
• Identify process deviations, communicate issues promptly to operators and supervisors, and influence/support troubleshooting efforts.
• Assist in verifying CCPs (Critical Control Points) and CPs (Control Points) as defined in the HACCP plan.
• Work closely with and ability to influence operators to ensure corrective actions are applied when parameters are outside specification.
• Support continuous improvement by reporting recurring process issues, inefficiencies, or opportunities for optimization.
• Ensure proper sanitation practices and equipment conditions are maintained during production.
• Assist with training line operators on process monitoring and control expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• 2+ years experience performing in a continuous improvement capacity on a production floor
• Prior experience in dairy or food/beverage manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
• 2-3 years of experience working in a production facility.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify process variations.
• Knowledge of food safety systems (HACCP, GMPs, SQF, or similar).
• Comfortable working on the production floor in a fast-paced, regulated environment.
• Basic computer/data entry skills for logging production data.

Work Environment

• Position is based primarily on the production floor (approx. 90%).
• Requires standing, walking, and visual monitoring of equipment for extended periods.
• May involve exposure to wet, cold, and noisy conditions typical of dairy processing facilities.

Salary: $75-90k*

• The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the salary range for this position. Actual salary will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, budget available, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position's qualifications, in addition to internal equity. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.