Milk Technician Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the milk technician job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also presents the major requirements candidates seeking the milk technician job should fulfill to be hired by most employers.

What Does a Milk Technician Do?

A milk technician is assigned to examine the milk from the point of collection to the point it is packed and processed into a commercial product.

He/she also has to make sure that the steps for processing follows the laid down guidelines.

The person of this job role usually reports to the dairy plant manager, production supervisor, or quality control supervisor.

They are the team leader under which the technician will work.

A milk technician work anywhere the dairy products are made and worked on.

This could be at a dairy farm, milk processing plant, cheese factory, yogurt manufacturing unit, or other edible products unit related to dairy.

The employee could have the posting located either in a city town or a rural area.

This job does not require a college or university education but at least a high school certification is enough for one to apply for this job.

Though, some of the employers demand their employee have extra knowledge in areas like dairy scientist fields, processing food, and anything related.

A Bachelor’s degree or an Associate degree in the dairy technology or food sciences is an added advantage while applying for the position of a milk technician.

You may also be required to obtain certifications and licenses to be able to work as a milk technician, depending on where you live and work.

According to the State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets, there are various licensing that milk technicians are required to obtain to work.

Your employer should advice with guidance and relevant training.

The milk technician’s job description usually involves inspecting and maintaining raw and finished product quality and safety in the dairy production chain.

It also entails testing and analyzing dairy products to match with the regulatory standards and quality control guidelines.

Milk technicians are also responsible for operating and cleaning milk handling equipment, pasteurisers, homogenisers, separators, creamery and butter making machines, as well as cheese making machinery and all the associated paraphernalia.

They are expected to follow hygiene and sanitation standard regulation and keep accurate and relevant records on milk production, processing, and quality control.

The milk technician duties also entails providing training and advice to the lower-level dairy workers in regards to handling of milk and processing.

It also includes collaborating with a dairy farmer, transporter, and other team members to assure the success of the business objectives.

Where a candidate is from a dairy farm, milk technicians might supervise different facets of the dairy products manufacturing space.

Their work description also involves identifying and correcting any issue relating to sub-optimal milk products.

It also entails participating in the development and implementation of new processes or technologies used in dairy production.

The milk technician role is vital to a thriving diary industry that supplies milk to millions of people, especially in countries like United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several European nations.

They help maintain the standard for safe and treated milk and milk products.

The dairy industry has to conform to various norms and regulations while producing any milk or milk-products.

While the United States has the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grading the quality of milk and dairy products, the European countries have The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the Oceania countries have the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

Milk Technician Job Description Example/Sample/Template

The milk technician job description usually involves the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Ensures to sample the raw milk from the dairy farm and safely transport the sample to the processing facility without altering or interfering with the conditions of that sample
• Performs various tests and experiments in the raw milk to find out the bacterial count, somatic cell counts, level of any remains of antibiotics, or other quality parameters in the milk
• Responsible for operating and maintaining the working condition of machineries like milk pasteurizers, homogenizers, separators, packaging machines, ensuring they are working well without any operational failure
• Takes the initiative to adjust the parameters of the milk for correct processing, such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate, etc. to ensure the optimal product
• Supervises staffs in the use of hot water, pressurized steam, and specific types of chemicals, etc., to keep the dairy facility clean and tidy
• Takes care of the quality of milk production at each stage from raw milk to that of pasteurization and packaging
• Responsible for calibrating testing instruments and equipment used for quality control and analysis
• If any problem or issue is identified, then cross verifies the tests and takes necessary corrective actions or measures to avoid the wrong product from escalating
• Trains and guides dairy workers and handlers about how milk is collected, processed, and checked for its quality
• Provides suggestions for development and innovations to be made in the processing, technology improvement or in any other measures for maintaining the quality of milk
• Inspects the milk production and dairy products processing areas so compliance with the regulations are in place alongside standard manufacturing protocols
• Investigates any concerns raised about the product, and then quickly resolve those issues reported by the customers
• Helps the company in developing, and reviewing operational methods and quality control protocols
• Work alongside R&D in developing new technology or methods for enhancing the quality milk and efficiency in processing.

Milk Technician Job Description for Resume

If you making a new resume for a milk technician role, you can apply the above job description sample in making the Professional Experience part of the resume.

You can apply the duties and responsibilities of a milk technician provided in the above job description example in expressing your experience on the job if you have worked as a milk technician before.

This can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your resume as it shows to the employer/recruiter that you have been successful in working as a milk technician.

Milk Technician Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

Here’s what employers usually look for in terms of skills, knowledge, and experience regarding the milk technician role:

Technical skills

• Can use and maintain a variety of milk processing equipment, like pasteurizers, homogenizers, cream separators, butter churners, churning equipment, packaging machines, milk replacers, and artificial teats
• Can perform tests commonly done in a laboratory like bacterial counts, somatic cell counts, antibiotic residue tests, water, coliform or standard plate count tests, and more
• In control of the quality and standard in a production plant according to the industry’s quality regulations using quality control tools and equipment
• Since we are dealing with products that can expire immediately we must keep good practice of manufacturing (GMP’s), first in and first out, always label and date, keep refrigerated, keep surfaces and machinery used while processing.

Analysis and Problem-solving Skills

• Analytical and critical thinking necessary to assess the quality/standards necessary to produce the best milk on the market
• Problem-solving ability regarding malfunctions in the machine or production issues etc.
• Ability to perform a risk resolver and examination in a risky situation to determine the outcome prior to the situation
• Ability to analyze and test data, and predict outcomes, as well as make the right decisions based on data
• Ability to propose, communicate and present data in a report
• Ability to analyze packaging, shelf and storage life of milk products and recommend packaging regulations on the products.

Communication and Documentation Skills

• A dairy technician is always in contact with his supervisor and co-workers. They are also responsible for communicating testing results to the supervisor. Any issues regarding the production must be communicated to the production manager as well
• Documentation skills are very important. They keep records of tests, processing metrics and deviations must be recorded as well
• Ability to write up a report on the quality of milk production at a given shift
• Able to record and report on the performance processes of dairy products at the plant
• Competent in the use of computer programs for data entry, data storage and report production.

Milk Technician Salary and Top-Paying Cities/States

The average salary for a milk lab technician in the United States is $54,886 per year as reported by glassdoor.com.

The top paying cities are:

• San Jose, CA – $53,936
• Santa Clara, CA – $53,936
• Fremont, CA – $53,798.

For milk technicians, the top states with higher salaries in the United States, according to salary.com, include:

• District of Columbia
• California
• New Jersey
• Alaska.

Conclusion

This post is an extensive and excellent guide for for milk technician job candidates and the dairy industry employers.

It has provided an overview of the milk technician job description, highlighting the primary duties, tasks, and responsibilities that make up the role.

In addition, it also shared the indispensable skills and expertise needed to be hired and to succeed in the milk technician position.