COMPANY OVERVIEW:

Select Milk Producers is one of the nation’s largest and most progressive dairy cooperatives, with over 95 family-owned dairies, 15 wholly owned subsidiaries, and six joint ventures with other major food/beverage producers including Coca-Cola. Established in 1994, Select Milk Producers markets and processes milk from member dairies’ in the Southwest and the upper Mid-West. Headquartered in Dallas, the company has earned a reputation for innovation in a number of areas including animal health, environmental stewardship, and overall business practices including new product development (see our popular "fairlife" product). With over 500 employees, Select Milk generated $2 billion in annual revenue and produced over 8 billion pounds of milk last year.

SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS:

Select Milk Producers (SMP) is looking for two Quality Assurance Auditors for our Southwest and Midwest dairy regions. The Quality Assurance (QA) Auditor will work with the SMP Veterinarian and dairy farm personnel to audit and monitor dairy farm operations and programs as they relate to animal care and welfare, animal safety, and regulatory issues. The selected candidate will work with dairy farm personnel to ensure the integrity and sustainability of the audit programs and will seek to establish and monitor key quality measures and locate improvement opportunities. The QA Auditors will ensure that sound and up-to-date, scientifically based animal welfare standards and practices remain at the core of Select Milk Producers. This position will report to the SMP Veterinarian.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In collaboration with the SMP Veterinarian, help initiate animal welfare and care programs and changes for SMP dairies
• Conduct audits for the SMP dairies in the respective region, assessing the dairy’s animal welfare standards and providing a complete report and analysis of the audit findings
• In partnership with the dairy producer, farm personnel, and the SMP Veterinarian, implement changes to address the prioritized issues and train and educate farm personnel as needed
• Serve as a consultant for dairy leaders and personnel, researching and addressing questions, complaints, support needs, audit findings, etc. that arise from dairy personnel
• Keep the SMP Veterinarian up to date on the status of the audit program, audit findings, implemented changes or any developing issues
• Monitor and report on the implementation of animal welfare standards on the dairies and the enforcement of corrective action plans
• Strive to ensure that animal welfare standards and guidelines reflect new research and technology, making recommendations for revision of existing or the development of new standards as needed
• Lead by example, adapting to a continually evolving environment and helping others thrive in a results-oriented workplace; provide ongoing team building and development for dairy farm leaders

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor's degree in animal welfare, animal science or agriculture or related field or related area from four-year college or university; or two-year degree in the above with a minimum of 3 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Passion for animal care/welfare and the ability to provide objective audit analysis and reporting
• Desired experience in and understanding of some or all of the following fields: agricultural animal health and welfare, agriculture industry, food supply chain, farm management, principles and practices associated with animal welfare including animal husbandry and/or agricultural or humane education
• Auditing experience is desired
• Demonstrated theoretical, technical and practical knowledge in the animal welfare space
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; active listening skills
• Bi-lingual skills (English/Spanish) highly desired
• Ability to translate complex, technical ideas/matters into easily understandable terms for a lay person
• Adept at building collaborative relationships and providing effective training and education to dairy farm personnel
• Ability to work proactively and independently and deliver results under tight timelines
• Comfortable in environments with intensive animal production
• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and databases for application with producers, customers, suppliers, and other auditors

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Exposure to barns/facilities with intensive animal production
• Each SMP region - the Southwest and the Midwest - will have one QA Auditor domiciled within each region
• Travel to one or more of the region’s dairies will be daily
• Must have reliable transportation to visit the dairies in the respective region
• Must be physically capable of performing all aspects of dairy farm auditing role

BENEFITS:

• Competitive compensation and a bi-weekly pay period
• Excellent group health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Group rate short and long-term disability available
• Excellent 401(k) matching
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Continuing education benefits