Assistant Cheesemaker Position

Looking for an early start, a hands-on role, and the opportunity to be part of creating award-winning cheese? We'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for an Assistant Cheesemaker to join our production team before our busy season begins. Working alongside a team of around 20 skilled Cheesemakers and Assistant Cheesemakers, you'll play an important role in transforming high-quality milk into our range of world-class cheeses.

This is a fast-paced, physical, factory-based role. You'll be part of a supportive team that takes pride in producing exceptional products while maintaining the highest standards of quality, food safety, and hygiene.

Hours of work

• Monday to Friday: 5:00am – 1:30pm
• Half day every third Saturday

Key responsibilities

• Prepare and set up cheesemaking equipment
• Assist with filling cheese hoops during production
• Salt, cut, and handle cheese throughout the production process
• Perform repetitive manual handling, including lifting 10–20kg throughout the day
• Maintain a clean, organised, and hygienic production environment
• Complete production records and documentation to ensure product traceability and compliance

If you enjoy physical work, thrive in a team environment, and are looking for an opportunity to learn the craft of cheesemaking, we'd love to welcome you to our team.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Physical fitness due to the heavy lifting involved
• Ability to follow instructions and learn quickly
• Reliability
• Ability to work within a team
• Food experience will be beneficial, but not compulsory
• NZ residency or a valid NZ working visa

About Whitestone Cheese

Whitestone Cheese Co is a producer of award winning, artisan craft cheeses that get distributed throughout New Zealand. We are a New Zealand family owned and operated business that takes pride in rewarding our customers with premium products.

The original factory was set up in 1987 where one cheese, ‘Whitestone Farmhouse’, was launched. We have grown a lot since then to become a globally recognised artisan cheese company with over 25 different cheeses and 80 dedicated staff members throughout New Zealand, with majority in Oamaru.

Our Waitaki region's clean water, rich soil, quality pastures, temperate climate and contented cows all make for premium milk, which creates the natural flavours of our premium cheese. We are passionate about the quality of our cheese and ensuring it is world class.

What we offer:

• Daily Lunch 
• Weekly social events
• Workplace wellbeing services
• High quality training and job development
• Great cheese with staff discount

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Whitestone Cheese Co is a producer of award winning, artisan craft cheeses that is made in Oamaru is distributed throughout New Zealand. We are a New Zealand family owned and operated business that takes pride in rewarding our customers with premium products.

We offer a fun, collegial environment, with staff perks and a career pathway within the hospitality and cheese industry. 

What our employees say about working at Whitestone Cheese: