Technical Support Specialist - Food Ingredients

Job Title: Technical Support Specialist - Food Ingredients

Company:  Kelley Supply, Inc. 

Location: Colby, WI

Description: 

Kelley Supply is seeking a Technical Support Specialist – Food Ingredients to support our growing cheese and dairy customer base. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to apply their technical background, work directly with customers, and build expertise within the dairy and food ingredients industry.

You do not need to be a dairy or food ingredients expert on day one. We can provide training on our products, ingredients, applications, customer trials, and technical support processes. We are looking for someone who is curious, technically minded, eager to learn, and interested in developing into a trusted technical resource for our customers and team.

In this role, you’ll work closely with dairy and cheese manufacturers, Product Managers, and our sales team to support product applications, customer trials, technical questions, and new opportunities.

Responsibilities include:
• Provide technical support and solutions to customers within the dairy and cheesemaking industry.
• Support and participate in customer product trials and help troubleshoot technical challenges.
• Develop knowledge of food ingredients, products, applications, and cheesemaking processes.
• Research product offerings and provide recommendations based on customer needs and applications.
• Work closely with Product Managers and Territory Sales Managers to support existing customers and new opportunities.
• Serve as a technical resource for our internal sales team.
• Help identify new applications and opportunities for existing products.
• Assist with developing technical information, project data, presentations, and customer case studies.
• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal team members.

This is a hands-on position that provides the opportunity to spend time inside customer facilities, see the cheesemaking process firsthand, and understand how ingredients and process changes can impact production and finished products.

Travel & Work Environment:
This is a remote position with a preference for candidates residing in Wisconsin. Travel averages approximately 50%, depending on customer activity and scheduled product trials. Most customers are located within Wisconsin, although some travel throughout the Midwest may be required.

Compensation:
Starting salary is generally $68,000–$72,000 annually, based on qualifications, relevant experience, and technical background. This role also includes the opportunity to earn additional compensation through an annual incentive program tied to performance and business results.

Why Kelley Supply?
At Kelley Supply, we believe in developing our people. This role offers the opportunity to learn directly from experienced industry professionals and develop into a dairy and food ingredients subject-matter expert while contributing to innovative solutions within cheese making.

As our Food Ingredients business continues to grow, there is opportunity for continued career development, including advancement into Senior Technical Support positions and potential future opportunities within Product Management.

Experience, Skills and Abilities: 

We are open to a variety of educational and industry backgrounds. Candidates may be a good fit if they have experience or education in areas such as:
• Food Science or Dairy Science
• Chemistry combined with food, dairy, or manufacturing experience
• Dairy or cheese plant quality or laboratory work
• Dairy or food manufacturing internships
• Food or dairy production experience
• Technical roles that have provided familiarity with the cheesemaking process

A bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, or a related field is preferred; however, relevant industry experience may also be considered. Previous technical support experience is not required. More important to us is your ability to learn, solve problems, communicate effectively, and develop technical knowledge over time.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
• Strong curiosity and willingness to learn
• Technical aptitude and problem-solving ability
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects
• Confidence working with customers and internal teams
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with a broader team
• Interest in the dairy, cheesemaking, and food ingredients industries

Hours/Employment Type: Full Time

Salary/Wages: $68,000-$72,000/Annually

How to Apply: Visit our online posting 

Questions? Please contact Samantha Hawkey at shawkey@kelleysupply.com, (715) 616-8030