Tea Blending Associate

Location: Suffolk VA

Background & Purpose of the Job

The largest tea processing facility in the United States, Lipton Tea, is looking for Tea Blending Associate at its manufacturing plant in Suffolk, Virginia..

The Tea Blending Associate plays an essential role in operating and maintaining blending assets within the factory. This includes regular tea blending and specialty tea blending – both liquids and dry.

Who You Are & What You’ll Do

The Tea Blending Associate reports to the Production Supervisor.  This individual is self-motivated and possesses strong teamwork, interpersonal, written/verbal communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities of the role (not inclusive):

•  Understand and comply with all safety and quality standards required for blending 

• Manufacture of Tea Blends (Black, Herbal, Green, Flavored Black, Flavored Green, Liquid Flavors) by staging ingredients and blending to meet BOM requirements 

• Operating the blending robot, baler, AZO equipment, Tote/Bag station, Pepsi bagger filling station, vacuum system, ST Blenders, Liquids Room Blending 

• Organize and use different teas and ingredients, including properly labeling and utilizing the FIFO concept when handling partial pallets of materials  

• Perform cycle counts  

• Blend and fill super sacks, gaylords, and drums to meet production requirements in Main Blending and Specialty Tea room 

• Consume reclaim  

• Receive tea from external warehouse 

• Receive ingredients from 3rd parties 

• Support trials  

• Stack pallets to load onto pallet trailer  

• Participate in AM, loss control, and other WCM related activities  

• Perform housekeeping duties  

• Assist in change overs, including draining tea in the Main Blending as well as Specialty Tea Room 

• Understand the organic SOP and perform the organic cleaning to meet the SOP requirements as needed 

• Sample for quality  

• Complete daily consumption documentation and quality checklists 

• record and document trailer inspections  

• Use SAP & RF guns and issue tea to blend orders in SAP 

• Complete all other assigned duties  

• Must maintain an active forklift license, training will be given if needed  

What You’ll Need To Succeed

• High School diploma or GED

• 2+ years operations experience

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment. 

• Must be able to bend, stoop, reach, and lift 50 lbs. 

• Must achieve qualification level and completion of all training modules associated with assigned equipment. 

A WorkKeys assessment with a passing score is required.  A score of 4 or more points in all WorkKeys assessments will be considered a passing score (SILVER diploma or higher).  

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, physical and background check.