JTI Seasonal Associate: 1st Shift

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JTI Seasonal Associate

JTI Leaf Services is hiring Seasonal Associates! We’re looking for motivated individuals to join our team in roles such as Forklift Operators, Material Handlers, Operators, and Clerks. What’s in it for you?
• Become part of a rapidly growing global tobacco company
• Learn from our expert tobacco leaf processing team and gain valuable experience
• Enjoy seasonal work with flexibility to focus on other priorities during the rest of the year
• Build your path toward permanent JTI positions
• Earn competitive pay, access additional benefits, and receive a returning employee bonus

Apply today and take the first step toward a rewarding seasonal opportunity with JTI Leaf Services! Check the job descriptions below for more details.

Seasonal Operator 

What This Position Is About

The Operator's primary responsibility is to operate the machinery efficiently and safely.

Join our team for the upcoming crop season, running up to 6 months from mid-August 2025 through February 2026. We're looking for reliable and safety-focused people to support our tobacco leaf processing operations during this busy and rewarding time of year.  

What I Will Do...

Responsibilities vary depending on the assigned area

Operate Press:
•    Operate the hydraulic ram to press tobacco into containers.

•    Raise the ram and remove the container.
•    Read scales to determine if weight adjustments are necessary.
•    Place paper in the box, fold flaps, and feed into the banding machine.
•    Obtain moisture samples for quality testing as indicated by the LeafPoint system.
•    Enter data into the LeafPoint system.
•    Send moisture samples to the Quality department promptly using pneumatic transport with proper sample tickets.

Operate Grinder in the QC Lab:
•    Receive sample tubes from the packing area or JTI department supervisor.

•    Feed samples into the grinder, pour ground tobacco into containers with barcodes, and obtain portions for CPA analysis.
•    Pass samples to QC personnel.
•    Clean the grinder after each sample to prevent cross-contamination.
•    Inspect grinders daily for sharpness, blade clearance, and overall functionality.
•    Measure and register moisture samples.

Provide Other Quality Lab Support:
•    Test tobacco and by-product samples from various processing stages to ensure they meet quality standards as per the JTI Quality Manual.

•    Conduct tests to determine characteristics such as stem length, percentage of lamina, stem, and foreign matter content (NTRM) using scales and laboratory equipment.
•    Record test results on appropriate forms and systems (QUIMS).

Operate Sweeper: 
Important: Sweeper Operators will be randomly audited for toxic substances.

•    Drive industrial sweeper to clean factory floors continuously.
•    Ensure the sweeper is properly maintained and serviced.
•    Discharge the sweeper dust collector into the appropriate disposal unit.
•    Keep the machine clean and report any issues to the facilities maintenance team.
•    Follow safety rules while operating the sweeper as per company policy

Cleaning Designated Area:
•    Sweep designated areas, remove foreign materials, and discard them in appropriate bins.

•    Collect and dispose of floor sweepings into designated metal containers.
•    Maintain cleanliness in accordance with the 5S3R policy.

What Qualification I Need...

• Speak fluent English
• Have graduated from High School (Diploma or GED)
• 1 year of machine operation experience in a manufacturing environment
• Good physical condition to handle demands of the job, inventory contro
• Safety awareness
• A clean background check is required, applicants with active criminal charges will not be Considered

Seasonal Forklift Operator 

What This Position Is About

The Forklift Operator's primary responsibility is to safely and efficiently operate industrial trucks for material handling.

Important: Forklift Operators will be randomly audited for toxic substances.

Join our team for the upcoming crop season, running up to 6 months from mid-August 2025 through February 2026. We're looking for reliable and safety-focused people to support our tobacco leaf processing operations during this busy and rewarding time of year.  

What I Will Do...

Responsibilities vary depending on the assigned area

• Drive industrial trucks equipped to lift, stack, or move products, equipment, or materials in warehouses, storage yards, or factories
• Unload and stack materials in appropriate locations by raising and lowering the lifting device. Load tractor trailers with outgoing products. Tasks may involve loading or unloading materials from pallets, skids, or other lifting devices. Activities can be performed in leaf processing, shipping, receiving areas, or off-site warehouses.
• Weigh materials or products and record weights on tags, labels, or production schedules. May load or unload materials onto or off pallets, skids, or lifting devices.
• Complete a checklist before starting daily operations to ensure the truck is in proper condition. Report any failed items on the checklist to the Facilities Maintenance team immediately. Monitor, inspect, and document industrial lift truck usage and necessary maintenance repairs regularly. Report any incidents that occur during operation.
• Follow safety rules while operating the truck as described by company policy. Keep the area organized in accordance with 5S3R standards. Operate the sweeper machine if required.

What Qualification I Need...

• Speak fluent English
• Have graduated from High School (Diploma or GED)
• 1 year of forklift operation experience in a manufacturing environment
• Attention to detail, Safety Awareness, ability to operate forklifts safely and efficiently
• A clean background check is required, applicants with active criminal charges will not be Considered 

Seasonal Material Handler 

What This Position Is About

The Material Handler's primary responsibility is engaging in physical activities to manage and handle materials efficiently.

Join our team for the upcoming crop season, running up to 6 months from mid-August 2025 through February 2026. We're looking for reliable and safety-focused people to support our tobacco leaf processing operations during this busy and rewarding time of year.  

What I Will Do...

Responsibilities vary depending on the assigned area

Pull Wires from the Bale:
•    Cut wires opposite the knot of the Greenleaf Bales.

•    Remove cardboard slip sheets and wires from the bale at the cutting station.
•    Place wires and cardboard in appropriate recycling bins.
•    Remove any foreign material that could lead to tobacco contamination or equipment damage.
•    Request stacks of tops and bottoms as needed.

Build Boxes for Final Product:
•    Inspect cartons for damage or contamination from suppliers before assembly.

•    Assemble one top and one bottom to create a box.
•    Add required kraft papers or chipboards for the given product.
•    Attach the proper pre-printed belly tag for product identification.
•    Place the box onto roller conveyors for packing.
•    Pack and unpack items to be stocked on shelves in stockrooms, warehouses, or storage yards.
•    Examine and inspect stock items for wear or defects, reporting any damage to supervisors.
•    Maintain cleanliness of the parts room and assist with maintenance shop employee inquiries.
•    Assist JTI staff in machine and facility repairs as necessary. Account for all spare parts consumed.

Material Handling:

• Remove stalks, off-color tobacco, and foreign materials such as strings, dirt, and paper from tobacco on the conveyor to ensure a clean and uniform product.
• Lift objects by hand and clean work areas, machines, and equipment using brooms and rags to assist machine operators and supervisors.
• Shovel loose materials like sand, gravel, metals, plastics, or tobacco into machine hoppers or containers.
• Drop pickings into designated buckets based on the type of material (dark tobacco, green tobacco, tobacco with stems, or foreign material).
• Pull degradation test samples according to the JTI Quality Manual (QC only)

Cleaning Designated Area:
•    Sweep designated areas, remove foreign materials, and discard them in appropriate bins. Collect and dispose of floor sweepings into designated metal containers.

•    Keep the area clean in accordance with the 5S3R policy. 

What Qualification I Need...

• Speak fluent English
• Have graduated from High School (Diploma or GED)
• 1 year of material handling experience in a manufacturing environment
• Good physical condition to handle demands of the job, inventory control
• Safety awareness
• A clean background check is required, applicants with active criminal charges will not be Considered 

Seasonal Clerk 

What This Position Is About

The Clerk's primary responsibility is data entry or maintaining cleanliness and order in various areas.

Join our team for the upcoming crop season, running up to 6 months from mid-August 2025 through February 2026. We're looking for reliable and safety-focused people to support our tobacco leaf processing operations during this busy and rewarding time of year. 

What I Will Do...

Responsibilities vary depending on the assigned area

• Data Entry:
  •    Scan barcodes on incoming and outgoing products for tracking purposes.

•    Account for all missing product barcodes.
•    Register materials within the system.
•    Collect forms or test results and enter data into the QIMs system.
•    Use scales to measure test results or whenever required by the assigned task.
•    Analyze incoming data for accuracy before submission.

• Spare Parts Room Support:
  •    Store items in an orderly and accessible manner in warehouses, tool rooms, supply rooms, or other areas.

•    Receive and count stock items, recording data manually or on a computer. Mark stock items using identification tags, stamps, electric marking tools, or other labeling equipment.
•    Pack and unpack items to be stocked on shelves in stockrooms, warehouses, or storage yards.
•    Examine and inspect stock items for wear or defects, reporting any damage to supervisors.
•    Maintain cleanliness of the parts room and assist with maintenance shop employee inquiries.
•    Assist JTI staff in machine and facility repairs as necessary. Account for all spare parts consumed.

• Support Buying Station Operations:
  •    Maintain effective communication with tobacco farmers.

•    Manage and process farmers' payments.
•    Verify accuracy of incoming data before submission.
•    Utilize Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook for various tasks.

• Janitorial Services:
  •    Service, clean, and supply office spaces, manufacturing warehouses, and restrooms. Maintain cleanliness in accordance with the 5S3R policy.

•    Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, dusting, or vacuuming. Gather and empty trash. Wipe office surfaces.
•    Clean rooftops and dispose of trash down designated slides.

•    Follow procedures for using chemical cleaners and power equipment to prevent damage to floors and fixtures. Mix water and detergents in containers to prepare cleaning solutions according to SDS specifications.
•    Provide deep cleaning services to assigned areas regularly

• Cleaning Designated Area:
  •    Sweep designated areas, remove foreign materials, and discard them in appropriate bins. Collect and dispose of floor sweepings into designated metal containers.

•    Keep the area clean in accordance with the 5S3R policy. 

What Qualification I Need...

• Speak fluent English
• Have graduated from High School (Diploma or GED)
• Have 1 year of clerical experience in a manufacturing environment
• Good physical condition to handle demands of the job, inventory contro
• Safety awareness
• A clean background check is required, applicants with active criminal charges will not be Considered

Are you ready to join us? Build your success story at JTI. Apply now!

Next Steps:

After applying, if selected, please anticipate the following within 1-3 weeks of the job posting closure: Phone screening with Talent Advisor > Assessment tests > Interviews > Offer. Each step is eliminatory and may vary by role type.

At JTI, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive work environment. As an equal-opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you need any specific support, alternative formats, or have other access requirements, please let us know.