About Us
For over 150 years, G.E. Barbour Inc. (Barbours) has been a cornerstone of Atlantic Canada’s food and beverage industry. Established in 1867—the very year of Canadian Confederation—we have grown from a small wholesale grocery business into a premier manufacturer, blender, and distributor of high-quality teas, nut butters, spices, and extracts.
Proudly operating from our facility in Sussex, New Brunswick, Barbours blends deep-rooted tradition with modern manufacturing standards. We are the proud team behind iconic, beloved regional brands like King Cole Tea, which has been comforting Canadian families at the kitchen table for generations.
Overview
Are you a detail-oriented individual with a strong work ethic looking to build a long-term career? G.E. Barbour Inc. is seeking a versatile, energetic Cross-Functional Blended Line Operator to join our team in Sussex.
In this unique, blended role, you will be trained across both our Tea and Spice departments. You will be the backbone of our production lines, ensuring that our machinery runs smoothly, our high-quality ingredients are processed correctly, and strict food safety protocols are upheld at every turn. If you enjoy a dynamic workday where you can utilize a diverse skillset, this is the position for an eager learner.
Responsibilities
The Cross-Functional Production Operator is responsible for operating specialized packaging machinery and moving materials across both the Tea and Spice departments. This role ensures maximum line efficiency while strictly maintaining food safety standards, performing quality checks, executing equipment changeovers, and completing daily production tracking.
Core Production & Machine Operations
- Operate a diverse fleet of specialized tea packaging machinery and support equipment, including tray formers, over wrappers, and shrink wrappers.
- Load and deliver ground or mixed spices safely into packaging machine hoppers using barrels and portable hoppers.
- Monitor real-time equipment performance, tracking machine times, temperatures, product weights, and seal integrity.
- Troubleshoot minor mechanical issues independently and escalate complex equipment malfunctions to the maintenance team.
Quality Assurance, Food Safety & Compliance
- Perform vital line pre-operational checks and complete required compliance documentation according to SQF and Good Manufacturing Standards.
- Conduct critical metal detector challenges prior to shift start-up and immediately following breaks.
- Inspect ingredients and finished goods throughout production runs to ensure structural consistency and top-tier product quality.
- Exercise the authority to completely shut down production lines if immediate safety or food safety risks are detected.
Sanitation & Product Changeovers
- Execute precise machinery breakdowns and clean-up procedures between product runs.
- Adhere to strict allergen mitigation protocols and mandatory uniform changes when transitioning between production lines.
- Clean tea machine magnets routinely to preserve overall product integrity.
Inventory Tracking & Administration
- Track and record strict lot numbers and packaging material data to ensure comprehensive product traceability.
- Complete and deliver daily shop orders, yield measurements, and empty container tracking tickets to the production office at the end of each shift.
- Apply positive-release "hold" stickers to finished pallets and ensure proper "license plate" labels are utilized for mixed-date pallets.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Education and Training:
Personal Characteristics:
- Reliable
- Strong work ethic
- Commitment to long term work
- Eager to learn
- Follows rules and policies such as SOP’s and SSOP’s
What we Offer
- Paid weekly
- Full time permanent
- Group benefits
- Monday to Friday, with additional hours as required
How to Apply
If you are a motivated team player looking to build your skills with a historic, community-minded company, we want to hear from you! Please submit your resume directly through Indeed. We thank all applicants for their interest in joining the Barbours family; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
G.E. Barbour Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive, safe environment for all employees.
Pay: $16.81-$23.72 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Sussex, NB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
