Processing Lab Manager

The Lab Manageroversees and maintains all oil production, medication formulating, and testing throughout the Processing Suite. Leadership and supervision extend to all oil production steps, analytical testing, formulation of medications, and all associated departmental functions. Also, provide leadership guidance and assistance as required in all Post-Harvest and Filling/Packaging operations. The Lab Manager must monitor and maintain the production facility in accordance with the State of Illinois regulations and standards set by the company.

Responsibilities and General Job Duties:

• Full scientific oversight of the Labs and all processes
• Manage extraction process, purification process, formulation process, and analytical testing in their entirety
• Build a strong high functioning team and manage through both engagement and accountability
• Recruit new talent Hire all new staff from Extraction Technicians through Chemists
• Complete employee evaluations and performance-based coaching
• Resource planning and staff scheduling
• Develop and oversee all applicable training programs
• Capacity and production planning for departments based on constraints and calculated requirements
• Validations and qualifications of SOPs, equipment, and methods
• Conducting IQ OQ PQ projects for new equipment
• Complete R&D projects as required for product and process expansion
• Create and track all department metrics and KPIs (focusing on safety, quality, and productivity)
• Liaison with Corporate applicable SMEs
• Engineer technical solutions for departmental expansion
• Execute on short-term projects as well as long-term vision for the departments
• Maintain all cGMPs based on set facility standards
• Conduct quality-based investigations and create CAPAs
• Write and review all department specific SOPs, Work Instructions, Forms, or other technical and controlled documents
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives including six sigma and 5S
• Managing procurement process of department and maintain an OPEX budget
• Ensure all associated personnel are trained in and comply with all IDOA applicable regulations
• Ensure processing operation is fully compliant with state regulations and state/federal law
• Assure that operation adheres to all business and industry license requirements

Specific Job Duties and Qualifications:

• Cannabis industry specific processes related to Post-Harvest (drying, curing, trimming), Processing (extraction, purification, formulation, filling, and packaging), Kitchen Formulation (edibles) and Analytical Testing (potency reporting)
• QA/QC duties that require analytical testing for quality and consistency; data review and analysis of HPLC and GC equipment
• Oversight of highly sophisticated CO2 based extraction equipment; Processing concentrates and extracts with heat and pressure
• Operating, maintaining, repairing and adjusting laboratory equipment such as winterizers, pumps, balances, centrifuges, roto-evaporates, decarb ovens, stills, homogenizers, and another laboratory equipment
• Storing supplies and equipment, disposal of waste according to guidelines, and keeping laboratory, storerooms, harvest rooms, and working areas immaculate
• Able to process samples by collection, extraction, preparing for analysis, and quantifying results
• Scientific laboratory procedures and techniques as used in a chemistry laboratory including methods of measurements
• Health and safety practices and precautions (including HazCom) applicable to a laboratory and manufacturing
• Development of automation tools specifically related to filling and packaging (injectors, cappers, de-dusters, case counters, box erectors, carton sealers, labelers, etc.)
• Maintaining strict inventory compliance and records of all controlled substances tracked through BioTrackTHC

Requirements and Education:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Subject to background check per state cannabis regulations
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and complete repetitive tasks as required
• BS/BA Degree or greater in a related field with at least 3 years' experience in a pharmaceutical lab or highly regulated manufacturing/production setting
• Degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering preferred
• Scientific writing for processes, training, and procedures which require technical documentation
• Analytical Lab experience with HPLC and GC analysis highly preferred
• Strong verbal and communication skills
• Ability to work in a cross-functional team environment
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite with strong abilities within Excel