Job Title: Associate Director of Formulations
Location: Lexington, KY, on-site.
About the Role:
The Associate Director of Formulation plays a key leadership role in innovating, developing, and commercializing cutting-edge cannabis-infused edible and beverage products. In this role, you will translate strategic business objectives into actionable formulation plans, manage cross-functional teams, and ensure products meet the highest quality standards, compliance, and consumer appeal. As a technical expert, you'll be instrumental in shaping Curaleaf’s product pipeline while driving scientific and operational excellence in a dynamic, fast-paced industry.
What You’ll Do:
Lead end-to-end development of edible and beverage products from concept to commercialization. Translate business goals into formulation strategies, setting clear timelines and deliverables. Manage product testing for sensory, stability, scale-up, and appearance. Oversee external lab testing and ensure compliance with GMP, food safety, and cannabis regulations. Lead R&D trials, pilot runs, and shelf-life testing. Maintain detailed formulation documentation, including SOPs, batch records, and specifications. Support executive leadership in prioritizing product pipelines and aligning strategy. Collaborate with Manufacturing, QA, Sales, and Marketing teams as a technical authority. Stay ahead of market trends, technologies, and competitive activity. Travel up to 50% to support operations, team management, and product launches.What You’ll Bring:
Master’s degree in Food Chemistry, Food Science, or related field with 4+ years of experience, or Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years. Proven leadership of cross-functional and remote technical teams. Strong knowledge of ingredient functionality, emulsions, and solubility systems. Hands-on experience in beverage formulation and confectionery processes. Proficiency in product quality evaluations, shelf-life studies, and sensory testing. Proficient with laboratory techniques, including viscometry, particle size analysis, colorimetry, and texture analysis. Deep understanding of GMP, food safety, and cannabis regulations. Strong scientific documentation and analytical skills. Effective communicator with experience preparing technical reports and presentations. Experience managing formulation scientists and technical projects.Even Better If You Have:
Expertise in solubility enhancement and bioavailability optimization. Familiarity with MRP/ERP systems for ingredient tracking and management. Experience developing intellectual property in food or beverage innovation. Knowledge of data science tools in formulation and product development. Background in cannabis or regulated consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries.Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear, use hands to finger or feel, reach with hands and arms, and lift up to 25 lbs.The employee is occasionally required to climb and balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and lift up to 50 lbs. This position requires close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
This position has allergen warnings, potential exposure to dust, pollen, and plant pathogens, requires exposure to cleaning solvents, such as high volumes of isopropyl alcohol, requires daily use of provided PPE, such as masks, hair nets, beard covers, respirators, boot covers, scrubs, non-slip shoes, and Tyvek suits as necessary, requires the ability to work in confined spaces, has exposure to loud noises, including but not limited to air compressors, packaging equipment, and alarms, has exposure to CO2 manufacturing procedures at OSHA approved CO2 levels and requires a high stress tolerance, adaptability, and flexibility. Ability to work in an ever-changing environment.