Director of Product Development

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

We are looking for a hands-on, commercially minded scientist to lead product development and formulation across our portfolio. You will take ideas from concept to shelf, turning our innovation strategy into products that work: stable cannabinoid emulsions, functional ingredient blends built on mushrooms and adaptogens, and flavor profiles that consumers come back for.

This is a build-and-do role. You will own the product development process end to end, spend real time at the bench, run formulation and scale-up projects across gummies, beverages, vapes, and pre-rolls, and lead a small team of scientists and technicians. You will be the go-to technical expert on cannabinoids, terpenes, emulsion systems, and delivery technologies, working day to day with product, marketing, operations, quality, regulatory, and supply chain to launch products compliantly and fast.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Development

• Lead new product development end to end, from concept and feasibility through formulation, pilot, scale-up, and commercial launch, executing against the innovation roadmap set with the Chief Innovation Officer.
• Own and run the stage-gate pipeline: write product briefs, build project timelines, track milestones, and present results and go/no-go recommendations at each gate review.
• Lead cross-functional launch teams with Marketing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Finance so products launch on time, on spec, and on budget.
• Translate consumer insights, trend research, and marketing briefs into product concepts and formulation targets for taste, texture, dose, onset, and cost.
• Manage technology transfer to co-manufacturers and production: write finished product specifications, bills of materials, and manufacturing instructions, and be on site for first production runs.
• Partner with Packaging and Operations on package compatibility, shelf-life validation, and process capability.
• Build product costing with Finance and hit target margins through formulation and ingredient choices.
• Design and run sensory evaluations, consumer testing, and iterative formulation cycles so products meet standards for taste, texture, and efficacy.
• Manage the existing SKU portfolio, reformulating for cost, performance, ingredient availability, or supply chain resilience, and recommending line extensions and discontinuations.

Ingredient Technology & Emulsion Systems

• Develop and optimize water-soluble and nanoemulsion delivery systems for cannabinoids and other actives, with a focus on stability, bioavailability, and shelf life.
• Evaluate hemp-derived CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC, and minor cannabinoid inputs; apply sourcing standards, review COAs, and run potency verification.
• Formulate with functional mushrooms (lion's mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps) and adaptogenic botanicals (ashwagandha, rhodiola, eleuthero), from raw material qualification through finished product.
• Screen and test novel delivery approaches (liposomal systems, Pickering emulsions, lipid nanoparticles) and bring the most promising ones forward with data.
• Qualify ingredient suppliers alongside Quality and Supply Chain, writing incoming material specifications with particular rigor around hemp/cannabis testing and traceability.
• Track the scientific and patent literature and bring emerging ingredients and technologies to the Chief Innovation Officer with a clear point of view.
• Manage day-to-day work with contract labs, research partners, and co-manufacturers.

Flavor Development

• Lead flavor development project by project, working with flavor houses and internal sensory staff to create distinctive, on-trend profiles.
• Mask and modulate the earthy, bitter, and grassy notes of cannabinoids, mushrooms, and adaptogens without compromising efficacy.
• Prioritize clean-label solutions using natural flavor systems, fruit concentrates, and botanical extracts.
• Run sensory panels and benchmarking to measure flavor performance, consistency, and consumer appeal.

Cannabis Product Development

Gummies

• Formulate pectin, gelatin, and starch-based gummies for ideal chew, mouthfeel, and shelf stability at target cannabinoid and functional ingredient loads.
• Ensure dose homogeneity and accuracy across every unit; run accelerated shelf-life and moisture-management studies.

Beverages

• Integrate water-soluble cannabinoid emulsions into beverage bases with flavor systems that complement, rather than hide, cannabinoid and terpene character.
• Solve for emulsion stability, onset time, and bioavailability under pH, carbonation, and thermal processing conditions.

Vapes

• Develop true-to-strain and novel vape flavor profiles through terpene blending and botanical extracts.
• Optimize oil viscosity, cannabinoid concentration, and terpene ratios across 510 carts, disposables, and pods; support hardware qualification and QC testing (clog resistance, leak integrity, fill weight).

Pre-Rolls

• Develop specifications and QC protocols for burn consistency, flavor expression, and potency accuracy.
• Optimize flower, trim, and infusion inputs (kief, concentrate, terpene spray) and work with cultivation and processing partners to protect terpene integrity.

Team Leadership & Lab Operations

• Write and maintain SOPs, lab safety protocols, batch records, and formulation documentation that hold up to regulatory and quality review.
• Manage project timelines and the lab's operating budget; provide input on the annual R&D budget.
• Partner with Regulatory to ensure formulas and labels meet compliance
• on ingredient science and help substantiate product claims.
• Help hire lead, coach, and develop a small team of formulation scientists and lab technicians as the company grows

QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)

Required

• B.S. with 5+ years, or M.S./Ph.D. with 3+ years, of hands-on R&D experience in food, beverage, supplements, functional nutrition, or cannabis products. Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Nutrition, or a related field.
• Hands-on expertise in emulsion science and lipid-based delivery systems.
• Working knowledge of cannabinoids, terpenes, extraction methods, and bioavailability, plus experience with functional mushrooms, adaptogens, or other bioactive ingredients.
• Proven product development track record, with at least two products taken personally from concept and bench formulation through commercial launch.
• Experience running stage-gate or similar product development processes and leading cross-functional launch teams.
• Experience with scale-up and technology transfer to co-manufacturers or internal production.
• Familiarity with cannabis/hemp regulations (Farm Bill, state compliance, FDA guidance on CBD), food safety requirements, and labeling/claims substantiation.
• Experience leading or mentoring scientists or technicians.
• Clear communicator who can explain technical trade-offs to non-technical partners.

Preferred

• Gummy, confectionery, or beverage/RTD formulation experience, including carbonated bases.
• Hands-on experience with cannabinoid water-solubility, microencapsulation, or liposomal technologies.
• Experience with vape oil formulation or pre-roll infusion.
• Patents or publications in relevant areas.
• Experience with certified organic, non-GMO, or other third-party certification programs.
• Experience in an early-stage or fast-growing R&D team.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL EFFORT:

• Regular exposure to cannabis and hemp materials, concentrated terpenes, flavor compounds, botanical extracts, and strong odors. Occasional exposure to lab chemicals and solvents, heated equipment, and noise in production environments.
• Must follow lab safety, GMP, and food safety procedures and wear required personal protective equipment (lab coat, safety glasses, gloves, hairnet, and respirator where required).
• Stand and walk for extended periods (up to several hours at a time) during bench work, pilot runs, and production trials.
• Lift, carry, and move materials and equipment up to 50 pounds; use carts or team lifts for heavier items.
• Bend, reach, and use fine motor skills to handle lab instruments and glassware; visual acuity, including color perception, to assess product quality.
• Sense of taste and smell sufficient to perform sensory evaluation and flavor development, including tasting products that contain cannabinoids, mushrooms, and botanicals, in line with company policy and applicable law.