Curaleaf
At Curaleaf, we’re redefining the cannabis industry with a strong commitment to quality, expertise, and innovation. As a leading global cannabis provider, our brands—including Curaleaf, Select, and Grassroots—offer premium products and services in both medical and adult-use markets.Job Title
Confections Formulation Scientist
Location Lexington, KY (Relocation may be provided for the right candidate)
Job Type Full Time | Exempt
Who You Are You’re a product development scientist with experience in confections, gummies, or candy formulation. You understand how hydrocolloids, pectin/gelatin systems, sugars, and emulsions work together to create consistent flavor, texture, and stability—and you know how to translate bench-top trials into scalable production. You bring deep knowledge of ingredient functionality, emulsions, and hydrocolloids, paired with the technical skill to scale formulations from the lab bench to full production. Whether running shelf‑life studies, managing formulation data, or collaborating with cross‑functional partners, you approach each challenge with precision, organization, and a problem‑solving mindset. Above all, you’re excited to push boundaries in the growing cannabis edibles space while upholding the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance.
What You’ll Do As a Confections Formulation Scientist, you’ll play a central role in developing and scaling innovative cannabis‑infused products. You’ll conduct formulation trials, lead product testing, and support commercialization to bring new concepts to market. Your work will span from sensory evaluations to regulatory compliance, ensuring each product is safe, consistent, and high‑quality. On any given day, you might be:
Supporting the development, optimization, and scaling of cannabis‑infused edibles through bench trials, pilot runs, and full‑scale production
Conducting sensory testing, shelf‑life studies, and technical evaluations of texture, flavor, and stability using industry tools like viscometers and texture analyzers
Maintaining SOPs, batch records, and technical documentation to streamline operations and support audits
Ensuring compliance with GMP, food safety, labeling, and cannabis regulations, including coordinating third‑party lab testing and interpreting results
Managing formulation and ingredient data using MRP systems and formulation software for efficiency and accuracy
Sharing data‑driven insights that influence innovation, continuous improvement, and collaboration across the team
What You’ll Bring
5–8 years of experience in confectionery formulation and/or food manufacturing
A bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Chemistry, or a related field
Hands‑on experience in confection formulation and scale‑up, with knowledge of production equipment
Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, food chemistry, emulsions, and hydrocolloids to design stable formulations
Familiarity with GMPs, food safety, and regulatory requirements, with direct experience in sensory testing and shelf‑life evaluations
Excellent communication and documentation skills, paired with attention to detail and strong organizational abilities
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and formulation software
Willingness to travel up to 10% for trials, production support, and industry events
Even Better If
You have experience in the cannabis or hemp industry
You’re familiar with ERP/MRP systems for managing formulations and ingredient tracking
You bring experience applying data science or analytics to product development
You’ve supported R&D trials and helped scale products from concept to commercialization
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.
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.
$78,000 - $87,000 USD
What We Offer
Competitive Pay and Benefits
Generous PTO and Parental Leave
Life/ Disability Insurance
Community Involvement
Referral Bonuses and Product Discounts
Equal Opportunity Employer Curaleaf is an equal opportunity employer. Curaleaf recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Application Statement Individuals adversely impacted by the war on drugs are encouraged to apply.
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Confections Formulation Scientist
Location Lexington, KY (Relocation may be provided for the right candidate)
Job Type Full Time | Exempt
Who You Are You’re a product development scientist with experience in confections, gummies, or candy formulation. You understand how hydrocolloids, pectin/gelatin systems, sugars, and emulsions work together to create consistent flavor, texture, and stability—and you know how to translate bench-top trials into scalable production. You bring deep knowledge of ingredient functionality, emulsions, and hydrocolloids, paired with the technical skill to scale formulations from the lab bench to full production. Whether running shelf‑life studies, managing formulation data, or collaborating with cross‑functional partners, you approach each challenge with precision, organization, and a problem‑solving mindset. Above all, you’re excited to push boundaries in the growing cannabis edibles space while upholding the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance.
What You’ll Do As a Confections Formulation Scientist, you’ll play a central role in developing and scaling innovative cannabis‑infused products. You’ll conduct formulation trials, lead product testing, and support commercialization to bring new concepts to market. Your work will span from sensory evaluations to regulatory compliance, ensuring each product is safe, consistent, and high‑quality. On any given day, you might be:
Supporting the development, optimization, and scaling of cannabis‑infused edibles through bench trials, pilot runs, and full‑scale production
Conducting sensory testing, shelf‑life studies, and technical evaluations of texture, flavor, and stability using industry tools like viscometers and texture analyzers
Maintaining SOPs, batch records, and technical documentation to streamline operations and support audits
Ensuring compliance with GMP, food safety, labeling, and cannabis regulations, including coordinating third‑party lab testing and interpreting results
Managing formulation and ingredient data using MRP systems and formulation software for efficiency and accuracy
Sharing data‑driven insights that influence innovation, continuous improvement, and collaboration across the team
What You’ll Bring
5–8 years of experience in confectionery formulation and/or food manufacturing
A bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Chemistry, or a related field
Hands‑on experience in confection formulation and scale‑up, with knowledge of production equipment
Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, food chemistry, emulsions, and hydrocolloids to design stable formulations
Familiarity with GMPs, food safety, and regulatory requirements, with direct experience in sensory testing and shelf‑life evaluations
Excellent communication and documentation skills, paired with attention to detail and strong organizational abilities
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and formulation software
Willingness to travel up to 10% for trials, production support, and industry events
Even Better If
You have experience in the cannabis or hemp industry
You’re familiar with ERP/MRP systems for managing formulations and ingredient tracking
You bring experience applying data science or analytics to product development
You’ve supported R&D trials and helped scale products from concept to commercialization
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.
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.
$78,000 - $87,000 USD
What We Offer
Competitive Pay and Benefits
Generous PTO and Parental Leave
Life/ Disability Insurance
Community Involvement
Referral Bonuses and Product Discounts
Equal Opportunity Employer Curaleaf is an equal opportunity employer. Curaleaf recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Application Statement Individuals adversely impacted by the war on drugs are encouraged to apply.
#J-18808-Ljbffr