Job title:
Senior Manager Innovation Process Development
Company
Cronos Group
Job description
DescriptionCronos is an innovative global cannabinoid company committed to building disruptive intellectual property by advancing cannabis research, technology, and product development. With a passion to responsibly elevate the consumer experience, Cronos is building an iconic brand portfolio. Cronos’ diverse international brand portfolio includes Spinach®, PEACE NATURALS® and Lord Jones®. For more information about Cronos and its brands, please visit: .At Cronos Group, we hire talented people who thrive on solving difficult problems and give them the opportunity to hone new skills and approaches. If you want to play a part in shaping an innovative industry and help build a historically significant company, we want to meet you.As the Sr. Manager Innovation Process Development, you’ll strategize and execute process development and product, and ingredient scale up & optimization projects. This role focuses on scaling bench-top processes to pilot scale and commercial production, optimizing manufacturing parameters, and supporting process validation to deliver high quality, consistent cannabis products and ensure regulatory compliance and efficiency across all phases of process development and manufacturing scale-up. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, you’ll drive process development activities from concept to execution.Responsibilities include evaluating manufacturing options, scaling product & process development, overseeing commercialization & tech transfer to operations. You’ll also conduct capacity analyses, develop GMP and HACCP-compliant processes, and represent our company in technical discussions. We seek a proactive, experienced individual with a strong manufacturing or process engineering background, possessing analytical, problem-solving, and excellent communication skills, who thrives in a fast-paced environment. Experience in cannabis or pharmaceutical industries (or similarly regulated environments) is an asset. The ideal candidate is energetic, collaborative, and forward- thinking.This position is based out of Stayner, OntarioWhat you’ll be doing:Tech Transfer, Scale up & Process Development
- Lead the end-to end tech transfer process from R&D to Operations. Develop Tech Transfer plans and validation studies including critical process parameters and critical quality attributes, and production readiness criteria.
- Lead in-depth research to identify potential equipment and processing solutions, including cost-benefit analysis and return on investment (ROI) evaluations, focusing on their suitability from the early prototyping phase to scale up. The goal is to align these solutions with the development strategies and the broader manufacturing strategy and support the overall business case for implementation.
- Work in close collaboration with Engineering, Operations, and Commercialization teams; facilitating the identification of suitable equipment vendors and process flows (e.g. layout design, throughput optimization, safety standards) that complement product development goals, while respecting facility limitations and operational requirements.
- Collaborate closely with R&D and Engineering teams to translate new product concepts into scalable manufacturing processes. Evaluate and adapt new technologies with a focus on process robustness, repeatability, and regulatory compliance, to meet product and process requirements.
- Develop initial and continually optimize process flows, assisting operations with defining labour, time, and process loss estimates.
- Drive the scale-up activity for product & bulk ingredient development, turning technical product specifications and manufacturing specifications into implementable action plans. This includes the development and scaling up of new processes, as well as optimization of existing ones.
- Serve as the central communication hub between different teams such as product development, engineering, commercialization, and operations. Facilitate effective communication and alignment of objectives, ensuring the seamless integration of product integrity requirements.
- Represent the company in technical discussions with vendors, service providers and contract manufacturers. Ensuring the company’s product development and product specification interests are at the forefront of all conversations.
- Actively seek and implement process optimization, leveraging feedback from various teams and operational data. Continuously strive for product & ingredient quality improvement and efficiency enhancement.
- Draft initial capacity analysis in-line with product development formulations. This includes converting product development specifications into tangible insights for process capacity (e.g. equipment utilization, throughput rates, yield targets). This ensures optimal resource utilization and effective execution of production plans.
- Work with the cross functional team in carrying out machine capability analysis and FMEA including documentation of preventative actions and corrective measures. Help to evaluate each machine’s ability to deliver accurate, consistent, and reliable performance, and identify potential process or equipment failures.
- Travel to and from global Cronos Group Facilities, 3rd party contract manufacturers, and other remote locations for product development purposes, technical consultations, and manufacturing scale-up, optimization and troubleshooting, as required.
Documentation and Training:
- Develop new processes with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles, including documentation for audits and inspections, assisting Quality and Regulatory teams with development of preventative control plans and process compliance to industry standards and regulations.
- Draft initial batch records and training records, ensuring traceability and alignment with regulatory guidelines, for new processes and continuous optimization and improvement of existing batch records, training records & SOP’s.
- Collaborate with Engineering and Product Development teams to create Routings and comprehensive BOMs as well as liaise with Finance and Systems teams for their accuracy and functionality of BOMs and Routing within the Enterprise resource planning systems.
- Design and implement standard scale-up process templates and tools that can be utilized across different projects, ensuring repeatable success and efficiency in scaling operations.
Continuous Improvement:
- Gather feedback post launch to identify areas for process and product improvements.
- Support cost reduction initiatives by refining formulations and production methods while maintaining or improving product quality and compliance.
Your Environment:
- Able to work in varying temperatures
- Able to lift up to 40 lbs.
- Overtime as required
- Frequent time spent in production & laboratory environments (standing, bending, crouching)
- Fast-paced environment
- Comply with all cannabis handling and safety procedures, including PPE usage.
You’ll need to have:
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or other related technical field.
- 5+ years of experience with a proven track record of successful product commercialization in scale up process engineering, preferably in consumer-packaged goods industry (experience working within the cannabis industry is an asset).
- Strong knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).
- Experience with Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and machine capability analysis.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with proven ability to work cross-functionally with teams like Research & Development, Engineering, Commercialization, and Operations.
- Experience in technical negotiations and representing company interests with external parties such as vendors or contract manufacturers including drafting or reviewing technical aments and specifications
- Proficiency in relevant software, such as CAD, CAM, or specific manufacturing-related software.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills including root cause analysis and data-driven decision-making methodologies.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Open to travel for vendor meetings, equipment inspections, or related activities.
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, and we welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and people with diverse backgrounds, identities, and cultures. For candidates with disabilities, accommodations are available upon request in all phases of the selection process.
Expected salary
Location
Stayner, ON
Job date
Sun, 30 Mar 2025 01:00:31 GMT
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