Product Development Technician

COMPANY OVERVIEW Cresco Labs is one of the largest public, vertically integrated, multistate operators in the cannabis industry. Our portfolio of in-house cultivated and manufactured brands features some of the highest quality, most awarded and most popular cannabis products in America. With dozens of locations nationwide, our owned and operated Sunnyside® dispensaries provide a welcoming, positive, judgement-free place to shop for anyone at any point on their cannabis journey. Founded in 2013, Cresco Labs’ mission is to normalize and professionalize cannabis through our passionate employees. As stewards of the cannabis industry, our teams are constantly focused on supporting the needs of our fellow colleagues, consumers, customers, and communities alike. With a focus on Social Equity and Educational Development, our SEEDTM initiative ensures that our company reflects the communities in which we serve, ensuring equal opportunity for all to have the knowledge and resources to work in and own businesses in cannabis. At Cresco Labs, we aim to revolutionize and lead the nation’s cannabis industry with a focus on quality and consistency of product, and to bring legitimacy to the industry with the highest level of integrity and professionalism. If you’re interested in joining our mission, click the below links to join our team today! MISSION STATEMENT At Cresco, we aim to lead the nation’s cannabis industry with a focus on regulatory compliance, product consistency, and customer satisfaction. Our operations bring legitimacy to the cannabis industry by acting with the highest level of integrity, strictly adhering to regulations, and promoting the clinical efficacy of cannabis. As Cresco grows, we will operate with the same level of professionalism and precision in each new market we move in to. JOB SUMMARY The Product Development Technician supports the Cresco Lab’s business strategy in developing, evaluating, and commercializing new and optimized products. This role contributes to prototype creation, ingredient screening, sample preparation, production trials, shelf-life studies, technical documentation, and manufacturing support. The Technician works cross-functionally with R&D, Operations, and Quality teams to help ensure products meet Cresco Labs’ standards for quality, consistency, compliance, and consumer experience. CORE JOB DUTIES Support the development team across a wide variety of projects including but not limited to new product development, product optimization and new ingredient evaluations Plan and conduct product and process development trials from product briefs through commercialization Maintain subject matter expertise of equipment functions, operations and troubleshooting processes used in the Cresco network Work in the Joliet, IL. facility for 80-100% of working hours Ability to travel to other in-state or out-of-state company locations with reasonable notice, as business needs require Execute benchtop and production-scale development trials using bench-top laboratory and manufacturing equipment Record, analyze, interpret, and present technical data to support product and process decisions Create product prototypes and samples for distribution to key project stakeholders Work with cross-functional team members to learn, perform, plan and train for new product launches from benchtop scale through manufacturing scale and product commercialization Research, diagnose, and troubleshoot technical issues during development and production phases and find creative solutions with urgency Monitor and take action to improve manufacturing yields and product scrap reduction Identify, validate and develop resources to demonstrate and maintain product quality before, during and after product commercialization Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary laboratory and production work environment in accordance with company standards Develop manufacturing documentation in a timely and detailed manner Participate in non-medicated product evaluations and creative brainstorming sessions, providing feedback on product appearance, taste, texture, format, and overall consumer experience Work independently or with cross-functional team members to meet product commercialization timelines and schedules Prepare, maintain, monitor, and report on shelf-life studies Conduct product quality testing during development using analytical equipment and methods, including pH, viscosity, moisture analysis, particle size analysis, and water activity testing Research and suggest new ingredient applications to support, improve and diversify product portfolios Adapt to changing priorities, project needs, and work locations in a fast-paced product development and manufacturing environment Participate in establishing, improving, and adhering to policies, procedures and reporting requirements for all relevant Environment, Health and Safety regulations; local, state and federal food safety regulations; GMP and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); GFSI, SQF, BRC and/or customer food safety requirements and other third-party inspections REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND SKILLS 1-3 years prior work experience in a laboratory or manufacturing setting supporting R&D or Product Development Associate degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, Biology, Food Science, or a related scientific or technical field preferred; equivalent experience in laboratory, manufacturing, or product development environments may be considered Strong attention to detail with the ability to produce accurate documentation, trial records, and technical reports Ability to work effectively in a team environment Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and a sense of urgency in exceeding project timelines, performance expectations, and professional development goals Possesses creative problem-solving skills Ability to stand for long hours when needed Experience with cannabis extracts, processing, or fo