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Hard Candy Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Retail Associate

Chillicothe, OH · On-site

$13.75 - $15.75/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Retail Associate

Delaware, OH · On-site

$14.50 - $16.50/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Retail Associate

Stroudsburg, PA · On-site

$14.75 - $16.75/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Retail Associate

Flower Mound, TX · On-site

$13.25 - $15.25/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

GRANDPA JOES CANDY SHOP

Retail Associate

Leesburg, FL · On-site

$14 - $15/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

GRANDPA JOES CANDY SHOP

Retail Associate

Springfield, OH · On-site

$14 - $15/hr

Join Our Team at Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop!Are you ready to be part of something big? At Grandpa ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here.Make Your Mark: At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters. Every ...

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Retail Associate

Springfield, OH · On-site

$13.75 - $15.75/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

GRANDPA JOES CANDY SHOP

Retail Associate

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$14 - $16/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Retail Associate

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$16 - $18.25/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

GRANDPA JOES CANDY SHOP

Retail Associate

Troy, OH · On-site

$13 - $14/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

GRANDPA JOES CANDY SHOP

Retail Associate

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$14 - $15/hr

Join Our Team at Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop!Are you ready to be part of something big? At Grandpa ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here.Make Your Mark: At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters. Every ...

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Retail Associate

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$14.75 - $17/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

GRANDPA JOES CANDY SHOP

Retail Associate

Miamisburg, OH · On-site

$14 - $15/hr

Join Our Team at Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop!Are you ready to be part of something big? At Grandpa ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here.Make Your Mark: At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters. Every ...

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Retail Associate

Stillwater, MN · On-site

$16 - $18.25/hr

At Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, we're not just selling candy; we're crafting experiences and building ... Your hard work won't go unnoticed here. * Make Your Mark : At Grandpa Joe's, your work matters.

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Hard Candy information

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How much do hard candy jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for hard candy in the United States is $15.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.98 and $17.31 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a hard candy maker, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Hard Candy Maker, you need knowledge of food safety, ingredient handling, and confectionery techniques, often supported by experience or culinary training. Familiarity with industrial kitchen equipment, temperature control tools, and adherence to HACCP guidelines is typically required. Attention to detail, creativity, and manual dexterity are valuable soft skills for producing consistent and appealing candy products. These skills and qualities are essential to ensure product quality, food safety, and customer satisfaction in a competitive market.

What are some common challenges faced by hard candy production operators in a manufacturing environment?

Hard Candy Production Operators often encounter challenges such as maintaining precise temperature controls during the cooking process, ensuring consistent quality and texture, and adhering to strict food safety standards. Working in this role requires attention to detail, as even small variations in timing or ingredient measurements can affect the final product. Operators also need to collaborate closely with quality assurance and maintenance teams to quickly address equipment malfunctions or production issues, ensuring efficient workflow and minimal downtime.

What is the difference between Hard Candy vs Soft Candy?

AspectHard CandySoft Candy
Required CredentialsNo specific certifications neededNo specific certifications needed
Work EnvironmentManufacturing facilities, candy production linesManufacturing facilities, candy production lines
Industry UsageConfectionery manufacturingConfectionery manufacturing
Common Search/ComparisonHard CandySoft Candy

Hard Candy and Soft Candy are both confectionery products but differ mainly in texture and manufacturing process. Hard Candy is characterized by its solid, brittle texture, often made by boiling sugar to high temperatures. Soft Candy, on the other hand, has a chewy or tender consistency, typically made with different ingredients like gelatin or marshmallow base. Both roles involve similar work environments and industry standards, but their production techniques and product types distinguish them clearly.

What is a hard candy maker?

Hard candy makers are skilled professionals who create various types of hard candies, such as lollipops, candy drops, and other sugar-based confections. They are responsible for cooking sugar syrups to precise temperatures, adding flavors and colors, and shaping the final product. Hard candy makers may work in factories, specialty candy shops, or even as artisans, ensuring quality and consistency in every batch. Their expertise is essential for maintaining food safety standards and producing candies that are both delicious and visually appealing.
More about Hard Candy jobs

What cities are hiring for Hard Candy jobs?

Cities with the most Hard Candy job openings:

What states have the most Hard Candy jobs?

States with the most job openings for Hard Candy jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Hard Candy jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Hard Candy jobs are:

Hard Candy jobs near you
Infographic showing various Hard Candy job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $31,703 per year, or $15.2 per hour.

SME - CD&D Confections Color - Erlanger, KY

Archer Daniels Midland

Erlanger, KY • On-site

$125K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago

ADM rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 185 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

76th of 362 rated logistics

Job description


Subject Matter Expert (SME), CD&D Confections Colors - Erlanger, KY
Position Overview:
The CD&D Colors Application Scientist (Confections) serves as a technical subject matter expert in color application across confectionery systems, delivering innovative, commercially viable color solutions that meet evolving customer, regulatory, and consumer demands.
This role focuses on natural color performance in confection matrices (e.g., gummies, hard candy, panned products, chocolate systems), translating fundamental color science into practical applications that enable successful commercialization.
The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in confection processing with strong knowledge of color chemistry, enabling them to solve complex stability and performance challenges while partnering closely with customers.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Application Development & Testing
    • Design and execute experiments evaluating color performance in confectionery systems (e.g., high/low moisture, gelatin vs. pectin systems, sugar vs. sugar-free).
    • Assess color behavior under processing and storage conditions including:
      • Heat (cooking, extrusion)
      • pH variation
      • Water activity
      • Light exposure and shelf life
    • Analyze interactions between colors and confection ingredients (acids, sugars, polyols, fats, coatings).
    • Generate actionable data to guide formulation and recommend optimized solutions.
  • Subject Matter Leadership - Confections
    • Act as the go-to expert for confection applications across CD&D and commercial teams.
    • Lead troubleshooting for complex challenges such as:
      • Color fade or instability
      • Shade variability in panning/coating systems
      • Migration or bleeding issues
    • Support development of best practices and application guidelines for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Customer Collaboration & Commercialization
    • Partner directly with customers' R&D teams to deliver Concept-through-Commercialization support, especially in transitions to Natural Colors
    • Translate technical findings into clear, customer-ready recommendations.
    • Participate in customer visits, presentations and pilot trials.
    • Support business growth by enabling fit-for-purpose color solutions that meet cost, performance and regulatory needs.
  • Innovation & Portfolio Development
    • Identify gaps and opportunities in the confection color portfolio.
    • Collaborate with Color and Product Development teams to:
      • Develop new formulations
      • Improve performance in challenging systems (i.e. high-acid gummies, fat-based coatings, etc)
      • Contribute to innovation pipelines aligned to market trends and customer needs (i.e. clean label, reduced sugar, etc)
      • Migration or bleeding issues
  • Cross-Functional Partnership
    • Work closely with internal CD&D, Regulatory, Marketing and Commercial teams to ensure alignment between technical abilities and commercial strategy.
    • Contribute to the development of technical training materials and best-practice guides for color use.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or higher in Food Science, Chemistry or related field.
  • 5-10+ years in food applications, with strong focus on confectionery systems
  • Demonstrated experience in color application and troubleshooting
  • Experience with natural colors and FD&C replacement strategies strongly preferred
  • Deep knowledge of:
  • Confection processing technologies
  • Color chemistry and stability principles
  • Ingredient interactions in complex matrices
  • Hands-on experience with:
  • Pilot plant / lab-scale confection production
  • Analytical and sensory evaluation of color performance
Key Competencies
  • Strong problem-solving and experimental design capability
  • Customer-facing communication skills (executive and technical audiences)
  • Ability to translate technical insights into commercial impact
  • Collaborative mindset across global teams
Success Profile
  • Recognized internally and externally as a confection color expert
  • Drives high win rates through technically differentiated solutions
  • Accelerates customer transitions to natural colors
  • Demonstrates strong linkage between technical delivery and revenue generation

Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.
ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.
REF:110024BR
About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We're a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world's premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.
#IncludingYou
Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM's efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments - environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.
We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law
Benefits and Perks
Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
  • Physical wellness - medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
  • Financial wellness - flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers' compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
  • Mental and social wellness - Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
Additional benefits include:
  • Paid time off including paid holidays.
  • Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
  • Tuition assistance.
  • Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
*Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.
Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.
If hired, employees will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

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