1

Product Development Lab Manager Jobs in Hobart, IN

The company is currently seeking an experienced Product Development Engineer . We are currently ... Experience with Motor Drive Roller (MDR), Sortation Technologies, installation, project management ...

Showing results 21-40

Product Development Lab Manager information

See Hobart, IN salary details

$42K

$125.6K

$142.9K

How much do product development lab manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for product development lab manager in Hobart, IN is $125,600.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,200.00 and $141,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a product development lab manager?

To thrive as a Product Development Lab Manager, you need a solid background in product development processes, laboratory management, and a relevant scientific or engineering degree. Familiarity with lab management software, quality control systems, and regulatory compliance certifications such as ISO standards is typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help drive innovation and ensure effective coordination among cross-functional teams. These skills are crucial for maintaining efficient lab operations, ensuring compliance, and delivering high-quality products on time.

What does a product development lab manager do?

A Product Development Lab Manager oversees the operations of a laboratory where new products are created, tested, and refined. They manage lab staff, ensure equipment is maintained, and ensure that research and development activities comply with safety and quality standards. Their role often involves coordinating between research teams, production, and quality assurance to bring new products from concept to market. They also play a key role in budgeting, resource allocation, and maintaining documentation for regulatory compliance.

How does a product development lab manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the product development process?

As a Product Development Lab Manager, you will regularly collaborate with teams such as R&D, engineering, marketing, and quality assurance. This involves coordinating product testing, ensuring adherence to timelines, and communicating technical results to non-technical stakeholders. Effective collaboration is crucial for aligning product specifications, resolving challenges quickly, and ensuring that the final product meets both technical and market requirements. Strong communication and project management skills are key for success in this role.

What is the difference between Product Development Lab Manager vs Product Development Scientist?

AspectProduct Development Lab ManagerProduct Development Scientist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Chemistry, Biology, or related field; management experienceDegree in Chemistry, Biology, or related field; research experience
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, overseeing teams, managing projectsLaboratories, conducting experiments, developing products
Employer & IndustryConsumer goods, pharmaceuticals, biotech companiesResearch institutions, R&D departments in similar industries
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding managerial roles in product developmentResearching scientific roles in product creation

The Product Development Lab Manager focuses on overseeing laboratory operations, managing teams, and ensuring project timelines, while the Product Development Scientist is primarily involved in conducting experiments and developing new products. Both roles require relevant scientific credentials and work within similar industry environments, but their responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What cities near Hobart, IN are hiring for Product Development Lab Manager jobs? Cities near Hobart, IN with the most Product Development Lab Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Product Development Lab Manager job openings in Hobart, IN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,600 per year, or $60.4 per hour.

Director, Product Development - Edibles

Green Thumb

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Green Thumb Industries rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 33 rated cannabis dispensaries


Job description

The Role
The Director of Product Development - Edibles is responsible for leading the Edibles product development team, bringing new edibles products to life from concept through commercialization. This role owns the product development process end-to-end: translating product briefs into winning formulations, building and running a sensory sampling and evaluation process, vetting and qualifying new ingredients, and developing and owning product specifications that guide consistent, high-quality products. The department is comprised of a dynamic team of food scientists and culinary experts, fostering a culture of creativity, rigor, and continuous improvement. This role partners closely with innovation, consumer insights, and implementation to ensure new products are both delightful to consumers and ready to scale. This leadership role is responsible for mentoring, developing, coaching, and advancing the edibles product development team. Green Thumb is growing fast, and as our Director of Product Development -Edibles, you will be tasked with ensuring we are staying cutting edge in this rapidly growing industry. A demonstrated expertise in food science, sensory evaluation, and a variety of CPG product development concepts, practices, platforms, and procedures is a must.
This position will require occasional flexibility in working hours to set up and complete sensory sessions, bench trials, or product testing that may extend past typical working hours. This position requires 10% travel to different manufacturing facilities in the GTI network.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:
  • Develop and execute the company's new product strategy in alignment with overall business objectives.
  • Drive innovation and new product development efforts to meet market demands and gain a competitive edge.
  • Take product briefs from concept to finished formulation, defining and assessing project scope, ingredient and flavor direction, feasibility, and project financials.

Team Management and Development
  • Recruit, mentor, and manage a team of professionals, including food scientists.
  • Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment, encouraging cross-functional collaboration with other departments, including innovation, quality assurance, and procurement, and implementation to bring new products to market successfully.
  • Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular performance reviews, and provide constructive feedback to ensure constant growth of our GTI team members.

Product Development:
  • Oversee the end-to-end product development process, from ideation to commercialization.
  • Take product briefs and translate them into finished products, leading concept development, ingredient selection, and bench formulation from first prototype through final formula.
  • Build, lead, and continuously refine a structured sensory sampling and evaluation process, gathering and synthesizing internal and consumer feedback to guide formulation decisions.
  • Vet, qualify, and approve new ingredients and suppliers for flavor, function, safety, cost, and supply reliability before they are incorporated into product formulations.
  • Develop and own product specifications (formulas, flavor profiles, sensory attributes, and finished product parameters), ensuring they are accurate, current, and clearly communicated.
  • Partner closely with the Implementation team throughout formulation handoff, fostering a collaborative, positive working relationship between the two teams.
  • Be onsite for the first scale-up of every new formula, providing hands-on guidance and product expertise as the Implementation team translates the recipe into a real manufacturing run.
  • Remain engaged and available to troubleshoot with the Implementation team if formulation-related issues arise in the field as they scale Product Development's recipes.

Test Kitchen & Facility Management:
  • Manage the team's offsite leased test kitchen, the dedicated space where all product development work takes place, including the equipment within it and all processes and procedures.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact with the landlord, coordinating any building accommodations, maintenance, or repairs needed to keep the test kitchen running smoothly.
  • Ensure safe kitchen practices, food safety standards, and proper equipment maintenance are consistently followed throughout the test kitchen.

Research and Trends Analysis:
  • Stay current with industry trends, consumer preferences, and emerging technologies to drive innovation.
  • Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify growth opportunities.
  • Engages with cannabis and CPG current events to support recommendations of new products.

Project Management and Technical Expertise:
  • Implement project management best practices to track progress, timelines, budgets and milestones for product development initiatives.
  • Maintain a deep understanding of the technical aspects of the projects and products the team is working on, and educate and share your technical knowledge with cross-functional partners to help them better design products and projects.

Budget Management:
  • Develop and manage the budget for all projects flowing through product development, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to support PD initiatives.
  • Explore cost-saving opportunities in ingredients and processes.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality:
  • Work with QA and Compliance to ensure that all products meet relevant food safety, labeling, and regulatory requirements.
  • Implement and maintain robust quality control processes and procedures for new products.
  • Address and resolve quality and compliance issues.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science, Culinary Science, Chemistry, or a related field;
    • Master's degree or PhD strongly preferred.
  • 10+ years of leadership experience.
  • Food science or product development experience in a CPG or food/beverage setting, including hands-on formulation and sensory evaluation.
  • Proven track record in accomplishing significant and impactful business results.
  • Demonstrated high level of leadership, relationship management, and communication skills; ability to work effectively with global teams.
  • Ability to be a technical and strategic leader as well as a hands-on implementer.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills with coworkers and management.
  • Familiarity with FDA and OSHA regulations.
  • Understanding & adhering to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations as they pertain to the industry, safety regulations, local municipal codes and organizational rules, regulations, directives and standard operating procedures.
  • Highly motivated, self-directed, innovative and able to work independently or among teams with keen judgement, common sense and resourcefulness
  • Adapts and thrives in a demanding, fast-paced environment
  • Possesses a high level of critical thinking
  • Operates with a high level of professionalism and integrity, including dealing with confidential information
  • Must understand and comply with the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of Green Thumb
  • Must have a solid understanding of the Cannabis laws, rules and regulations and passion to further their understanding and knowledge of the industry and the laws.
Additional Requirements
  • Active driver's license or State ID card.
  • Must be a minimum of 21 years of age.
  • Must pass any and all required background checks.
  • Must be and remain compliant with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry.
  • Must be approved by the regulatory agency, if required, and maintain compliance with any employee badging process.
  • This position will require occasional flexibility in working hours to set up and complete sensory sessions, bench trials, or product testing that may extend past typical working hours.
  • This position requires 10% travel to different manufacturing facilities in the GTI network.

Working Conditions:
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to perform grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
  • Physical demands - May be required to stand and/or walk for extended periods of time. Must be able to lift, carry and balance up to 50 pounds (200 pounds with assistance).
  • Extended periods of sitting and computer work.
  • This is a GMP facility and the Employee Hygiene and Personal Effects Policy must be followed, which prohibits wearing/having false eyelashes/eyelash extensions, false/long fingernails, fingernail polish/art, hairpins, non-permanent jewelry (permanent means it can only be removed surgically), and other items that may fall off.

#LI_HYBRID
The pay range is competitive and based on experience, qualifications, and/or location of the role. Positions may be eligible for a discretionary annual incentive program driven by organization and individual performance.
Green Thumb Pay Range
$155,000-$170,000 USD

What Green Thumb Industries employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom