Lab Manager

About Great Ascent Botanicals

Great Ascent Botanicals is a Colorado cannabis company building a best-in-class operation. We run a high-performing team focused on quality extraction, compliant production, and scalable wholesale. We're looking for people who want to own their domain, not just occupy it.

Role Overview

The Lab Manager oversees all extraction and post-processing operations, ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. This role requires hands-on technical expertise in cannabis extraction alongside the leadership skills to build and manage a high-performing lab team.

Responsibilities

Extraction & Production

• Operate and oversee CO2, short path distillation, and rotary evaporation (rotovap) equipment
• Manage all phases of extraction: crude production, winterization, distillation, and formulation
• Lead vape pen oil production, ensuring consistency and quality across batches
• Develop and refine SOPs for all extraction and post-processing workflows
• Monitor and optimize yields, potency, and throughput

Quality Assurance & Testing

• Maintain rigorous QA/QC protocols across all production stages
• Coordinate with third-party testing laboratories; review and interpret COAs
• Investigate and resolve quality failures; implement corrective actions
• Ensure all products meet label claim accuracy and release standards

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure full compliance with Colorado MED regulations and METRC seed-to-sale tracking
• Maintain OSHA and SDS compliance; conduct safety training for lab staff
• Manage all lab documentation, batch records, and audit-ready recordkeeping
• Prepare for and support state inspections and internal audits

Team & Operations Management

• Hire, train, and supervise lab staff including extraction technicians and lab technicians
• Create and manage production schedules aligned with wholesale and retail demand
• Oversee lab inventory: raw materials, solvents, consumables, and finished goods
• Manage lab equipment maintenance schedules; coordinate repairs and calibrations
• Assist with budget planning and cost-of-production tracking

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with the Director of Operations on production planning and capacity
• Partner with the wholesale team to meet order fulfillment timelines
• Support new product development and formulation initiatives

Requirements

• 3+ years of cannabis extraction experience in a licensed facility
• Hands-on proficiency with CO2 extraction, short path distillation, and rotovap operations
• Working knowledge of Colorado MED regulations and METRC
• Experience managing or supervising a lab team
• Ability to read and interpret COAs and third-party lab reports
• Strong understanding of OSHA/SDS requirements and lab safety protocols
• Detail-oriented with excellent documentation habits
• Proven ability to develop and improve SOPs

Preferred

• Experience with vape pen formulation and filling operations
• Background in white-label or multi-SKU production environments
• Familiarity with extraction economics and yield optimization

What We Offer

• Ownership of your department from day one
• Direct access to leadership and fast decision-making
• Opportunity to shape lab operations at a company with serious growth momentum
• Competitive compensation