Research Associate, Chemistry - Comox, Onsite

Employment Type - Full Time, Permanent

Hours - Monday- Friday, 40 hours per week

Salary - $67,000-80,000 CAD to start

A LITTLE ABOUT US

We are a global cannabis company driven by our passion to help people improve their lives. We have a diverse team who bring their best every day so Aurora can be the cannabis provider of choice for patients and consumers.  We love our work, and we especially love our high quality, innovative brands that make up the Aurora family – from Aurora, Aurora Drift, San Rafael ’71 and Whistler.

Our people combined with our collective passion for the industry is what makes Aurora a special place to work and defines what we call our “A-Team”. We are a high-performing team of cannabis experts, innovators, and champions, that work, learn and win together. We think BIG, act BOLD and execute with PURPOSE in all that we do, and will stop at nothing to cultivate the ultimate cannabis experience for our community

JOB SUMMARY

The Research Associate in Chemistry is responsible for supporting scientific research activities related to cannabis chemistry. This role involves routine cannabinoid and volatiles testing of cannabis samples, designing and conducting chemistry experiments, analyzing data, laboratory management, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to contribute to the development and improvement of cannabis-related cultivars, products and processes. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Laboratory Management, Sample Testing and Research Experiments: Conduct laboratory routine analytical testing of breeding populations, design, conduct and analyze R&D experiments to characterize cannabis compounds, including cannabinoids and terpenes. Develop new analytical       methods when new compounds of interest are identified. Laboratory management including purchasing of supplies, sample intakes, planning and coordination of activities with shared laboratory technicians.   

•   Sample Preparation: Prepare cannabis samples for analysis using various techniques, ensuring accuracy and adherence to quality standards. 

•   Instrument Operation: Operate and maintain analytical instruments such as HPLC, GC-MS, and other equipment for cannabis compound analysis. 

•   Data Analysis: Analyze experimental data, interpret results, and contribute to the preparation of technical reports and research publications. 

•   Quality Control: Implement quality control procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of research findings. 

•   Collaboration: Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including biologists, pharmacologists, and other researchers, to achieve project goals. 

•   Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and safety protocols in the handling of cannabis-related substances. 

•   Documentation: Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory records, documenting procedures, protocols, and experimental results.

•   Research Output: Accountable for contributing to high-quality research output in cannabis chemistry. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

•   Cannabis Chemistry: In-depth knowledge of cannabis chemistry, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and other related compounds. 
•   Analytical Techniques: Proficiency in using analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC-MS, and other methods for cannabis analysis. 
•   Data Analysis: Strong data analysis skills, including statistical analysis and interpretation of analytical results. 
•   Laboratory Safety: Knowledge of laboratory safety protocols and experience working in a regulated laboratory environment. 
•   Team Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment. 

REQUIREMENTS

•    Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or a related field. 
•    Previous experience in a research or laboratory setting, with a focus on cannabis chemistry. 
•    Familiarity with extraction and purification techniques in cannabis or other plants would be an asset. 
•    Experience in operating and maintaining analytical instruments. 
•    Experience in laboratory management in industry settings would be an asset.
•    Experience in sensory analysis would be an asset. 
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
•    Knowledge of regulatory requirements for working with controlled substances. 
•    Any relevant certifications or training in cannabis chemistry or related fields. 
 

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING AT AURORA

Our people are at the heart of everything we do here at Aurora, and we take pride in fostering an inclusive space that inspires our team to love where they work! From rewarding career opportunities to flexible work environments to team activities, we go above and beyond to prioritize your success and here’s how we do it...

Total Rewards: we will motivate you to go above and beyond with a competitive hourly wage (with shift premiums), stock options, an RRSP program, annual bonuses, and a health and personal care spending account for you to use for gym memberships, ski-trips or staycations.

benefits: we will foster your health and wellness (and your dependents) with our employee benefits package including, employer-paid health and dentalcare premiums, life insurance and LTD policies and a medical cannabis coverage program, designed exclusively for our A-Team, that will provide you with $1,500 of coverage each year (because we truly believe cannabis is the best medicine). 

Life-Long Learning: we’re lifelong learners here at Aurora and will invest in your professional development throughout all aspects of your career! You will have access to a tuition assistance program, virtual learning activities and annual performance reviews, to ensure you are provided with the toolkit and support you need to succeed.

Perks: we love to celebrate our people by providing corporate perks including employee discounts, perkopolis memberships, company SWAG, paid volunteer time, modern technology and free snacks and beverages at all our office locations.

Team: we are a diverse and global team of cannabis enthusiasts, energetic innovators, fitness gurus, caring parents, foodies and more, with a collective passion to nurture an inclusive environment that helps you grow and provide people better days with medical cannabis.

NEXT STEPS

Think you have what it takes to join our team? So do we!

Apply today by submitting your resume along with salary expectations through our website. You can expect your application to be reviewed by a human recruiter (not a robot) shortly after you apply, and our team will contact you via email if we see a fit.

Think you’re the ideal candidate but you don’t meet all the requirements? Apply anyways! We would love to review your application to see if you’re the right fit or find you an alternative opportunity!

Not the role for you? That’s okay! Visit our careers page to find the perfect opportunity for you or share this posting with a friend or colleague that you think would be a great fit (hot tip: if you are already an Aurora employee, take advantage of the employee referral program by referring this posting to a friend! If they are successful, you will receive a bonus!)

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Aurora, we are proud to foster and celebrate a diverse community of professionals! We take pride in nurturing an inclusive culture that empowers our people to be their authentic selves, celebrate their differences and love where they work.

Our diverse community combined with our inclusive culture, is what sets us apart in the industry and equips our A-Team with superpowers – and this is why, we encourage all candidates to apply for job opportunities regardless of race, national origin, colour, religion, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital and family status, disability, or any other identifying characteristic.

If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site or alternate format of job posting) during the recruitment and selection process, please do not hesitate to let our team know! We are here to help.

If applicable, Aurora Human Resources will contact you via your email address provided. We do not contact candidates over Facebook or other Social Media apps. You will never be requested to provide confidential information such as banking information or your Social Insurance Number in the interview process.