Head, Analytical Science | Zenabis
Search Overview
Organization:
Zenabis
Sector:
Cannabis Manufacturing and Consumer Products
Location:
Canada
Mandate Type:
Leadership Search
Leadership Function:
Head, Analytical Science
Search Scope:
National Open Search
Engagement Focus:
Scientific Leadership, Analytical Operations, and Regulatory Support
Confidentiality:
Public Leadership Recruitment Engagement
The Business Landscape
Zenabis engaged KIRAH to support the appointment of a Head, Analytical Science during a period of rapid operational growth and increasing regulatory complexity within the Canadian cannabis sector.
As the organization continued expanding its production and product development capabilities, the need emerged for specialized scientific leadership capable of strengthening analytical operations, laboratory oversight, quality processes, and regulatory alignment across the organization’s evolving infrastructure.
Operating within a highly regulated environment required strong scientific rigor, operational consistency, and leadership capable of supporting both commercial growth and compliance standards.
The mandate carried strategic importance as analytical science played a critical role in product quality, testing integrity, process validation, and operational credibility within the broader manufacturing environment.
The Leadership Requirement
The role required far more than technical laboratory expertise alone.
Zenabis required a scientific leader capable of overseeing analytical operations while balancing laboratory leadership, regulatory awareness, scientific process management, quality standards, and cross functional collaboration across operational teams.
The ideal candidate required strong experience across analytical testing environments, scientific leadership, laboratory operations, quality systems, and regulated production settings.
Equally important was the need for an individual capable of operating effectively within a fast paced and rapidly evolving industry environment where adaptability, scientific precision, and leadership maturity were essential.
The Search Mandate
KIRAH was retained to conduct a national open search for the Head, Analytical Science role.
The assignment focused on identifying scientific leaders with experience across analytical laboratories, regulated operational environments, pharmaceutical sciences, quality driven industries, and complex testing infrastructures.
Rather than approaching the mandate as a traditional technical hire, the search centered around identifying a strategic scientific leader capable of supporting long term operational growth, analytical consistency, and organizational stability.
The engagement involved targeted outreach, scientific leadership evaluation, and close collaboration with organizational stakeholders throughout the recruitment process.
The Search Strategy
KIRAH conducted targeted outreach across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cannabis, laboratory sciences, food sciences, and regulated manufacturing sectors throughout Canada.
The process focused on identifying leaders with strong analytical laboratory capability and experience operating within quality and compliance driven environments.
Candidates were evaluated beyond technical scientific expertise alone.
The assessment process focused heavily on leadership capability, laboratory management approach, regulatory understanding, analytical problem solving, process improvement mindset, and organizational alignment.
Particular emphasis was placed on identifying a scientific leader capable of supporting both immediate analytical requirements and long term operational scalability.
The search process also prioritized candidates capable of operating effectively within highly regulated and rapidly evolving production environments.
Candidates were assessed on adaptability, communication capability, scientific leadership style, and their ability to contribute positively within a collaborative operational structure.
The Appointment
The search resulted in the successful appointment of Dr. Oliver Corea as Head, Analytical Science for Zenabis.
Dr. Corea brought strong scientific leadership capability, analytical laboratory expertise, and regulatory awareness aligned with the organization’s operational and quality objectives.
His experience across analytical sciences, laboratory oversight, and regulated operational environments positioned him effectively to support scientific rigor, testing integrity, and analytical consistency within Zenabis’ broader production infrastructure.
The appointment represented an important addition to the organization’s scientific and quality leadership capabilities during a significant stage of growth and industry evolution.
The Outcome
Strengthened Scientific Leadership
Supported the appointment of a senior scientific leader capable of contributing strategically across analytical and operational initiatives.
Enhanced Analytical Infrastructure
Helped strengthen laboratory leadership and analytical operational capability within a regulated manufacturing environment.
Specialized Scientific Search Execution
Delivered a targeted leadership search process focused on analytical science and regulated operational sectors.
Long Term Operational Alignment
Identified leadership capability aligned with the organization’s quality standards, scientific integrity, and operational growth objectives.
Key Search Metrics
National Scientific Search
Targeted outreach conducted across analytical sciences, laboratory operations, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and regulated production sectors throughout Canada.
Scientific Leadership Evaluation
Comprehensive assessment focused on laboratory oversight capability, scientific leadership, regulatory understanding, and organizational alignment.
Regulated Industry Search Focus
Search execution tailored to highly regulated and quality driven scientific environments.
Successful Leadership Placement
Completed the successful placement of Dr. Oliver Corea as Head, Analytical Science supporting Zenabis’ scientific and operational leadership objectives.