Herbal Formulation Apprentice

About the Role

Healing Herbals is a Long Island botanical company specializing in tinctures, fluid extracts, capsules, and traditional herbal blends. The company manages its own nursery and extraction operation in South Africa and owns Roots Kava Bar in Port Jefferson. This is a part-time position with potential for full-time, offering paid compensation or the option of a for-credit internship. The apprentice will train directly under the founder (13 years of experience) and other herbalists (5-10 years of experience). The role primarily involves production and R&D, creating actual products.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare tinctures, glycerites, and fluid extracts using maceration and percolation, including menstruum ratios and solvent selection.
• Conduct small R&D batches and maintain formula, batch, and yield records.
• Assess the quality of raw botanicals by examining appearance, smell, moisture content, and signs of adulteration.
• Interpret third-party lab certificates of analysis.
• Contribute to new product development, from initial formulation to labeling.
• Understand the requirements for supplement labels.
• Assist in educating customers at Roots Kava Bar about traditional plant use.

Qualifications

• Current students or recent graduates in herbalism, TCM / Oriental medicine, botany, plant science, horticulture, chemistry, or nutrition.
• Coursework or practical experience in materia medica or medicine making is a plus.
• Must be detail-oriented and maintain cleanliness at the bench.
• Proficiency in record-keeping is required.