Operations Manager
Desert Hot Springs, CA
Full Time
Experienced
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Job Summary
The Operations Manager oversees all aspects of daily operations across Security, Administrative, Cultivation, Harvest, and Trim departments to ensure compliant, efficient, safe, and high-quality cannabis production. This role coordinates cross-functional activities, drives process improvements, manages budgets, and ensures adherence to local regulations, company policies, and safety standards.
Reporting to:
CEO/ Senior Leadership
Direct reports
- Security
- Admin
- Cultivation
- Harvest
- Trim Leads
- Maintenance
Key Responsibilities
Operations Leadership
- Develop, implement, and optimize standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all departments (security, admin, cultivation, harvest, trim) to ensure consistency, quality, and compliance.
- Collaborate with the Head of Cultivation and manage production calendars, planting schedules, cycle plans, trimming and processing timelines, and harvest windows.
- Coordinate cross-department workflows to maximize efficiency, minimize bottlenecks and maximize yields and product quality.
- Track and improve overall performance effectiveness and labor utilization.
Compliance, Security, and Regulatory Adherence
- Ensure compliance with all applicable cannabis laws, licensing requirements, and company policies (security, recordkeeping, inventory control, waste handling, sanitation, pesticide use, environmental controls).
- Oversee security protocols, access control, surveillance, and incident reporting; manage investigations and corrective actions.
- Maintain accurate, auditable records for regulatory inspections, audits, and seed-to-sale traceability.
Production & Cultivation Management
- Oversee, in collaboration with the Head of Cultivation all operations from propagation to final product.
- Oversee and manage, in collaboration with the Head of Cultivation all of the harvest planning, including scheduling, drying/curing timelines, weighing, packaging, labeling, and storage.
- Ensure quality control across all stages: pest management, product consistency, potency testing coordination, and adherence to post-harvest specifications.
- Assist in optimizing clone management, ensuring proper labeling, tracking, and inventory accuracy.
Administrative & Financial Oversight
- Manage department budgets, cost controls, equipment purchases, maintenance contracts, and supplier relationships in collaboration with Controller and VP, Finance.
- Oversee purchasing, receiving, and inventory management for cultivation supplies, nutrients, substrates, PPE, and packaging in collaboration with Controller.
- Ensure accurate payroll, timekeeping, and labor forecasting; approve departmental schedules and overtime as needed.
- Coordinate with HR on staffing, training, performance reviews, and safety programs.
- Ensure existing cash handling procedures are maintained, without exception.
Quality, Safety, and Training
- Lead quality assurance initiatives, troubleshoot deviations, implement Corrective Action and Preventive Actions, and drive continuous improvement.
- Promote a strong safety culture; ensure compliance with PPE, SDS, chemical handling, and incident reporting.
- Develop and deliver ongoing training for all staff on SOPs, regulatory requirements, safety, and best practices.
- Conduct internal audits and prepare for external audits or inspections.
Data, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement
- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for each department (e.g. cycle times, clone viability, harvest moisture content, trim/lint quality, security incident rate, inventory accuracy).
- Produce regular operations reports for senior leadership, highlighting risks, opportunities, and trend analyses.
- Lead improvement projects to reduce waste, improve throughout, and raise product quality.
Performance Metrics (KPIs)
- Yield by harvest and by strain and overall production efficiency as determined by CEO
- Harvest quality metrics
- Inventory accuracy and shrink losses
- Experimental yields or improvements from process changes
- Security incident rate, access control compliance, and audit findings
- On-time scheduling adherence for planting, pruning, harvesting, and processing
- Labor productivity
- Compliance audit pass rates and corrective action closures
- Training completion rates and safety incident rates
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Business Administration is a plus, but not required
- Operations Management, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience.
- 5+ years of management experience in cannabis cultivation or a closely related field is preferred.
- Knowledge of cannabis regulations, licensing requirements, and track-and-trace systems (e.g., seed-to-sale).
- Experience with cultivation best practices.
- Demonstrated ability to create and enforce SOPs, work instructions, people development and training programs.
- Strong financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and vendor relationships and negotiations.
- Proficient in inventory management.
Skills and Competencies
- Leadership and team-building: ability to mentor, motivate, and develop staff across departments.
- Operations management: project planning, scheduling, prioritization, and resource allocation.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and conflict-resolution abilities.
- Regulatory literacy: comprehensive understanding of applicable cannabis laws and compliance processes.
- Data literacy: comfort with data analysis, metrics tracking, and reporting.
- Problem-solving: proactive, detail-oriented, and able to de-escalate issues.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to make data-driven decisions.
- Physical fitness to perform essential job duties, including lifting, standing for extended periods, and working in a controlled environment.
- Change management: capable of implementing new processes with minimal disruption.
Work Environment
- Controlled environment with exposure to agricultural inputs, equipment
- Requires standing for long periods, bending, lifting (light to moderate), and occasional outside temperatures when entering cultivation or loading areas.
- May require flexible hours, including weekends or on-call support to cover production cycles and security needs.
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