Our client is a leader in the cannabis industry, growing all-natural, top-quality cannabis plants through innovative growing techniques in a controlled environment. They harness the natural power of the sun which allows them to control inputs and sustainably produce the highest quality products for their patients. This Arizona based company grows various varieties of cannabis and manufactures a large catalog of products, sold directly to both consumers and wholesale.
With an expansion on the way to another state and their strong growth in Arizona, they are looking for an individual to join their team of top executives, pulled from some of the best companies in the United States. They’re hiring a Senior Vice President of Operations to join the executive team and lead the company’s overall operations management including production, logistics, inventory control, storage and distribution, all while ensuring compliance in a heavily regulated industry.
You will be leading your team of directors as well as working closely across the organization to design, implement and execute profitable, sustainable and rewarding strategies for the company. You will be focused on establishing standard processes and key performance indicators communicating progress both up and down the organization.
Scope of role : Direct reports include Director of Operations, Director of Agriculture, Chief Scientist and Director of Cultivation. Indirect reports 90-100 employees; currently one location in Arizona, over 8 acres growing space under glass.
Full disclosure of all company details will be provided during the first phone interview.
We offer a competitive salary and bonus program.
You’re the ideal candidate if you:
Have a strong production/operations management background either in agriculture, greenhouse, food processing or relatable industry experience
Have the proven ability to lead and inspire a team for peak-performance
Thrive in a fast-growing company and have strong continuous improvement methodologies and lean manufacturing principals
Responsibilities:
Provide leadership and maintain an inclusive working relationship with all levels of the company
Accountable for managing strategy, financial & technical resources
Assist in designing production facilities, expansion projects, and capital improvements
Deliver production facilities on time and under budget
Design and engineer the company’s manufacturing processes and production procedures
Design, implement, oversee and be accountable for the company’s quality control standard operating practices and procedures for its overall product line
Utilize and apply human dynamics (personnel) solutions to the highest applicable levels available to the agricultural, processing, handling, packaging, storing, inventorying and distribution processes related to the company’s overall product line
Utilize and apply technological solutions to the highest applicable levels available to the agricultural, processing, handling, packaging, storing, inventorying and distribution processes related to the company’s overall product line
Effectively partner across the organization with sales and marketing, licensing and business development
Accountability:
Identifies data requirements, often beyond the standard, and collects all relevant data needed to analyze a complex problem, situation or issue
Applies hypotheses and an understanding of cause and effect when analyzing a complex process, situation or issue or discerning data patterns
Identifies advanced implications/conclusions from the logical analysis of a complex situation or issue
Tracks internal trends and suggests process improvements based on observations
Questions current methods while evaluating broad implications, to develop practical improvements; focuses on achieving goals rather than a fear of failure
Approaches issues from multiple perspectives and collaborates with internal/external customers in generating creative, effective and practical solutions
Applies a comprehensive understanding of concepts within own technical area to design relatively advanced solutions; demonstrates an understanding of key business drivers
Serves as an expert in a technical area and educates others on technical issues
Embraces a culture of change by authentically communicating the benefits, encouraging two-way communication, building an understanding of the change process and effectively addressing questions/concerns
Recognizes change roadblocks within one's own team and implements change management tactics to overcome them
Cascades high-performance goals through the function/work area to the individual level and ensures individuals understand how they can contribute
Clearly articulates expectations of how individual contributions support the function's success
Provides inspiration for the team by identifying innovative ways to recognize success
Drives team to achieve established goals in proactive and pragmatic manner; adjusts the plan of action accordingly to maneuver obstacles and achieve success
Project Management:
Oversee processing and packaging and logistics management to ensure delivery/transport of all finished goods
Coordinates with security to ensure the integrity of all security processes
Organize processing and packaging operations schedule by studying sales forecasts, determining product needs, current schedules and availability of equipment, materials, and employees
Administrative Management:
Forecast manpower needs on a short and long-term basis and develops a plan for implementation collaborating with Human Resources
Participate in policy development and documentation
Maintain general oversight and ensure the accuracy of records
Financial Management:
Participate in preparation of annual budget and regular variance statements
Provide vision regarding the overall financial health of the company
Provide vision and leadership in long-range fiscal planning to ensure the continuity and solvency of the company
Production/Quality Control:
Ensure accurate documentation of production, quality control and inventory data and records
Oversee and ensure high safety standards always
Direct production activities to ensure safety and compliance with quality control standards, regulatory compliance, and agreement
Improve workplace ergonomics to reduce or eliminate work injuries
Improve all aspects of processing, packing, shipping and product quality assurance by studying process flowcharts; recommending modifications in workflow, workstations and product; develop new procedures; recommending equipment modifications and purchases applying techniques of Five “S” and Continuous Improvement
Reduce waste by studying methods, equipment, and operator techniques, recommending changes; identifying analyzing waste
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Horticulture, Agri-business, Engineering, Plant and Soil Sciences, or equivalent job experience
10+ years in production/operations management in production/food/industrial facilities
Demonstrated ability to work in a proactively diverse and inclusive organization
Ability to successfully complete a post-offer/pre-employment Drug and Alcohol Screening
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (the “Act”) stipulates that candidate must successfully pass a criminal background investigation and fingerprint clearance conducted by state authorities. Additionally, the Act requires that candidates apply for and obtain a valid dispensary agent registration card prior to commencing employment at either a dispensary or any of its cultivation sites