Senior Farm Operations Manager
Reports to: CEO / Head of Operations
The Farm Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all levels of farm operations, ensuring the smooth, efficient, safe, and compliant production of cannabis plants from seed to harvest. This role manages cultivation staff, oversees facility operations, enforces OSHA and workplace safety standards, and ensures strict compliance with state and federal regulations.
The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, a deep understanding of cannabis cultivation, a strong desire to compete in the wholesale division, and a commitment to high-quality, compliant, and safe production practices. This candidate expresses a desire to increase production while lowering costs, and to bring new innovative processes and products to enhance farm bottom line profit and support sales.
1. Cultivation Operations Management
· Oversee all phases of cannabis cultivation, including planting, cloning, vegetative growth, flowering, a breeding program and harvest.
· Manage daily operations to ensure efficient use of space, resources, and time while prioritizing worker and facility safety.
· Oversee the implementation of cultivation schedules to meet production goals and timelines.
· Ensure farm and cultivation managers are providing plants appropriate care (irrigation, fertilization, organic pest management, environmental controls).
· Monitor, adjust and stabilize indoor climate conditions (temperature & humidity) to ensure optimal sustainability of products. Optimize light for plant health and yield.
· Train staff on cultivation best practices, OSHA safety protocols, PPE requirements, and compliance procedures.
2. Team Leadership & Staff Management
· Lead, supervise, and mentor farm management and a team of growers, trimmers, and cultivation technicians.
· Oversee and provide onboarding, ongoing training, and certification in workplace safety, OSHA compliance, and emergency procedures.
· Oversee and schedule all shifts for maximum coverage and optimal costs. Allocate responsibilities, and oversee team performance.
· Oversee and conduct regular performance reviews (90 day for all employees) and safety audits as advised by OSHA.
· Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and safety-first thinking.
3. Quality Control & Plant Health
· Ensure all cannabis plants meet organic quality standards.
· Regularly monitor overall plant health and address issues to include disease, pests, soil deficiencies, potency, testing, safe for consumption, etc.
· Implement and follow organic Pest Management (IPM) strategies to avoid synthetic chemical use and maintain healthy plants and ensure safe working conditions.
· Collaborate with Farm Management and Quality Control to ensure harvested products meet potency, safety, and compliance standards.
· Conduct plant inspections and initiate corrective actions as needed.
4. Compliance, OSHA & Safety Management
· Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal cannabis regulations, including seed-to-sale tracking, record-keeping, and security.
· Maintain accurate documentation for all cultivation activities (planting, spraying, harvesting, inventory, etc.)
· Enforce OSHA standards, workplace safety programs, and emergency response protocols.
· Develop, implement, and monitor SOPs for safety, sanitation, and hazard communication (HAZCOM).
· Oversee and lead safety meetings, training, and incident reporting; conduct regular inspections and risk assessments.
· Partner with compliance officers and regulators during inspections, audits, and investigations.
5. Facility Management & Maintenance
· Oversee facility maintenance, overall cleanliness and organization of entire farm and grow areas, storage, and workspaces, and meet safety and cleanliness standards throughout.
· Ensure all equipment (HVAC, irrigation, lighting, ventilation) is safe, functional, and maintained per OSHA and manufacturer guidelines.
· Collaborate with Facilities to address structural or operational needs, emphasizing safety and compliance.
· Oversee all maintenance of all equipment, including vehicles. Track and keep maintenance records of all equipment. Ensure all needed equipment is in working order and complies with state regulations (registrations, insurance, etc.)
6. Harvesting & Post-Harvest Processes
· Oversee harvest process to ensure cannabis is collected at optimal peak quality day.
· Manage post-harvest processes (drying, curing, trimming, storage) in compliance with sanitation, safety, and contamination-prevention protocols.
· Enforce cleanliness, PPE use, and safe handling practices throughout the harvest cycle.
7. Budgeting & Cost Management
· Assist in developing and managing cultivation budgets, balancing labor and supply costs with production goals.
· Monitor input costs (fertilizers, water, labor, PPE, safety equipment) and implement efficiencies.
· Monitor state wholesale markets and possess clear understanding of current market of all farm products sold.
· Track and report key metrics such as production cost per lb, compliance / safety investments.
8. Sustainability, Environmental & Worker Safety
· Promote sustainable cultivation practices (energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction).
· Explore organic and environmentally friendly methods to reduce carbon footprint and sustain organic status.
· Ensure compliance with environmental safety regulations related to waste disposal, chemical handling, and water discharge.
· Develop initiatives that improve worker safety, ergonomics, and long-term operational sustainability.
9. Wholesale:
· Drive sales and manage agreements with potential 3rd party wholesale vendors / customers. Manage accounting of such.
· Identify opportunities and proactively present to senior team regarding new product curation, new licenses, etc.
Qualifications:
Education:
· Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Business Management, or a related field, preferred.
· Additional certifications or training in cannabis cultivation (e.g., horticulture, integrated pest management, or cultivation techniques) is a plus.
Experience:
· 5+ years of experience in cannabis cultivation, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
· Proven experience managing large-scale agricultural operations or cannabis cultivation.
· Strong understanding of cannabis cultivation processes, from seed propagation to harvest.
· Experience managing plant health, pests, and diseases, both outdoors and within a controlled environment.
· Familiarity with cannabis regulatory requirements and compliance standards.
Skills:
· Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate, develop and retain a team.
· Excellent real-time problem-solving skills, with the ability to proactively identify and address issues related to plant health, pests, new product lines, equipment operations and facility operations.
· Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
· In-depth knowledge of horticulture practices, integrated pest management (IPM), and cultivation equipment.
· Ability to work well under pressure and adapt to changing production demands. Willingness to work alongside team and lead by example, both indoors and outdoors.
· Proficiency in using cultivation software (e.g., METRC, Leaflink) or similar systems for inventory tracking and plant management.
· A passion for the cannabis industry and a commitment to high-quality, sustainable production.
· Ability to improve processes to ensure ongoing improvement of profit margins.
· Willingness and skills to improvise and work with available resources.
Working Conditions:
· Full-time position, with overtime hours as necessary and during peak seasons (planting, harvesting, high sales seasons, etc.)
· Competitive salary and available bonus based on farm profits and gross output.
· Ability to work in a hands-on, outdoor environment in all weather conditions.
· May require weekend and evening hours as needed for overall success of farm, dependent on planting / harvest schedules, plant care needs, supply chain, etc.
Work Location: In person
