Job Title: Lead Budtender
Reports to: Store Manager
Exempt: No (hourly)
Position Type: Full-time
Location: Flame & Flora (Prior Lake, MN)
Are you the cannabis expert who loves both the product knowledge side and the people side of retail? Do you thrive on being the go-to person for both customers seeking guidance and teammates who need support? Can you seamlessly shift from educating a customer about terpene profiles to handling cash drops and ensuring everything runs smoothly? If you're nodding along and already thinking about how you'd elevate both customer experiences and team operations, we want to talk.
We're looking for a Budtender Lead who's ready to be the essential bridge between our management team and our front-line cannabis educators. You'll be the expert who ensures our budtender team has everything they need to provide exceptional customer experiences while also stepping in as a hands-on budtender when coverage is needed.
About This Role
Think of yourself as part cannabis consultant, part team coordinator, part operations specialist, and part customer experience champion. You'll be supporting store management with the day-to-day operations that keep everything running smoothly, while also being the cannabis knowledge resource that both customers and teammates rely on.
This isn't just about being senior budtender—you'll be a key holder with real responsibility, a mentor to your team, and a trusted expert who can educate customers across all experience levels about cannabis products that go far beyond just THC percentages.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Team Support and Operations Leadership:
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Provide day-to-day assistance with retail operations, including cash drops, preparing change, and ensuring proper coverage across all positions
- Serve as key holder with opening and closing responsibilities—because someone needs to be the reliable foundation
- Oversee and provide cannabis knowledge support to the budtender team, helping them grow their expertise
- Schedule and communicate shift breaks and lunches to keep the team running smoothly
- Act as the main communication link between the budtender team and management, ensuring everyone stays connected
- Assist management with daily online menu updates and catch any inaccuracies or system errors before customers see them
Customer Education & Experience Excellence:
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Execute a customer-first environment through honesty, integrity, and genuine care for helping people find what they need
- Share your deep cannabis knowledge to help customers understand product qualities, effects, and wellness applications
- Guide customers toward products based on their individual needs—whether they're interested in specific terpenes, particular effects, or exploring beyond high-potency options
- Drive repeat business through excellent service and our loyalty program, building relationships that keep customers coming back
- Step in as a budtender when needed, providing the same exceptional service and education you expect from your team
Operational Excellence & Compliance
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Master our point of sale system
- Handle daily cash sales including cash counts, documenting drops and tips with precision
- Maintain confidentiality of all sensitive information with the professionalism this industry demands
- Ensure staff and operations comply with all applicable regulations and codes
- Complete daily operational tasks effectively and on time
- Keep the facility clean, well-presented, and organized so products and spaces look their best
Team Development & Leadership
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Supervise store staff when Store Manager and Assistant Store Managers are absent
- Help newer team members develop their cannabis knowledge and customer service skills
- Handle problem-solving and conflict resolution with the wisdom that comes from experience
- Support management with the administrative and operational tasks that keep everything running
What We're Looking For
The Must-Haves (Minimum Qualifications):
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At least 21 years old
- 2+ years of customer service in retail
- High school diploma or GED
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Passion for and deep knowledge about cannabis—you should genuinely love talking about this plant
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Intermediate computer skills and proficiency with Word, Excel, and Outlook
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Ability to pass pre-employment background check (this is a sensitive tribal position)
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Flexible schedule availability including nights and weekends
The Game-Changers (Preferred Qualifications):
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Cannabis retail management experience
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Deep knowledge of cannabis, including terpenes, cultivation methods, and product quality factors
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Experience training and mentoring retail staff
The Essential Skills:
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Passion for cannabis and genuine desire to help customers discover its full potential beyond just potency
- Strong customer service skills that make people feel welcome and informed
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Multi-tasking abilities that let you juggle operations, team support, and customer education
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Time-management skills that keep everything running on schedule
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Leadership skills that bring out the best in your teammates
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Decision-making and problem-solving abilities you can trust when management isn't around
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Conflict resolution skills for those moments when things get complicated
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Knowledge of cannabis and its various uses that goes beyond the basics
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Relationship-building skills with staff, customers, and vendors
Physical Requirements:
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Ability to handle the physical demands of retail—sitting, standing, lifting up to 50 pounds, and staying energized during busy shifts
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Comfort working in a retail environment with varying noise levels
Ready to Build Minnesota's Premier Cannabis Experience?
If this sounds like the perfect blend of cannabis expertise and leadership opportunity you've been looking for, we want to hear from you. Show us your cannabis knowledge, your customer service wins, your experience supporting teams. Whether it's your deep product expertise or your natural ability to keep operations running smoothly—we want to see what makes you the right person to be our Budtender Lead.
We're not just looking for someone who knows cannabis products. We're looking for a leader who can educate customers, support teammates, and ensure excellent operations every single day. Think that's you? Let's start the conversation.
