About the Company
Our client is a legal, publicly traded, licensed producer of cannabis, recognized for its portfolio of top-selling cannabis brands and its growing international presence. The company operates cultivation, processing and manufacturing facilities across Western Canada and Ontario, including an EU-GMP certified site.
Position Overview
The Facilities Manager is the senior technical lead for an 85,000 sq. ft. cannabis cultivation facility in Battleford, Saskatchewan. The role owns the building, grounds and critical environmental systems, including cooling towers, chillers, HVAC and humidification, and directly leads a four-person maintenance team.
This is a hands-on role. The company is looking for a skilled tradesperson who can diagnose mechanical issues in-house, reduce reliance on third-party contractors and bring a disciplined preventative maintenance program to life. Leadership, budgeting and people management can be developed on the job; the technical foundation cannot.
Position Details
· Full-time, permanent position
· Monday to Friday, day shift
· Annual bonus potential of 20%
· Candidates relocating to the Battleford area are welcome
First-Year Priorities
· Implement the facility's newly digitized preventative maintenance program, with the software and framework already in place
· Stabilize cooling tower performance and support the capital project to restore the towers to full operation
· Build out critical spares, parts inventory and downtime documentation
· Partner with Quality Assurance on the facility's GMP certification
· Lead the full rebuild of a grow room
Key Responsibilities
Facility Operations & Infrastructure
· Plan, organize, direct and evaluate the operation of all facility infrastructure, equipment and physical property
· Own the installation, maintenance and repair of facility systems, including cooling towers, chillers, RO water system, general HVAC (RTUs, HRVs) and Micro-cool humidification
· Diagnose issues on closed-loop glycol and refrigeration systems, narrow down root cause and determine when specialized contractors are required
· Inspect and commission boilers each winter, and air conditioning units and cooling towers each summer
· Maintain the security system and fire suppression system
· Direct site services including signage, parking, safety inspections, security, snow removal and landscaping
Cultivation & Engineering Support
· Work with the cultivation engineering team when grow rooms cannot hold temperature or humidity specifications due to mechanical issues
· Support DHU and BMS system installation, maintenance and repairs
· Partner with engineering to install and commission equipment for trials and retrofits, such as new lighting and feed automation
· Coordinate with cultivation and production on room changeovers and repairs
Maintenance Program Leadership
· Own the Preventative Maintenance (PM) program, ensuring all PMs are completed and documented on schedule
· Lead and develop a four-person maintenance team, issuing work orders and building their technical capability
· Verify all maintenance tasks, building systems and equipment prior to sign-off
· Inspect building systems and equipment regularly to identify and correct deficiencies
· Troubleshoot HVAC, plumbing, electrical and mechanical issues and establish corrective and repair plans
· Develop and implement schedules and procedures for safety inspections and preventative maintenance
Budget, Projects & Contractors
· Approve routine parts and repair spending within delegated authority, and prepare capital requests for review
· Provide project management for all on-site infrastructure, equipment and property projects, with regular updates on timelines, costs and key issues
· Serve as the primary point of contact for local and regional trades and manage contractor relationships
· Work with HR to hire, train and supervise maintenance staff
Qualifications
· 7+ years of experience in a skilled trade or facilities maintenance role
· HVAC, refrigeration or Building Operator Certification (BOC)
· Hands-on experience with commercial HVAC, chillers, cooling towers and heating/cooling units
· Working knowledge of Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations and municipal building bylaws
· Experience in manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceutical, greenhouse or other controlled environments considered an asset; cannabis experience is not required
· Exposure to GMP environments considered an asset
· Plumbing certification, CPR and First Aid considered assets
· Proficiency with Microsoft Office
· Ability to lift 40 to 50 lbs repetitively
Skills & Competencies
· Strong mechanical diagnostic and troubleshooting ability
· Clear written and verbal communication skills
· High attention to detail and process discipline
· Ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently
· Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team
What Our Client Is Looking For
· A team player with a can-do attitude
· A demonstrated track record of growing and developing their skillset
· A drive to innovate and continuously improve how the work gets done
What Our Client Offers
· Competitive base salary with 20% bonus potential
· Monday to Friday schedule
· Group health and dental benefits
· Significant opportunity for career progression within a growing organization
White Ash Group and the companies it represents are Equal Employment Opportunity employers that value the strength of diversity within the workplace. All qualified applicants, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, nationality, age, disability or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, are strongly encouraged to apply.
This search is being conducted by White Ash Group. Please direct all inquiries to your White Ash contact.