SUMMARY:

We are looking for a Director of Production Operations to help lead the next stage of growth. This role will own the performance, scalability, and continuous improvement of all production operations. This includes automated pre-roll production, flower packaging, drying, trimming, material flow, production staffing, throughput optimization, and operational problem solving across the facility.

This is a hands-on operational leadership role. The right candidate must be highly capable on the production floor, technically curious, operationally disciplined, and relentless about solving problems at the root cause.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Production Leadership & Execution:
• Own day-to-day production performance across all manufacturing operations
• Lead production teams operating in a growing 24/7 manufacturing environment
• Ensure production targets, quality standards, and client commitments are consistently achieved
• Maintain a strong floor presence and rapidly address operational issues in real time
• Create a culture of accountability, urgency, discipline, and pride in execution
• Ensure production teams are properly staffed, trained, organized, and set up for success
• Act as the primary escalation point for operational and production-related issues
• Be available outside standard business hours when required to support production operations
• Throughput Optimization & Operational Scaling:
• Identify and eliminate bottlenecks across equipment, labor, process flow, and scheduling
• Improve throughput, reliability, efficiency, and consistency across all production activities
• Drive operational scalability as the business continues to grow domestically and internationally
• Develop systems and processes that reduce variability and improve predictability
• Partner with Scheduling, QA, Inventory, and Project Management to improve execution across departments
• Implement practical solutions that improve output without compromising quality or compliance
• Technical Problem Solving:
• Develop deep expertise in cannabis processing, including automated pre-roll production, flower packaging, drying and trimming operations, material handling, and infused product processing
• Troubleshoot equipment and process issues with a practical, analytical, hands-on approach
• Understand how product characteristics, environmental conditions, process design, and equipment settings interact
• Identify opportunities for process improvements, equipment upgrades, automation, and workflow optimization
• Support equipment commissioning, optimization, and operational troubleshooting initiatives
• Quality Systems & EU-GMP Readiness:
• Support the continued development of manufacturing operations aligned with EU-GMP expectations and pharmaceutical-quality standards
• Ensure production practices are executed with strong procedural discipline, documentation integrity, traceability, and operational consistency
• Partner closely with Quality Assurance to ensure manufacturing processes remain compliant, scalable, and audit-ready
• Support validation activities, investigations, CAPAs, process improvements, and operational risk reduction initiatives
• Reinforce a culture where quality, compliance, and operational performance work together, not against each other
• Team Development & Leadership:
• Build and lead a high-performing production organization
• Coach supervisors and operators to become stronger problem solvers and leaders
• Develop bench strength and reduce operational dependency on key individuals
• Set high standards while maintaining fairness, integrity, and respect across teams
• Reinforce a culture focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• 7+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing, processing, packaging, or industrial production environments
• Direct experience with automated pre-roll production and flower packaging
• Experience with cannabis drying and trimming operations strongly preferred
• Proven track record improving throughput, solving production problems, and scaling manufacturing operations
• Strong mechanical and operational troubleshooting ability
• Comfortable operating hands-on within a live production environment
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to earn trust and drive accountability

White Ash Group and the companies it represents are equal employment opportunity employers and value the strength of diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, 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.