Production Manager - Buffalo

About the Opportunity

FLUENT, in exclusive partnership with Connected New York, is excited to be hiring for positions at our new state-of-the-art cultivation facility in Buffalo, New York. These roles offer the opportunity to join FLUENT's growing team while being part of Connected's highly anticipated expansion into one of the country's most dynamic and fast-growing cannabis markets.

About Connected

Connected family of companies. are a leading vertically integrated cannabis company based in Sacramento, operating in California, Arizona, and Florida. With over 11 years of experience, Connected specializes in breeding, growing, manufacturing, and distributing top-shelf cannabis through its state-of-the-art facilities and proprietary genetics.

With over 250 employees across the United States, Connected has built a strong industry reputation and is now expanding into New York through a master services agreement with FLUENT. Connected's mission has always been to breed, grow, and sell the best cannabis in the world, setting the highest standards for its products, people, and partners wherever we go.

About the Job

The role of the Production Manager provides vision, direction and management of production planning and operations. Ensures compliance with company procedures and product specifications.

What You Will Do

Leadership

• Lead, motivate, and develop production and inventory teams, fostering a culture of accountability, respect, and open communication.
• Set and track performance goals to drive efficiency, productivity, and continuous improvement.
• Be proactive and assertive in addressing conflicts, poor performance, in real time.
• Support strategic and operational planning, resource allocation, and budgeting to meet production and company objectives.
• Quickly address and resolve quality and facility issues to minimize downtime and risk.
• Champion safety standards and compliance with all company policies and regulations.
• Maintain all compliance procedures and ensure adherence to state and company regulations, including product testing and labeling standards.

Production & Inventory

• Oversee daily production activities to meet output, quality, and compliance targets.
• Ensure accurate and compliant packaging, labeling, and inventory conversions within the company's tracking system (e.g., Metrc or BioTrack).
• Maintain production schedules and staffing plans to align with supply and demand forecasts.
• Manage all aspects of materials procurement—packaging, labels, equipment, and other supplies—to ensure uninterrupted production flow.
• Manage relationships with third-party manufacturers to ensure timely delivery of product, adherence to quality standards, and achievement of supply chain demand goals.
• Collaborate with all internal departments and minimize production bottlenecks.
• Coordinate with distribution services to ensure timely delivery / pick up of inventory.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Uphold internal QC standards and drive initiatives for process and product quality improvement.
• Ensure all finished goods are properly stored, organized, and allocated to maintain product integrity.
• Monitor and report on KPIs related to efficiency, supply yields, downtime, cost, etc.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position manages all employees of the production team and is responsible for their performance management and staffing needs of the department.

What We Are Looking For

• Minimum of 3 years' supervising non-exempt production employees. previous experience in management role with hiring / firing authority preferred
• Experience in the cannabis industry highly preferred
• Excellent computer and mathematics skills, as well as data analysis; strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel required.
• Ability to manage complex projects and multi-task with excellent organization skills.
• Experienced relationship with internal team and external partners.
• Comfort with a fast-paced environment and changing requirements.
• Comfortable learning new technologies.
• Aptitude for problem solving and troubleshooting and ability to recommend to management well thought out recommendations.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Calm under pressure.
• Ability to work independently.
• Strongly committed to providing high quality products to clients including the packing and presentation of the products.
• Experience in coaching, mentoring and directing staff, to include performance management, issuing disciplinary action and addressing employee issues.
• Ability to create a culture of accountability amongst direct reports and lead by example.
• Able to effectively organize work, track progress and motivate outstanding performance from diverse teams.
• Safety and compliance focused.
• High school degree or equivalent required.
• Must be 21 years of age.

Compensation Description (annually): The salary range for this position in the selected city is $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location.

Physical Requirements/Workplace Environment

Must be able to lift up to a maximum of 50 lbs. occasionally without assistance or 100 lbs. with assistance.

Regularly required to perform carrying, grasping, lifting, walking, standing, some bending/crouching, stooping, stretching, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Must be able to stand for extended periods of time while maintaining focus.

Able to be in varying temperature and humidity environmental conditions

Work is performed in a fast-paced cannabis grow location. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Why Join Us?

By joining FLUENT with Connected, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Be part of Connected's highly anticipated entry into the New York market

• Work with a team that combines Connected's proven genetics and brand strength with FLUENT's local expertise and cutting-edge cultivation facility

• Help shape the future of premium cannabis in one of the country's most discerning markets

Note: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent to this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instruction or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, a drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.

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