Head of Operations

The Opportunity

The Operations Director is a key member of the senior Leadership Team responsible for guiding the overall performance, compliance, and sustainability of full-lifecycle operations within a highly complex cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution facility. This role provides continuous, on-site executive leadership to ensure consistent outcomes, rapid identification of operational non-conformities, and mitigation of risks that could materially impact yield, regulatory compliance, and financial performance. During required travel or approved off-site assignments, the Operations Director must designate an authorized delegate to maintain operational continuity.

What You Get to Do

• Serve as the senior on-site operational leader responsible for the daily commercial and production success of cultivation and manufacturing facilities.

• Develop and oversee strategic staffing plans, departmental budgets, and long-range operational capacity planning.

• Establish and track performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to enable objective reporting and rapid issue escalation.

• Build and manage a high-performance leadership team with clearly defined annual objectives, metrics, and accountability.

• Lead integrated Sales & Operations Planning processes.

• Provide executive direction to all operational and maintenance teams.

• Design and deploy visual factory management systems.

• Generate data-driven analytics supporting decision-making.

• Serve as the senior authority for Quality System documentation, GMP compliance, and regulatory standards.

• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Procurement, Security, and Compliance to establish efficient operational systems.

• Ensure critical consumables, materials, and services are competitively sourced.

• Develop relationships with engineering and technical support resources.

• Provide structured performance feedback for departmental leaders.

• This job description is not exhaustive and may be modified as business needs evolve.

What We Look for in a Person

• Serves and develops others by building relationships.

• Fosters an inclusive workplace where inclusion and individual differences are valued.

• Collaborates across boundaries to achieve common goals.

• Aligns organizational objectives and practices with Mille Lacs Band traditions or interests as appropriate.

• Sets direction and influences others to translate vision into action.

• Demonstrates drive for continued personal and professional growth.

What We Offer You

• We have a fun, energetic personality and are adventurous, creative, and open minded.

• We strive to lead through our seven (7) values in all that we do. (Wisdom, Love, Respect, Truth, Humility, Bravery, and Honesty)

• Our foundation of Servant Leadership is a philosophy that embodies and fosters empowerment, decision-making and engagement across all levels of the organization.

• We are a career accelerant, which means developing our Associates is one of our main priorities.

• We provide a space for Associates and others to bring who they are to work and impart a sense of purpose.

What Qualifies You

• Must be 21 years of age or older

• Ability to pass background check and licensing requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field (or 15 years of experience in lieu of a degree).

• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in a high-volume, complex operational environment.

• Working knowledge of LEAN Manufacturing.

• Working knowledge of GMP and food manufacturing systems.

• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Verifiable P&L responsibility of at least $10M USD.

• 5 years of senior leadership in cannabis cultivation/manufacturing.

• LEAN, Six Sigma, or CI certifications.

Must Haves

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs occasionally.

• Ability to work in cultivation rooms, manufacturing areas, and warehouse environments.

• Ability to climb up and down ladder.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing, and challenging environment.

• Reside within a distance that allows for a regular on-site presence.

• Occasional travel required.

Work Environment

• Indoor cultivation facility with controlled temperatures and humidity levels.

• Exposure to strong odors and varying noise levels.

• Frequent use of sharp tools and trimming equipment.

• Compliance with strict hygiene and sanitation standards.

• Collaborative team environment with communication between multiple departments.

• Adherence to safety protocols to maintain a clean and safe workspace