Cannabis Production & Post Harvest Lead M-TH 11a-945p

Department: Production Reports To: Head of Production Operations FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Position Summary

The Cannabis Production & Post-Harvest Lead is responsible for overseeing daily production and post-harvest operations within a regulated cannabis manufacturing environment. This role leads a team of technicians performing harvesting, trimming, drying, curing, and product preparation while ensuring compliance with state regulations and company procedures. The Lead supports production scheduling, quality standards, and inventory tracking while maintaining a safe, organized, and efficient work environment.

This is a working lead position. In addition to directing the team, the Lead performs hands-on production work every shift and operates production machinery on a daily basis as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Production & Post-Harvest Operations

· Lead daily post-harvest activities including harvesting, bucking, trimming, drying, curing, and product preparation.

· Coordinate workflow and task assignments for Production and Post-Harvest Technicians.

· Monitor drying and curing processes to ensure proper environmental conditions and product quality.

· Ensure cannabis products meet company quality standards prior to packaging or further processing.

· Assist with weighing, labeling, and staging cannabis for packaging or extraction.

· Perform hands-on production work alongside technicians, including bucking, trimming, milling, pre-roll production, and packaging.

· Operate production machinery on a daily basis as needed, including bucking, trimming, milling, pre-roll, and packaging equipment, following equipment SOPs and lockout/tagout procedures.

· Set up, change over, clean, and perform basic upkeep on production equipment, and report malfunctions to management.

Team Leadership

· Provide direction, training, and support to production technicians.

· Monitor team productivity and ensure daily production targets are met.

· Assist supervisors or managers with onboarding and training new employees.

· Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and compliance on the production floor.

Compliance & Inventory Control

· Ensure all cannabis materials are accurately tracked within the inventory tracking system (e.g., METRC).

· Maintain chain-of-custody procedures for cannabis products moving through production stages.

· Verify proper documentation of weights, batch numbers, and transfers.

· Ensure operations follow all state regulatory requirements and internal SOPs.

Quality Assurance

· Inspect harvested cannabis for mold, pests, damage, or contamination.

· Monitor trimming standards and ensure finished product meets company specifications.

· Identify and report quality issues to management.

Safety & Sanitation

· Ensure technicians follow safety procedures and PPE requirements.

· Maintain a clean and organized production area.

· Assist with sanitation protocols for post-harvest and production spaces.

Operational Support

· Assist with production planning and scheduling.

· Report production metrics, issues, or supply needs to management.

· Support cross-department collaboration with cultivation, post-harvest, and packaging teams.

Qualifications

· High school diploma or equivalent required.

· 1-3 years of cannabis cultivation, post-harvest, or manufacturing experience preferred.

· Previous leadership or team lead experience strongly preferred.

· Knowledge of cannabis handling, trimming, drying, and curing processes.

· Familiarity with cannabis inventory tracking systems such as METRC preferred.

· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

· Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment while maintaining compliance.

Physical Requirements

· Ability to stand for extended periods.

· Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

· Repetitive hand movements including trimming and product handling.

· Ability to work in environments with variable humidity and temperature.

· Ability to safely operate production machinery for extended periods.

Work Environment

· Regulated cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility.

· Exposure to strong cannabis odors and plant materials.

· Work performed in cultivation rooms, drying rooms, and production areas.

Compliance Requirements

· Must meet all state requirements for employment in a licensed cannabis facility.

· Must follow all company security procedures and regulatory compliance policies.

· Must maintain confidentiality regarding company operations and proprietary processes.