What are the responsibilities and job description for the Cannabis Cultivation Manager position at Smith Farms North?
Company Overview:
Smith Farms North is a vertically integrated microbusiness located in the heart of Minnesota’s Northwoods. We cultivate premium flower and produce handcrafted solventless products under the Trail brand family, including Trail Joints, Trail Chews, and Trail Vapors. Our co-located retail storefront, Trailhead Cannabis Company, offers a rustic, welcoming consumer experience. Together, we’re building a new standard in Minnesota cannabis: rooted in craft, guided by compliance, and shaped by the natural beauty of our surroundings.
We’re not a corporate machine. We’re a small team doing meaningful work — blending agriculture, manufacturing, and retail into something exceptional. If you’re passionate about plants, focused on precision, and ready to grow in a fast-moving environment, this might be the place for you.
Position Overview:
The Cultivation Manager is the operational backbone of our grow, leading from the front while working side-by-side with the team to deliver consistent, high-quality cannabis at scale.
This is not a “desk manager” role. This is a hands-on leadership position responsible for executing the full cultivation lifecycle, from clone to cure, while setting the standard for plant health, environmental control, and team performance.
You will own the daily rhythm of the grow, ensuring every plant, process, and person is aligned to drive yield, quality, and consistency. If you take pride in your craft, lead by example, and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, this is your opportunity to build something special.
Responsibilities:
Cultivation Execution & Plant Health
- Lead all day-to-day cultivation activities across all plant life stages
- Water, feed, transplant, trellis, defoliate, prune, and maintain plant health
- Monitor and adjust environmental conditions (lighting, humidity, temperature)
- Execute and enforce Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols
- Identify risks early and take action to protect yield and quality
Operations, Compliance & Systems
- Ensure all plant activity is accurately tracked in METRC (or equivalent)
- Maintain real-time, audit-ready records across batches, rooms, and stages
- Oversee plant movement, tagging, and batch integrity
- Ensure full compliance with Minnesota OCM regulations and company SOPs
Facility & Equipment Management
- Maintain a clean, organized, and inspection-ready cultivation environment
- Oversee sanitation of tools, irrigation systems, and grow rooms
- Ensure all equipment is functioning properly and free of contamination risks
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead by example as a working manager embedded in daily operations
- Train, coach, and develop cultivation technicians
- Set expectations for pace, quality, and accountability
- Support cross-functional needs including harvest, processing, and packaging
- Communicate proactively with leadership on issues, needs, and opportunities
Required Skills/Abilities
- High school diploma or GED required
- 3 years of experience in cultivation, agriculture, horticulture, or greenhouse operations required
- Prior experience leading or training others in a cultivation or production environment strongly preferred
- Working knowledge of plant lifecycle management, environmental controls, and IPM practices
- Experience with METRC or similar seed-to-sale tracking systems preferred
- Proven ability to operate with a high level of ownership and accountability
- Ability to lift 50 lbs and work on your feet for extended periods
- Comfortable working in warm, humid environments with strict sanitation standards
- Must be 21 and able to pass background requirements per Minnesota OCM
Pay: From $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $50,000