What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director / Operations Project Management position at Vangst?
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Operations Project Manager to lead and deliver cross-functional initiatives within our evolving OPS PMO. This role will play a key part in integrating our farm culture with construction and operational growth, ensuring seamless execution across diverse programs.
The Director/Operations Project Manager will oversee end-to-end delivery of projects—primarily focused on Construction in Process (CIP) and potentially including New Product Development (NPD), New Product Introduction (NPI), and other operations-related programs. A strong background in engineering or construction is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will drive governance standards, risk and issue management, and stage gate processes to ensure all initiatives align with business goals, budgets, timelines, and regulatory requirements.
Key ResponsibilitiesProject Leadership & Delivery
Vangst is the cannabis industry's hiring platform. Vangst helps cannabis companies find the talent they need to grow their business. From on-demand gig workers to trained & credential full-time employees, Vangst has built the industry's go-to talent marketplace for all cannabis hiring. Vangst is proud to work with 1,200 of the cannabis industry's leading businesses.
Since raising their seed round in 2018, Vangst has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the cannabis industry and was recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies.
Today, over 300,000 people have full-time jobs in the cannabis industry and this number is expected to triple over the next five years. Vangst is on a mission to fill every job in the cannabis industry.
Vangst's headquarters is in Denver, CO. Vangst is a Series B company backed by Lerer Hippeau, Colle Capital, Level One Fund, Snoop Dogg's Casa Verde Capital, and others.
Vangst provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
_This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
#GLASS1
The Director/Operations Project Manager will oversee end-to-end delivery of projects—primarily focused on Construction in Process (CIP) and potentially including New Product Development (NPD), New Product Introduction (NPI), and other operations-related programs. A strong background in engineering or construction is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will drive governance standards, risk and issue management, and stage gate processes to ensure all initiatives align with business goals, budgets, timelines, and regulatory requirements.
Key ResponsibilitiesProject Leadership & Delivery
- Lead complex, cross-functional projects from initiation to completion with a focus on operational excellence.
- Develop, implement, and refine ePMO methodologies to manage the full project lifecycle within governance and stage gate frameworks.
- Manage project schedules, budgets, resources, and scope; proactively identify bottlenecks, risks, and dependencies to maintain delivery on time and within budget.
- Establish and enforce governance frameworks to align projects with strategy, compliance, and performance standards.
- Provide regular status updates to executive leadership, including KPIs, milestones, budgets, and risk registers.
- Ensure ePMO documentation is accurate, controlled, and audit-ready.
- Anticipate, identify, and mitigate risks and issues; implement escalation procedures as needed.
- Lead cross-functional risk assessments and conduct post-project reviews to promote continuous improvement and a learning culture.
- Partner with Farm Operations, Facilities, and Engineering to manage a diverse portfolio of CIP projects with varying budgets, timelines, and complexity.
- Ensure CIP initiatives meet strategic goals and are delivered within approved timelines and budgets.
- Collaborate with Operations, Finance, and Compliance teams to prioritize CapEx investments, maximize ROI, and track ongoing spend.
- Serve as a key liaison between leadership, internal teams, and external partners.
- Foster collaboration, build alignment, and respectfully challenge assumptions to drive transformational change.
- Promote cross-departmental communication and alignment around shared project goals.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field.
- PMP certification preferred.
- 7-10 years of project management and operational leadership experience, ideally within CPG, manufacturing, farm operations, or other regulated industries (cannabis experience is a plus).
- Proven success implementing project methodologies, governance, and operational best practices.
- Strong background in construction management and continuous improvement frameworks (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen).
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, timelines, and teams in a matrixed environment.
- Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
- Proficiency with project management tools (Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, or similar).
- Experience in cannabis or other highly regulated industries.
- Agile/Hybrid project management certification or training.
- Change management certification (e.g., PROSCI) is a plus.
- Passion for sustainability, innovation, and efficiency in fast-paced environments.
Vangst is the cannabis industry's hiring platform. Vangst helps cannabis companies find the talent they need to grow their business. From on-demand gig workers to trained & credential full-time employees, Vangst has built the industry's go-to talent marketplace for all cannabis hiring. Vangst is proud to work with 1,200 of the cannabis industry's leading businesses.
Since raising their seed round in 2018, Vangst has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the cannabis industry and was recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies.
Today, over 300,000 people have full-time jobs in the cannabis industry and this number is expected to triple over the next five years. Vangst is on a mission to fill every job in the cannabis industry.
Vangst's headquarters is in Denver, CO. Vangst is a Series B company backed by Lerer Hippeau, Colle Capital, Level One Fund, Snoop Dogg's Casa Verde Capital, and others.
Vangst provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
_This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
#GLASS1
