The Role 

The Post-Harvest Optimization Manager partners across multiple facilities to optimize post-harvest (harvest, dry, shuck and trim) processes. This role is crucial in ensuring that all post-harvest activities are executed with excellence, meeting industry-leading standards while continuously driving improvements. The successful candidate will be responsible for creating, implementing, and monitoring best-in-class standards for post-harvest operations, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and leveraging data-driven insights to optimize performance.

This position requires 50% or more travel within domestic USA.

Responsibilities

Essential functions:

• Standard Development & Implementation: Create and implement comprehensive post-harvest standards based on best-in-class industry practices, ensuring alignment with overall company goals and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure Facility Accountability: Oversee the execution of post-harvest standards across several facilities, ensuring consistent adherence to established protocols and best practices. Conduct regular audits and inspections to ensure operational compliance.
• Initiative Support: Support new post-harvest initiatives, ensuring that processes integrate with innovative cultivation techniques, product testing, and new technology adoption.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with cultivation resources and operational leadership to drive consistent execution, share best practices, and support cross-functional initiatives to improve post-harvest efficiency and quality.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze key performance metrics (KPIs) across regional facilities, providing actionable insights into trends, gaps, and areas for improvement. Prepare and present regular performance reports for senior management, highlighting successes, opportunities, and challenges.
• Gap Analysis & Continuous Improvement: Conduct gap analysis on existing processes and develop strategies for continuous improvement. Implement corrective actions and process enhancements to close performance gaps and optimize throughput.
• Training & Support: Provide guidance, training, and technical support to facility teams, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to meet and exceed performance expectations.  Build universal training tools and resources to ensure sites can develop consistent standards.
• Sustainability & Safety: Champion sustainability initiatives and safety protocols within the post-harvest process, ensuring practices are environmentally responsible and compliant with health and safety regulations.

Safety & Compliance:

• Be aware of hazards in the workspace.
• Retain and understand department specific training.
• Report safety incidents/ concerns and comply with follow-up actions.
• Be compliant with area safety requirements, state regulations and PPE requirements.
• Follow GMP, biosecurity, sanitation or other quality and compliance requirements.
• Perform record keeping accurately and completely as directed by a lead or supervisor.
• Maintain and calibrate tools, equipment and machinery as directed by a lead or supervisor.
• Report and escalate safety & quality concerns.

Working Conditions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to perform reaching, grasping, bending, stooping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to repetitively climb ladders and/or stairs and work from elevated platforms. 
• Must be able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time while maintaining focus.
• Must be able to work in an environment that is 85+ degrees and 70% humidity for extended periods.
• Must be able to work at heights.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing, and challenging environment
• Work involves daily exposure to allergens (such as cannabis, tree nuts, and coconut oil).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science, Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in post-harvest operations management, ideally in a large-scale agricultural or production environment.
• Strong knowledge of post-harvest handling, processing techniques, and quality assurance standards.
• Proven experience in data analysis, KPI development, and gap analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with R&D, cultivation, and operations teams.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Passion for continuous improvement and innovation, with a focus on operational excellence.
• Effective time-management skills and ability to multi-task
• Ability to work well with others while also completing individually assigned tasks.

Additional Requirements

• Must be at a minimum of 21 years of age.
• Must possess valid state ID.
• Must be able to obtain, and maintain, state badging requirements to work in the cannabis industry (requires background check and state review)