[Hiring] Director, Production Optimization @Green Thumb

Role Description

The Director, Production Optimization leads the packaging function across Green Thumb’s manufacturing network and serves as the operational owner of LEAN implementation across production. The role is accountable for how finished products are packaged — efficiently, compliantly, and to specification — and for driving the continuous-improvement discipline that raises throughput, yield, and quality at every site.

Beyond packaging and process improvement, the role carries responsibility for production-scheduling alignment and packaging quality outcomes, making it a hub for cross-functional execution. The Director partners closely with the Project Specialist, Production and the Packaging Technical Engineer to track initiatives, maintain visibility across the improvement portfolio, and move projects from concept to sustained result.

Responsibilities

• Packaging Operations & Product Packaging
  • Own finished good packaging execution across all manufacturing sites, ensuring output meets specification, label accuracy, and finished-goods standards.
  • Establish and enforce packaging standard work, line-clearance procedures, and changeover routines that maximize units-per-labor-hour (UPLH) without compromising safety and quality.
  • Partner with Packaging Engineering and Procurement on component readiness and bill-of-materials (BOM) accuracy.
  • Partner with the Innovation and new-product team to bring new products and packaging formats into production.
  • Hold sites accountable to OEE and changeover targets established in partnership with Packaging Engineering.
  • Monitor daily packaging-material consumption against production standards.
  • Support the Technical Engineering team in driving IQ, OQ, PQ activities.
• Flower Packaging
  • Serve as the single accountable owner for all flower packaging across the network.
  • Own fill-weight accuracy and net-weight compliance for every flower SKU.
  • Partner with cultivation to maintain set flower-handling standards.
  • Define strain- and lot-specific packaging, labeling, and S2S tag reconciliation requirements unique to flower.
  • Own flower line changeovers, sanitation, and material readiness.
• Process Optimization & LEAN Execution
  • Serve as the network-wide owner of LEAN deployment.
  • Lead value-stream mapping and kaizen events.
  • Implement and maintain a continuous-improvement pipeline.
  • Coach site teams on LEAN behaviors.
  • Own the tiered-metric and daily-management-system structure.
• Production Scheduling & Planning
  • Leads the team responsible for production scheduling expertise across the network.
  • Align packaging capacity and staffing to the master production schedule.
  • Support MRP/ROP readiness and schedule-lock discipline.
  • Partner with site schedulers and planning to sequence packaging runs.
  • Surface and resolve scheduling conflicts across production, packaging, and fulfillment.
  • Partner with the Data team to define data requirements and build reports.
• Quality at the Source Collaboration
  • Collaborate on driving quality at the source in production.
  • Ensure adherence to Batch Production Records (BPR), SOPs, and Good Manufacturing Practices.
  • Use quality data to identify recurring defects and drive corrective actions.
  • Own the label-printing function for packaging.
  • Collaborate with the Compliance function on regulatory requirements affecting packaging.
• Cross-Functional Project Leadership
  • Partner closely with the Project Specialist, Production to track projects.
  • Maintain project visibility and cadence through tools such as Smartsheet.
  • Translate operations priorities into scoped, sequenced projects.
  • Communicate progress and change to the field through standard channels.
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead and develop the packaging leadership team and process-improvement resources.
  • Model GTI’s operating principles and foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related field — or equivalent hands-on manufacturing experience.
• 4+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience.
• Proven track record leading LEAN / continuous-improvement transformations.
• Working knowledge of production scheduling, MRP/MPS, and S&OP.
• Familiarity with Batch Production Records, SOPs, GMP, and CAPA processes.
• Fluency with ERP/MRP (D365) and project-tracking tool; reporting and BI tools a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• LEAN / Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher).
• Multi-state or multi-site manufacturing leadership experience.
• Cannabis industry experience, including METRC, BarTender, and QualityOne / Veeva Vault.
• Experience standing up daily management systems and tiered metrics.
• Packaging automation or equipment-qualification experience.

Additional Requirements

• Must pass any and all required background checks.
• Must be and remain compliant with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry.
• Must possess valid driver’s license.
• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age.
• Must be approved by state badging agency to work in cannabis industry.

Benefits

• The pay range is competitive and based on experience, qualifications, and/or location of the role.
• Positions may be eligible for a discretionary annual incentive program driven by organization and individual performance.
• Green Thumb Pay Range: $160,000 — $185,000 USD.