Cannabis Facility Operations Lead

Vangst; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Vangst is partnering with a licensed cannabis manufacturer in Costa Mesa to fill a Facility Operations Manager role. You will serve as the on-site leader, owning daily operations from production floor to front office, and steering production targets, staffing, and compliance.

This contract-to-hire opportunity offers an hourly-equivalent pay during the contract phase and a clear path to a permanent salaried position.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of manufacturing or production management experience (5+ years preferred).
• Experience supervising teams and managing production schedules.
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments; cannabis preferred (food/pharma/cosmetics also considered).
• Knowledge of California cannabis manufacturing regulations, SOPs, and documentation requirements.
• Strong administrative skills: recordkeeping, spreadsheets, order tracking, and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Direct management experience in a licensed California cannabis manufacturing facility.
• Hands-on experience with extraction, post-processing, formulation or packaging.
• Experience with METRC, ERP or inventory systems, timekeeping platforms and order-management software.
• Familiarity with California payroll coordination and meal/rest-period practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing and facility operations, meeting production targets, customer orders, and shipping deadlines.
• Manage production schedules, staffing, workflow, inventory, equipment, and supply needs; identify and resolve bottlenecks.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and quality control per California DCC, METRC, GMP, and related inspections.
• Lead and develop the manufacturing team, including hiring, training, scheduling, and timekeeping; ensure labor-law compliance.
• Manage purchasing, inventory accuracy, shipping documents, invoices, supplier coordination, and accounting communication.
• Serve as the primary on-site operations contact for leadership with daily updates on production and priorities.

Skills

Team supervision

Production scheduling

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Timekeeping

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate or bachelor's degree in business/operations/manufacturing

Tools

METRC

ERP

Inventory systems

Timekeeping platforms

Order-management software

Job description

Vangst is partnering with a licensed cannabis manufacturer in Costa Mesa to fill a Facility Operations Manager role. You will serve as the on-site leader, owning daily operations from production floor to front office, and steering production targets, staffing, and compliance.

This contract-to-hire opportunity offers an hourly-equivalent pay during the contract phase and a clear path to a permanent salaried position.