Lead Budtender

Push Operations; Palm Springs (CA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Push Operations is seeking a Lead Budtender in Palm Springs, CA to oversee daily sales floor operations during shifts and serve as the primary leadership resource. You will coach budtenders, deliver exceptional customer experiences, ensure compliance with cannabis regulations, and drive sales while maintaining strong operational standards.

The role emphasizes leadership, team development, and active problem-solving to support store performance and customer satisfaction on a fast-paced cannabis

Qualifications

• Cannabis retail experience preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years of retail, hospitality, or customer service experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead each shift with professionalism, confidence, and accountability.
• Coach budtenders on sales techniques and product knowledge.
• Provide real-time feedback to employees to improve performance.
• Assist with onboarding and training new employees.
• Maintain store cleanliness, organization, and merchandising standards.
• Oversee opening and closing procedures.
• Oversee cash handling procedures and reconciliations.
• Ensure compliance with state and city cannabis regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Coaching

Communication

Sales techniques

Training

Time management

Multitasking

Cash handling

Tools

Point-of-sale systems

Retail technology

Job description

Hourly pay is 17.50 and up, plus gratuities.

Position Overview

The Lead Budtender is responsible for overseeing daily sales floor operations while serving as the primary point of leadership during assigned shifts. This role is responsible for delivering an exceptional customer experience, driving sales performance, maintaining operational excellence, and ensuring strict compliance with all company policies and cannabis regulations.

The Lead Budtender serves as the bridge between management and the retail team by coaching employees, resolving operational issues, maintaining accountability, and ensuring every shift runs efficiently. This individual leads by example, creates a positive and productive team culture, and is expected to make sound decisions while protecting the company, its customers, and its employees.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead each shift with professionalism, confidence, and accountability.
• Set the standard for customer service, sales performance, compliance, and work ethic.
• Coach budtenders on sales techniques, customer engagement, product knowledge, and operational procedures.
• Provide real-time feedback to employees to improve performance and customer interactions.
• Assist with onboarding and training new employees.
• Promote teamwork while maintaining accountability for individual performance.
• Address minor employee performance concerns and communicate recurring issues to management.
• Delegate responsibilities and ensure tasks are completed accurately and on time.
• Deliver exceptional customer service while acting as the primary resource for escalated customer concerns.
• Build customer relationships through product knowledge, education, and personalized recommendations.
• Support store sales initiatives by coaching employees on effective selling techniques.
• Monitor sales performance throughout the shift and encourage behaviors that improve key performance indicators.
• Help employees identify opportunities to increase sales while maintaining a consultative, customer‑first approach.
• Ensure promotions, featured products, and merchandising displays are properly presented and actively promoted.

Operations

• Oversee opening and closing procedures.
• Ensure all opening, shift, and closing checklists are completed.
• Monitor customer flow and adjust staffing priorities throughout the day.
• Assign productive tasks during slower business periods.
• Maintain store cleanliness, organization, and merchandising standards.
• Assist with inventory counts, product restocking, labeling, and inventory organization.
• Verify product pricing, labels, and displays for accuracy.
• Communicate operational issues to management promptly.

Cash Handling & Financial Accountability

• Oversee cash handling procedures throughout the shift.
• Assist employees with transaction corrections, payment discrepancies, and register questions.
• Complete or verify cash drawer reconciliations.
• Understand and troubleshoot discrepancies involving:
• Cash transactions
• Cashless ATM transactions
• Drawer shortages or overages
• Ensure all cash handling procedures are followed accurately.
• Escalate unresolved discrepancies immediately.

Compliance

• Ensure all employees comply with company policies and state and city cannabis regulations.
• Verify ID procedures are consistently followed.
• Monitor sales floor activities for compliance violations.
• Ensure inventory handling procedures are followed correctly.
• Immediately address or report compliance concerns.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding customers, employees, financial information, and company operations.

Communication

• Maintain clear communication with management regarding:
• Employee performance
• Inventory concerns
• Customer issues
• Operational challenges
• Compliance matters
• Document incidents and operational concerns as required.

Qualifications

• Previous cannabis retail experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of retail, hospitality, or customer service experience.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of sales experience with demonstrated success meeting sales goals or performance metrics.
• Strong understanding of customer service principles and consultative selling techniques.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills.
• Ability to multitask and make sound decisions in a fast‑paced environment.
• Comfortable coaching employees and addressing performance concerns professionally.
• Strong mathematical skills involving cash handling, discounts, percentages, reconciliation, and transaction accuracy.
• Experience with point‑of‑sale systems and retail technology preferred.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Dependable, punctual, and accountable.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving history preferred for employees assisting with deliveries.
• Leads by example every shift.
• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, and accountability.
• Maintains a positive, solution‑oriented attitude.
• Coaches team members consistently rather than waiting for management intervention.
• Takes ownership of shift performance and operational success.
• Maintains accurate cash handling and transaction procedures.
• Supports store sales goals and motivates the team to achieve them.
• Ensures tasks are completed without constant supervision.
• Maintains high standards for cleanliness, merchandising, and organization.
• Holds themselves and teammates accountable to company expectations.
• Addresses issues respectfully while preserving a positive team culture.
• Communicates proactively with management.
• Remains free from impairment while working.
• Available to work mornings, weekends, evenings, holidays, and peak business periods.

What Success Looks Like

• Shifts operate smoothly, efficiently, and professionally.
• Employees are engaged, productive, and held accountable.
• Sales goals and key performance indicators are consistently achieved or exceeded.
• Customers receive exceptional service and personalized product recommendations.
• Operational tasks are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Cash drawers, cash‑outs, deposits, and reconciliations are consistently accurate.
• Transaction errors are prevented and minimal.
• All compliance issues are prevented and there are no violations.
• Inventory remains organized, accurately merchandised, and properly maintained.
• Employee concerns and customer issues are addressed quickly and professionally.
• Management has confidence that the dispensary operates successfully during the Lead Budtender’s shift, even in their absence.