Operations Manager

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

Ready to be the person who makes a manufacturing facility run? Vangst is partnering with an

established, licensed cannabis manufacturer in Costa Mesa to find a Facility Operations

Manager for a contract-to hire opportunity. This is a high-impact leadership role. You'll be the on-site leader the company relies on, owning daily operations from the production floor to the front office.

This is a confidential search. Qualified candidates will learn more about the company during the interview process.

Why This Role

Real ownership: you'll be the primary on-site leader, turning company priorities into daily

execution

Growth: a growing company adding new products, with room to put your stamp on processes and procedures

A solid team: a stable, close-knit production team that's ready for strong, steady leadership

Path to permanent: start on contract, paid at the hourly equivalent of the salary range, with a clear path to a permanent salaried position

What You'll Do

Oversee all day-to-day manufacturing and facility operations, ensuring production targets, customer orders, and shipping deadlines are met efficiently. Manage production schedules, staffing, workflow, inventory, equipment, and supply needs while identifying and resolving operational bottlenecks.

Ensure regulatory compliance and quality control by maintaining California DCC requirements, METRC accuracy, batch records, SOPs, GMP standards, facility inspections, and corrective actions.

Lead and develop the manufacturing team, including supervisors, production employees, warehouse, and administrative staff. Oversee hiring, training, performance, scheduling, timekeeping, and California labor-law compliance.

Manage order fulfillment and administrative operations, including purchasing, inventory accuracy, shipping documentation, invoices, supplier coordination, and accounting communication.

Serve as the primary on-site operations contact for leadership, providing daily updates on production, staffing, shipments, quality, operational challenges, and upcoming priorities.

In short: A hands-on manufacturing operations leadership role responsible for production performance, regulatory compliance, workforce management, inventory, order fulfillment, and overall facility operations.

What You Bring

3+ years of manufacturing or production management experience (5+ years preferred).

Proven experience supervising teams, managing production schedules, and addressing employee performance concerns.

Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment, preferably cannabis; food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, or chemical production also considered.

Working knowledge of California cannabis manufacturing regulations, SOPs, and documentation requirements.

Strong administrative skills, including recordkeeping, spreadsheets, order tracking, and deadline management.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, dependable attendance, and consistent follow-through.

High school diploma or equivalent.

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 and rest-period practices

Associate or bachelor's degree in business, operations, manufacturing or a related field

This is a contracted to hire opportunity with a base range of $80,000 - $120,000 per year, depending on experience.

Contract-to-permanent: hourly equivalent of the salary range during the contract period, then a

Full-time, on-site in Costa Mesa, CA

Must be 21+ and able to pass a background check

Vangst is the cannabis industry's leading talent and staffing partner. We connect great people with the companies building this industry, from cultivation and manufacturing to retail and corporate leadership.

When you apply through Vangst, you get a recruiting team that knows cannabis and is invested in finding you the right fit. Vangst is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations as required by law