Operations Manager

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

Job summary

Vangst, partnering with an established licensed cannabis manufacturer in Costa Mesa, is seeking a Facility Operations Manager to lead all on-site manufacturing and facility operations. This contract-to-hire role places you as the primary on-site leader responsible for meeting production targets, schedules, and daily execution.

You will oversee staffing, inventory, quality control, regulatory compliance (California DCC/METRC), and collaboration with leadership to drive continuous improvement and

Qualifications

• 3+ years of manufacturing or production management experience; leadership in a regulated setting preferred.
• Experience supervising teams, managing production schedules, and addressing performance concerns.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment; cannabis experience preferred, other regulated sectors considered.
• Working knowledge of California cannabis manufacturing regulations, SOPs, and documentation requirements.
• Strong administrative skills including recordkeeping, spreadsheets, and deadline management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing and facility operations to meet production targets, orders, and shipping deadlines.
• Manage production schedules, staffing, workflow, inventory, equipment, and supply needs; resolve bottlenecks.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and quality control per California DCC, METRC, batch records, SOPs, and GMP standards.
• Lead and develop the manufacturing team including supervisors, production staff, warehouse, and admin staff; oversee hiring and scheduling.
• Oversee purchasing, inventory accuracy, shipping docs, invoices, supplier coordination, and accounting communication.

Skills

Manufacturing management

Team supervision

Regulatory compliance

Documentation skills

Strong communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate or Bachelor's degree in business/operations

Tools

METRC

ERP systems

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 confidential search.

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.

Nice to Have

• 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

Compensation & Details

• 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 permanent salaried (exempt) position
• Full-time, on-site in Costa Mesa, CA
• Must be 21+ and able to pass a background check

About Vangst

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