Sr. Manager, Automation & Maintenance

Verano; Readington Township, Northern (NJ, KY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) matching

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Annual bonus

Job summary

Verano Holdings Corp. is seeking a Sr. Manager of Automation & Maintenance to drive a national automation strategy across multiple states from Readington, NJ. You will standardize control platforms, lead regional teams, and report performance insights to senior leadership.

The role requires optimizing uptime, production efficiency, and cost control while managing budgets and partnerships. Travel up to 50–70% is expected; evenings and weekends may be required during critical installations.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in automation, industrial systems, controls engineering, or maintenance leadership.
• 3–5+ years of multi-site, regional, or national leadership experience.
• Advanced knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, electrical systems, mechanical systems, and industrial automated controls.
• Preventative and predictive maintenance program design/implementation at scale.
• Budgets, capital projects, vendor contracts, and cross-functional initiatives management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a national automation strategy aligned with growth, scalability, and production objectives.
• Standardize automation systems and maintenance programs across states.
• Lead and develop regional Automation Managers and maintenance personnel.
• Establish, track, and report KPIs for uptime, reliability, throughput, and costs.
• Oversee third-party contractors and technical partners; ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership & people management

Strategic planning

Project management

Travel readiness

Cross-functional collaboration

Industrial automation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Technical degree preferred

Tools

PLCs (Siemens/Allen-Bradley)

SCADA/HMI systems

Electrical & mechanical systems

Job description

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Sr. Manager, Automation & Maintenance

Requisition ID: 14082

Travel: Up to 50%

Location: Readington, NJ, US, 08870

Workplace Type:

Shift:

Verano Holdings Corp. (Cboe CA: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNO), one of the U.S. cannabis industry’s leading companiesbased on historical revenue, geographic scope and brand performance,isa vertically integrated, multi-state operator embracinga missionof saying Yes to plant progress and the bold exploration of cannabis. Verano offers a superior cannabis shopping experience in medical and adult use markets under the Zen Leaf™ and MÜV™ dispensary banners and produces a comprehensive suite of high-quality,regulatedcannabis products sold under its diverse portfolio of trusted consumer brands including Verano™, MÜV™, Savvy™, BITS™, Encore™, and Avexia™. Verano’s active operationsspan 13 U.S. states, comprised of 15 Cultivation and production facilities with over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation capacity. Learn more atwww.verano.com .

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a national automation strategy aligned with company growth, scalability, and production objectives.
• Standardize automation systems, control platforms, and preventative maintenance programs across multiple states.
• Lead, coach, and develop regional Automation Managers, Specialists, and maintenance personnel.
• Establish, track, and report KPIs related to equipment uptime, system reliability, production efficiency, labor optimization, and cost control.
• Provide executive-level reporting and performance insights to senior leadership.
• Oversee complex troubleshooting of electrical, mechanical, PLC, HMI, SCADA, and automated control systems across facilities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce downtime, increase throughput, and optimize operational efficiency.
• Manage national automation budgets, capital expenditures, and long-term infrastructure planning.
• Evaluate when to internally manage projects versus outsourcing to qualified vendors or contractors.
• Source, vet, negotiate, and oversee third-party contractors and technical partners.
• Ensure compliance with all state-specific regulations, local codes, safety standards, and company SOPs.
• Build scalable documentation systems, standardized SOPs, and technical training programs.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on expansion projects, new facility launches, retrofits, and system upgrades.
• Travel regularly between states and facilities (up to 50–70% travel as required).
• Provide on-site leadership during critical system failures or major installations, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Adapt work schedule to meet operational demands during peak production or expansion initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, safety, and professional development.
• Promote open communication and demonstrate the ability to both provide and accept constructive feedback.
• Think strategically and creatively to solve complex operational challenges.
• Perform additional duties as assigned based on business needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in automation, industrial systems, controls engineering, or maintenance leadership required.
• 3–5+ years of multi-site, regional, or national leadership experience required.
• Advanced knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, electrical systems, mechanical systems, and industrial automated controls.
• Demonstrated success designing and implementing preventative and predictive maintenance programs at scale.
• Proven experience managing budgets, capital projects, vendor contracts, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
• Ability to travel frequently (up to 50–70%) across multiple states.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including extended hours and weekends, based on operational needs.
• Demonstrated leadership capability in building high-performing teams while maintaining accountability.
• Ability to accept feedback and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Experience managing third-party partnerships effectively.
• High school diploma or GED required; technical degree preferred.
• Relevant certifications preferred (OSHA, Electrical Licensing, PLC programming, Industrial Maintenance, etc.).
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and comply with applicable state regulations.

What We Offer

• $80,000+ and Annual Bonus
• Actual pay is based on experience, qualifications, and location of the role. Roles may be eligible for annual bonus program based on individual and company performance.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off

Physical and Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position, move and/or position oneself, communicate, operate and/or prepare, place, position objects, tools, or controls. The employee must occasionally move packages weighing up to 50 lb. Able to stand for 90% of the time. Comfortable with heights, occasionally ascends/descends a ladder to service the lights, filters, trellis netting and ceiling fans up to 25ft. Comfortable working atop and traversing scaffolding, when required. Comfortable with changing environment temperatures and humidity. Exposure to pollen, dust, dander, and other nature elements. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close observation and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Work is performed in a warehouse environment. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We place priority in an environment of inclusion, diversity and social justice and are committed to securing a better, brighter way forward for our employees, our markets, and our communities.