Operations Manager – Cannabis Manufacturing

Location: Halfmoon, NY (Albany area)

Our client is launching a cannabis manufacturing facility in the Albany region and is looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead day-to-day production. The company is in the start-up phase and will be producing a variety of products, including infused pre-rolls, packaged flower, vapes, and gummies.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys being hands-on, thrives in fast-paced environments, and brings a solid understanding of both production processes and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Manage daily operations across production, packaging, and infusion
Lead and develop production staff, ensuring smooth workflows and high performance
Work closely with compliance, QA, sales, and R&D to ensure products are consistent and market-ready
Monitor production metrics and drive process improvements
Support equipment maintenance and help troubleshoot operational issues
Oversee inventory levels and coordinate with procurement to avoid disruptions
Maintain strict compliance with New York state cannabis regulations
Help establish and improve SOPs to support quality, efficiency, and safety

What We're Looking For

Prior experience in a manufacturing or production management role (CPG/cannabis preferred)
Strong leadership skills and comfort managing a team in a dynamic environment
Familiarity with lean manufacturing, compliance strategies, and inventory systems
Ability to collaborate across departments and balance day-to-day needs with big-picture thinking
Comfortable working in a startup setting where processes are still being built

Preferred Experience

Previous experience in cannabis manufacturing
Project management background, especially with facility launches or expansions
ERP or inventory management software knowledge

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary based on experience
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Paid time off and company holidays
Opportunity to grow with a brand-new operation

This is a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new cannabis venture in New York. If you're passionate about building efficient operations and want to play a key role in a growing team, we’d love to connect.

About Vangst:

Vangst is the cannabis industry’s hiring platform. Vangst helps cannabis companies find the talent they need to grow their business. From on-demand gig workers to trained & credential full-time employees, Vangst has built the industry’s go-to talent marketplace for all cannabis hiring. Vangst is proud to work with 1,200+ of the cannabis industry’s leading businesses.

Since raising their seed round in 2018, Vangst has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the cannabis industry and was recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.

Today, over 300,000 people have full-time jobs in the cannabis industry and this number is expected to triple over the next five years. Vangst is on a mission to fill every job in the cannabis industry.

Vangst’s headquarters is in Denver, CO. Vangst is a Series B company and backed by Lerer Hippeau, Colle Capital, Level One Fund, Snoop Dogg’s Casa Verde Capital, and others.

Vangst provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Vangst

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Operations Manager (Cannabis Manufacturing)