Senior Operations Manager

Salary: $100K/year - $120K/year

Green Dot Labs
Job Title: Senior Operations Manager Reports To: VP Operations
FLSA Status: Exempt Location: Boulder, CO
Compensation Range 100,000- 120,000 / Year

About Green Dot Labs
Founded by husband-and-wife team Dave and Alana Malone in 2014, Green Dot Labs is Colorados leading premium cannabis brand, celebrated for its pioneering approach to cannabis breeding and resin preservation. With a proprietary library of exclusive strains developed through the meticulous evaluation of thousands of phenotypes, GDL consistently sets the standard for innovation, flavor, and quality in cannabis.
Green Dot Labs has cultivated a devoted following among cannabis connoisseurs for its commitment to crafting premium flower and concentrates that deliver exceptional multisensory experiences. Named Leaflys 2023 and 2024 Budtenders Choice Best Flower Brand of Colorado, GDL is recognized for its advanced breeding methods and precision at every stage. According to BDSA, in 2024 Green Dot Labs was Colorados #1 Selling Premium Brand, #1 Selling Independent Flower Brand, #1 Selling Concentrates Brand, #1 Selling Premium Pre-Roll Brand, #1 Selling Live Resin Brand, and the states #1 Selling Live Resin Vape Brand as well.
GDLs award-winning portfolioincluding premium Flower, Live Resin, and Live Rosin productsis available throughout Colorado. As the brand prepares to expand into Arizona in August 2025, it is poised to bring its expertise and groundbreaking offerings to new markets, further solidifying its leadership in the art and science of cannabis cultivation and extraction.
Discover the possibilities of world-class cannabis at www.greendotlabs.com

About The Role
We are seeking a detail-oriented, strategic, and hands-on Senior Operations Manager to oversee all CPG production operations, including packaging, labeling, and the manufacturing of cartridges, dabs, pre-rolls, and flower. This role leads a dynamic and fast-paced team of 30+ employees and plays a critical role in preserving product integrity and brand reputation at the final stage before distribution. The successful candidate will have deep experience with production equipment and processes, a passion for operational excellence, compliance, and people development.
As a key link between upstream biomass creation and downstream fulfillment and distribution, this position ensures that all products are packaged, labeled, and prepared with precision, consistency, accountability and compliance every time. The ideal candidate brings experience in food manufacturing, cannabis, or other highly regulated, process-driven environments, and is comfortable with equipment troubleshooting, process development, and leading teams through constant change and new product launches.
This is a highly SOP-driven role in a company where everyone is accountable for quality and compliance, and where producing a high-end, premium product requires operational excellence, attention to detail, and strong leadership.
This position will also work closely with our facilities teams to ensure optimal equipment performance, preventative maintenance planning, and safety protocols. The Senior Operations Manager is responsible for forecasting production, meeting or exceeding production targets, and reporting progress and results to leadership in an ongoing as well as periodic cadence.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & People Management
Oversee all operations beginning at the handoff from production through final packaging and labeling of finished goods
o Lead the overall production process, including pre-roll assembly, primary/secondary packaging, and label integration
Manage and mentor a team of employees including Production Manager and Supervisor, Packaging teams, Print, and Sanitation
Create and maintain employee development plans, performance review, training programs and support performance improvement processes
Promote a strong, inclusive workplace culture that aligns with company values
Balance team and individual responsibilities while maintaining professionalism
Ensure teams are fully trained and technically competent to complete required tasks
Allocate labor as required to meet production demands

Production & Operations Oversight
Monitor production status against changing sales forecasts and coordinate with planning teams to adjust output accordingly
Oversee all daily packaging, labeling, printing, and sanitation operations to ensure output meets productivity, quality, and safety targets
Direct daily and weekly production scheduling to meet long term and just in time production goals
Ensure shift-to-shift communication is clear and consistent to support overall production process
Maintain all in-process manufacturing specifications and documentation accuracy
Assist in R&D efforts and new product rollouts, ensuring proper production setup and integration into existing operations
Serve as the point of accountability for aligning printing output with packaging workflows, compliance requirements, and new product timelines
Managing labor costs and production efficiencies
Review manufacturing processes and meet efficiency targets
Review and improve production processes and efficiency
Investigate root cause and implement corrective actions as necessary
Process improvement understanding and focus

Sanitation, Safety & Compliance
Lead quality and compliance efforts to ensure readiness for OSHA, MED, and internal audits
Serve as a point of accountability for MED compliance in the production processes
Support root cause investigations and implement corrective/preventative actions as needed
Enforce sanitation protocols, including changeovers and hygiene standards following GMPs and good hygiene practices
Promote and maintain a safe work environment and facility-wide safety practices
Ensure a compliant handoff to Inventory and Fulfillment teams

Facilities & Equipment Coordination
Work closely with facilities and team members to ensure optimal equipment performance and facility upkeep
Lead and support preventive maintenance programs to reduce equipment downtime
Provide input into equipment upgrades, procurement, and implementation as operations scale

Process Improvement & Efficiency
Review manufacturing processes and identify areas for improvement
Drive downtime reduction and improve production flow through process standardization and training
Support efficiency initiatives around labor utilization and production line performance

Planning, Reporting & Data Analysis
Track, manage, and report key performance metrics such as throughput, labor utilization, and yield
Present weekly production metrics including cost of completes and adherence to schedule
Analyze operational data and provide recommendations for improving output, efficiency, and cost control
Partner closely with the supply chain team and warehouse team to balance production and supply needs
Work with Scheduler to arrange production schedules in response to material or equipment conflicts

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication
Act as the main communication link between production operations and cross-functions (R&D, compliance, facilities, HR and marketing)
Partner with system teams to support implementation and adoption of ERP/MRP systems.
Partner closely with:
Upstream teams for production readiness and throughput planning
Downstream teams (Inventory, Fulfillment, Sales Planning) to support delivery timelines and adapt to shifting inventory needs
Attend or lead cross-functional planning meetings to align production activities with sales targets and operational constraints
Serve as the communication bridge between teams to ensure packaging and labeling stays in sync with real-time demand

Qualifications:
710+ years of experience in manufacturing or production operations, preferably in food or cannabis environments
Proven leadership over cross-functional teams, including production, sanitation, and shift managers
Familiarity with cannabis tracking and compliance systems a plus with ability to learn new systems
Background in equipment optimization, process flow, and inline production design
Experience with new product implementation, changeovers, and production scaling
Skilled in Lean, Six Sigma, or other structured improvement methodologies
Familiarity with sanitation protocols, food safety standards, and facility hygiene best practices
Strong working knowledge of MED, FDA, USDA, OSHA, and compliance standards
Experience in preventive maintenance planning
Competent in managing with data understands and uses KPIs to drive daily decision-making
Experience with MRP/ERP systems and data-driven decision-making
Must be organized and be proficient with Microsoft Office, NAV or other inventory tracking systems
Background in new product rollouts, including process design, SOP development, and scaling
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma training is a strong plus
Excellent communication, coaching, and problem-solving skills

Core Competencies:
Strong, steady leadership with a neutral and professional presence on the floor
Positive, self-starting attitude with ability to influence and uplift teams
Ability to balance compliance, efficiency, and team morale
Natural problem-solver who uses data and process logic to find and implement solutions
Deep understanding of people, processes, and performance
Team player with the ability to gain consensus through collaboration and open dialogue
Highly organized with a sense of urgency, high energy, and hands-on approach