General Manager, Cultivation

About the Opportunity

Fluent, in exclusive partnership with Connected New York, is excited to be hiring for positions at our new state-of-the-art cultivation facility in Buffalo, New York. These roles offer the opportunity to join Fluent’s growing team while being part of Connected’s highly anticipated expansion into one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing cannabis markets.

About Connected

Connected family of companies. are a leading vertically integrated cannabis company based in Sacramento, operating in California, Arizona, and Florida. With over 11 years of experience, Connected specializes in breeding, growing, manufacturing, and distributing top-shelf cannabis through its state-of-the-art facilities and proprietary genetics.

With over 250 employees across the United States, Connected has built a strong industry reputation and is now expanding into New York through a master services agreement with Fluent. Connected’s mission has always been to breed, grow, and sell the best cannabis in the world, setting the highest standards for its products, people, and partners wherever we go.

About the Job

The Cultivation General Manager is responsible for the overall operational responsibility for all day- to-day cultivation and operation activities of the Buffalo  cultivation facility. The General Manager will provide leadership to the cultivation crew, manage all farm operations and serve as a liaison to Senior Management and Supply Chain keeping them abreast of operational changes and challenges. The General Manager will lead with excellence the production of Connected's New York premium flower offering.

What You Will Do

• Manage the cultivation team across propagation, cultivation, harvest, drying, curing and trimming to produce consistent optimized  high product indoor cannabis production
• Maintain product quality through post-harvest SOPs, including environmental and moisture monitoring 
• Organize workflow and manage cultivation team’s daily tasks ensuring work quality
• Manage execution of all planting schedules, plant maintenance, fertigation and, IPM tasks etc.
• Manage all post harvest activities including dry, cure, bucking, hand and machine trim 
• Maintain trim team to high productivity with sufficient and efficient staff headcount based on production throughput 
• Objectively oversee QC inspection process to ensure all products meet brand standards 
• Excellent communication and collaboration with cultivation leadership to ensure issues and necessary protocol shifts have proper alignment 
• Strong management of cultivation and trim teams; provide clear direction on protocols, corrective actions and performance management
• Hiring to ensure a strong team dynamic and adequate staff to maintain production throughputs on all plant work, trimming etc 
• Forecast production, transfers, compliance testing and inventory as needed with supply chain and distribution
• Ensure equipment is properly functioning and all equipment maintenance is up to date, facilitate repairs, upgrades and maintenance as needed 
• Responsive to issues from environment alarms, security issues etc  after normal business hours; indoor farms are 24/7, 365. 
• Be proactive with security protocols as needed 
• Maintain a clean, pest and disease-free environment
• Ensure all practices and activities are compliant for all cannabis activities 
• Provide site leadership and team scheduling during inclement weather conditions 
• Manage snow removal and facility access during winter
• Identify opportunities  for improved efficiencies and cost savings 
• Visit other cultivation sites to assess facility, plant and team opportunities in collaboration and alignment with cultivation leadership and colleagues
• Drive initiatives, research uptake, knowledge sharing and standardization through cross functional interactions with other cultivation teams and management. 
• Report back to leadership on site visits, any recommendations made and continued follow up with cultivation teams
• Other duties as assigned.

What We Are Looking For

• Minimum age of 21 years or older and pass a criminal background check
• High school or equivalent, Degree in horticulture preferred 
• 8+ years experience in cultivation or production management
• Expertise in indoor cultivation and with automated climate control indoor systems
• Strong knowledge of all internal current protocols
• Strong management and people skills to drive a positive productive team culture and accountability
• May require working rotating shifts with varied hours/day, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events
• Proven project management skills and experience managing complex deadlines
• Degree in Business Management, Horticulture Agriculture or other related field a plus
• Ability to operate within a tightly controlled track and trace environment
• Expert level knowledge of growing mediums, nutrient regimens, cultivation methodologies, environmental requirements and cultivation techniques.
• Proficient understanding of cannabis laws, rules and regulations set forth by the state
• Fundamental knowledge, as well as the ability to be taught and guided in areas related to cultivation 
• Must understand and implement the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the company and the cultivation department.
• Adhere to the company mission statement, while maintaining high ethical standards and professionalism.
• Must work well with others and ability to adapt quickly to changes in policy, procedure, methods and technique.
• Use of independent judgment regarding product processing, keeping quality, projections and goals in mind.
• Help create a proactive and positive environment; a positive attitude and self-motivation to help produce high quality product, while meeting and/or exceeding personal and/or company goals.
• Ability to work with, help, guide, challenge and motivate other team members to create a cohesive unit.
• Honestly identifies quality issues and raises them proactively to provide best path forward 
• Follow basic instructions and ability to take constructive criticism from their managers to maintain quality standards and production goals.
• Skill in analyzing potential problems with a plant or the product being processed.
• Shows self-motivation/innovation and the ability to work well with all members of their staff and the company, as well as with their direct supervisor.
• Ability to listen well and communicate effectively with various audiences, especially with the direct supervisors and other co-workers.
• Pesticide applicators license
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office – strong Excel skills required
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.

   

   

Compensation Description (annually): The salary range for this position in the selected city is $120,000.00 - $150,000.00 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location.

Physical Requirements/Workplace Environment

Must be able to lift up to a maximum of 50 lbs. occasionally without assistance or 100 lbs. with assistance.

Regularly required to perform carrying, grasping, lifting, walking, standing, some bending/crouching, stooping, stretching, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Must be able to stand for extended periods of time while maintaining focus.

Able to be in varying temperature and humidity environmental conditions

Work is performed in a fast-paced cannabis grow location. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Why Join Us?

By joining Fluent with Connected, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Be part of Connected’s highly anticipated entry into the New York market

• Work with a team that combines Connected’s proven genetics and brand strength with Fluent’s local expertise and cutting-edge cultivation facility

• Help shape the future of premium cannabis in one of the country’s most discerning markets

Note: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent to this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instruction or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, a drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.

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