Director, Production Optimization

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Production Optimization based in the United States.

The Director, Production Optimization will lead packaging operations and continuous-improvement initiatives across a multi-site manufacturing network. This senior operational role will own packaging performance, LEAN deployment, production-scheduling alignment, and packaging quality outcomes. You will drive measurable improvements in throughput, yield, changeover efficiency, cost, and product quality across multiple facilities. Working cross-functionally with engineering, procurement, planning, quality, innovation, data, and site leadership, you will turn operational priorities into scalable systems and sustained results. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, highly regulated manufacturing environment. You will also develop leaders, strengthen daily management practices, and establish a culture of accountability and continuous improvement across the network.

Accountabilities:: Lead finished-product packaging execution across manufacturing sites and product formats, ensuring output meets specifications, labeling requirements, quality standards, and production targets.

Establish and maintain packaging standard work, line-clearance procedures, changeover routines, and operating practices designed to improve units-per-labor-hour, throughput, and reliability without compromising safety or quality.

Partner with Packaging Engineering, Procurement, Innovation, and New Product teams to ensure packaging components, bills of materials, specifications, equipment, and launch requirements are ready for production.

Own packaging performance metrics, including OEE, changeover performance, material consumption, fill-weight accuracy, net-weight compliance, yield, and packaging efficiency.

Serve as the accountable owner for flower packaging across the network, overseeing handling standards, traceability, labeling, sanitation, material readiness, changeovers, and performance improvement.

Lead the network-wide LEAN and continuous-improvement program, embedding 5S, standard work, visual management, Gemba practices, value-stream mapping, and Kaizen methodologies into daily operations.

Build and manage a continuous-improvement pipeline with quantified savings, clear baselines, measurable outcomes, and sustained before-and-after performance improvements.

Coach site teams and leaders to make continuous improvement a daily operating discipline rather than a series of isolated initiatives.

Lead production-scheduling capabilities across the network, partnering with scheduling and planning teams to build reliable, executable production plans aligned with demand and capacity.

Align packaging capacity, staffing, materials, and production schedules across 30/60/90-day planning horizons, supporting MRP/ROP readiness and schedule-lock discipline.

Identify and resolve conflicts between production, packaging, materials, and fulfillment before they create service, operational, or compliance risks.

Partner with Data teams to define reporting requirements and develop dashboards that improve visibility into materials, capacity, demand, scheduling, and operational performance.

Collaborate with Quality and Compliance teams to strengthen quality-at-the-source practices and ensure adherence to batch production records, SOPs, GMP requirements, and CAPA processes.

Oversee packaging label-printing operations, ensuring printer uptime, print quality, label accuracy, traceability, and compliance while preventing mislabeling events.

Use quality and production data to identify recurring defects and translate findings into corrective actions and continuous-improvement initiatives.

Support equipment qualification activities, including IQ, OQ, and PQ, in partnership with Technical Engineering teams.

Lead cross-functional production and packaging projects, maintaining visibility into owners, milestones, risks, dependencies, and expected outcomes.

Partner with project resources to maintain a reliable portfolio of improvement initiatives and ensure projects progress from concept through implementation and sustained results.

Communicate operational priorities, project updates, and process changes consistently across sites using established communication channels.

Lead, coach, and develop packaging leadership and process-improvement teams while establishing clear expectations and strengthening capabilities.

Foster a culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across a distributed manufacturing organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related discipline, or equivalent hands-on manufacturing experience.

At least 4 years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, with demonstrated ownership of packaging and/or high-volume production environments.

Proven experience leading LEAN or continuous-improvement transformations with measurable and sustained improvements in OEE, changeover time, scrap, throughput, yield, or related operational metrics.

Working knowledge of production scheduling, MRP/MPS, and S&OP within regulated, high-mix, or complex manufacturing environments.

Familiarity with Batch Production Records, SOPs, GMP requirements, CAPA processes, and quality-at-the-source principles.

Strong experience with ERP/MRP systems, particularly Microsoft Dynamics 365 or comparable platforms, as well as project-tracking tools; experience with reporting and BI platforms is an advantage.

Strong operational judgment and analytical ability, with the capacity to translate production data into actionable improvements and measurable business outcomes.

Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders across engineering, quality, supply chain, procurement, planning, data, and site operations.

Strong project-management, communication, prioritization, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives across a complex network.

Proven people-leadership experience, including the ability to coach leaders, develop teams, establish accountability, and build a high-performance culture.

Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment while maintaining strong attention to detail and operational discipline.

LEAN or Six Sigma certification at the Green Belt level or higher is preferred.

Multi-site or multi-state manufacturing leadership experience is preferred.

Experience with packaging automation, equipment qualification, and daily-management systems is preferred.

Experience in regulated cannabis manufacturing, including exposure to METRC, BarTender, QualityOne, or Veeva Vault, is an advantage.

Must be at least 21 years of age and able to meet all applicable industry and state requirements.

Must possess a valid driver’s license and successfully complete required background checks.

Must remain compliant with all applicable legal, regulatory, and industry requirements for employment.

Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Benefits

Competitive base salary of $160,000–$185,000 USD , with final compensation based on experience, qualifications, and/or location.

Eligibility for a discretionary annual incentive program based on organizational and individual performance.

Remote work opportunity within the United States.

Comprehensive benefits and a competitive total rewards package.

Opportunities to lead high-impact operational transformation across a multi-site manufacturing network.

Professional growth and leadership-development opportunities within a continuous-improvement-focused environment.

A collaborative culture emphasizing safety, quality, accountability, innovation, and operational excellence.

Opportunity to influence packaging, production planning, quality, and manufacturing performance at a network-wide level.

Employment is subject to applicable background checks, state requirements, and industry-specific eligibility standards.

Candidates should be aware that cannabis remains illegal under U.S. federal law, and employment in the industry may have immigration-related implications for certain individuals. Candidates with concerns about their specific circumstances are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.

The role is intended to provide broad leadership scope across packaging operations, production optimization, scheduling, and continuous improvement.

How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!  Why Apply Through Jobgether?    Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.     #LI-CL1