Director of Operations

APCO LLCPortland, OregonOn-siteFull-timePrincipal, 12–15+ yearsListed 1 hour ago

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About this role

Division:  Leadership & Operations
Location: Oregon; statewide travel required
Reports to: Vice President of Operations
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

About Golden Grail Group

Golden Grail Group is a vertically integrated cannabis company with operations across Oregon and Washington. Our business spans retail, cultivation, product processing and production, and wholesale. Our portfolio includes retail brands such as Chalice, Homegrown Oregon, Local Leaf, The Herb Center, and Dr. Jolly’s, alongside farm, product, and wholesale brands. Across Oregon’s regulated producer, processor, wholesaler, and retailer activities, our teams bring products from cultivation and manufacturing through distribution and into retail.

The Opportunity

Golden Grail Group is seeking a skilled, people-centered Director of Operations to lead teams and facilities across Oregon. This is an opportunity to strengthen leadership capability, operating consistency, and collaboration across a complex, multi-site business while supporting the company’s growth and scaling initiatives.

The Director will oversee extraction, production, warehousing, distribution, logistics, and related operations. Success in this role depends on building capable leaders and accountable teams, improving how work moves across facilities, and balancing business performance with a strong employee experience. The Director partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, Retail, Sales, and Compliance on workforce planning, employee development, performance, budgets, and company-wide initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

People Leadership, Culture & Team Development

- Lead, motivate, and develop facility managers, department leaders, and operational teams across Oregon.
- Build a people-first culture grounded in trust, accountability, respect, clear communication, and shared ownership of results.
- Maintain a visible, approachable leadership presence so employees feel informed, supported, and connected to company priorities.
- Set clear expectations, provide constructive feedback, recognize strong performance, and address performance or conduct concerns consistently and respectfully.
- Coach managers in communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, delegation, employee engagement, and day-to-day leadership.
- Establish consistent leadership meetings, site visits, one-on-ones, performance check-ins, and follow-through on commitments.
- Develop leadership capability and succession depth through coaching, mentoring, cross-training, and development planning.
- Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, training, employee relations, performance management, retention, and organizational change.
- Assess staffing, morale, communication, and team effectiveness across locations and implement practical solutions with site leaders and Human Resources.

Regional & Multi-Site Operational Leadership

- Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership across cultivation, extraction, production, warehousing, distribution, logistics, and related operations.
- Translate company strategy and scaling initiatives into regional operating plans, staffing priorities, performance expectations, and measurable outcomes.
- Maintain regular on-site presence, assess operational and team performance, and ensure leaders have the resources and support needed to succeed.
- Establish consistent regional standards while accounting for differences in capacity, staffing, product flow, and local operating needs.
- Promote collaboration across locations and functions, reduce silos, and serve as the regional escalation point for significant operational and people concerns.
- Monitor regional priorities and performance indicators, holding leaders accountable for timely execution and sustainable results.
- Support the evaluation and integration of new initiatives, facilities, processes, and organizational changes as business needs evolve.

Production, Supply Chain & Facilities

- Oversee cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, and production workflows, including capacity planning, scheduling, quality standards, equipment utilization, and finished-goods delivery.
- Direct warehouse, inventory, distribution, transportation, and logistics activities to support reliable product movement.
- Partner with Retail and Sales leaders to align production and distribution priorities with demand, promotions, product launches, and inventory needs.
- Identify operational constraints and engage teams in solutions that improve service, quality, employee experience, and cost control.
- Maintain business-continuity plans and provide steady leadership during staffing, equipment, vendor, facility, or supply-chain challenges.

Compliance, Safety & Quality

- Ensure assigned locations operate in accordance with Oregon cannabis regulations, OLCC requirements, Metrc procedures, safety standards, and internal policies.
- Reinforce team ownership of compliance, safety, and quality through training, coaching, communication, and accountability.
- Maintain controls for inventory movement, chain of custody, waste, product handling, documentation, access, and reconciliation.
- Partner with Compliance, Human Resources, and site leaders on inspections, investigations, corrective actions, and incident follow-up.

Financial Management & Business Partnership

- Partner with Finance and Human Resources on budgets, forecasts, labor models, staffing plans, capital needs, and cost-management priorities.
- Monitor operational, financial, and workforce performance; explain material variances and implement appropriate corrective action.
- Use data to guide staffing, resource allocation, capacity decisions, vendor strategy, and improvement priorities.
- Provide executive leadership with clear updates regarding regional performance, risks, needs, and recommendations.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Manufacturing, Organizational Leadership, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Eight or more years of progressive operations experience, including responsibility for multiple locations or geographically dispersed teams.
- Five or more years of people-management experience, including direct supervision and development of managers or senior leaders.
- Professional experience in the regulated cannabis industry, with an understanding of the operational demands of a licensed business.
- Demonstrated ability to build engaged teams, coach leaders, manage performance, and lead through growth or change.
- Experience leading manufacturing, production, warehousing, distribution, logistics, facilities, or other inventory-intensive operations.
- Proven ability to establish standards, use performance metrics, manage competing priorities, and improve processes across locations.
- Strong judgment, emotional intelligence, communication, accountability, and discretion in a fast-paced, regulated environment.
- Ability to travel regularly throughout Oregon and respond to time-sensitive operational and people needs.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience in a vertically integrated cannabis organization, with exposure to multiple functions such as cultivation, manufacturing, extraction, production, and distribution.
- Working knowledge of OLCC requirements and Metrc workflows.
- Experience overseeing multiple functions in a business that includes both wholesale and retail operations.
- Background in consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, manufacturing, agriculture, retail supply chain, or another regulated industry.
- Experience leading integrations, facility launches, expansions, reorganizations, or significant process improvements.

Confidentiality Expectations

This role has access to sensitive operational, financial, personnel, compensation, security, inventory, vendor, and strategic information. The Director of Operations must maintain confidentiality, exercise sound discretion, and handle sensitive information in accordance with company policy and applicable law.

This description outlines the general nature and level of the role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties or qualifications. Responsibilities may change based on business needs.