Associate Vice President, Manufacturing Operations, Security & Facilities

Company Overview:

DreamFields is built on a bold mission: disrupting the industry through a lifestyle brand that blends cannabis, culture, and unforgettable moments. Driven by Jeeter, the nation's #1 pre-roll brand, we combine creative excellence with cutting-edge operations to build one of the most loved workplaces in cannabis. As we continue to scale nationally across the USA and internationally in Canada, our growing team is fueling the next chapter of DreamFields' success.

Job Summary:

The Associate Vice President of Manufacturing Operations, Security & Facilities is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for manufacturing operations, physical security, and facilities management across all company locations. This executive role ensures the organization operates safely, efficiently, securely, and in compliance with all regulatory requirements while supporting the company's continued growth and operational excellence.

The AVP develops and executes enterprise-wide strategies that optimize production performance, protect employees and company assets, maximize facility effectiveness, and strengthen operational resilience. Working closely with executive leadership, this role drives continuous improvement, operational standardization, capital planning, physical security programs, and cross-functional collaboration to support business objectives across multiple states.

Location: Based in Hazel Park, MI, Desert Hot Springs, CA, Tyngsboro, MA, or Tempe, AZ - 100% onsite - Travel to core markets

Duties/Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Operations Leadership 

• Develop and execute enterprise-wide manufacturing strategies aligned with organizational objectives and growth plans.
• Oversee production operations across multiple facilities to ensure safe, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective manufacturing.
• Own and drive enterprise OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) initiatives, establishing standards, targets, and accountability that improve availability, performance, and quality across all manufacturing locations.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs focused on productivity, quality, labor utilization, equipment performance, production throughput, cycle time, and bottleneck elimination.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Automation, and Compliance to optimize manufacturing performance.
• Lead initiatives that improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and maximize manufacturing capacity.
• Design and implement comprehensive supervisory training and development programs that build deep capability in manufacturing principles, root cause analysis, Lean manufacturing, cycle time analysis, bottleneck identification, and the development and execution of corrective actions.
• Serve as the primary driver of multi-site manufacturing standardization and best-practice replication to deliver consistent, scalable performance.

Security Operations

• Provide executive oversight of the company's physical security strategy across all manufacturing, warehouse, office, and distribution facilities.
• Develop enterprise security standards, policies, and operating procedures that protect employees, visitors, facilities, inventory, cash, equipment, and intellectual property.
• Oversee internal security leadership and third-party security providers to ensure consistent execution of security programs.
• Partner with Compliance, Human Resources, Legal, and Operations on investigations involving theft, workplace violence, regulatory concerns, or other security-related incidents.
• Direct executive response planning for emergency situations, business continuity, crisis management, and physical security threats.
• Ensure all security operations comply with applicable cannabis regulations, licensing requirements, and company standards.
• Monitor security technologies, including surveillance systems, access control, intrusion detection, alarm monitoring, visitor management, and related systems.
• Develop enterprise asset protection strategies that minimize operational risk and financial loss.
• Ensure all security personnel and third-party security providers hold and maintain the state licenses and permits required for their positions, including guard cards and firearms permits where applicable.
• Ensure surveillance and monitoring practices comply with applicable privacy and recording laws.

Facilities Management 

• Provide strategic oversight of all facility operations, maintenance programs, utilities management, infrastructure planning, and capital improvement projects.
• Develop long-term facility strategies supporting expansion, manufacturing growth, and operational scalability.
• Oversee preventative maintenance, asset lifecycle management, and facility improvement initiatives.
• Ensure facilities remain compliant with all applicable buildings, environmental, fire, and life safety regulations.
• Partner with Expansion and Engineering teams on facility renovations and capital projects.

Operational Excellence

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing and operational excellence principles.
• Standardize operational processes across manufacturing facilities.
• Develop performance dashboards and executive reporting to monitor operational effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, and increase operational efficiency.
• Champion a culture centered on accountability, quality, safety, and continuous improvement.

Maintenance & Construction

• Direct maintenance teams and programs, setting standards, schedules, and response times for planned and unplanned maintenance of production equipment and facility systems.
• Lead construction, build-out, and renovation projects from planning through completion: define scope, manage budgets and schedules, oversee permitting, and manage contractor performance.
• Select, manage, and hold accountable maintenance and construction contractors and vendors, including their safety and insurance compliance.
• Ensure maintenance and construction work meets applicable building, fire, life safety, environmental, and cannabis licensing requirements.

Operational Excellence

• Lead enterprise continuous improvement and operational excellence programs rooted in Lean manufacturing principles, with particular emphasis on root cause analysis, cycle time reduction, bottleneck identification and elimination, and sustainable corrective actions.
• Standardize operational processes across manufacturing facilities.
• Develop performance dashboards and executive reporting to monitor operational effectiveness, with clear visibility to OEE, capacity utilization, and manufacturing financial metrics.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, and increase operational efficiency.
• Champion a culture centered on accountability, quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Build and sustain supervisory capability through structured training and coaching that elevates frontline leadership effectiveness across all sites.

Capital Planning & Infrastructure

• Develop and manage manufacturing, facilities, and security capital expenditure plans.
• Evaluate investments in production equipment, facility infrastructure, automation, and physical security technologies.
• Support new facility development and operational readiness initiatives.
• Ensure capital investments align with long-term business strategy and deliver measurable improvements in OEE, throughput, and manufacturing cost performance.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage multi-site manufacturing operating budgets and capital budgets with a strong focus on manufacturing financials, including cost of goods, labor efficiency, yield, capacity utilization, and contribution margin.
• Monitor operational costs and identify opportunities to improve financial performance.
• Establish and own manufacturing financial metrics that support executive decision-making and drive accountability across locations.
• Optimize allocation of personnel, equipment, and operational resources.
• Partner with Finance to translate operational improvements (OEE gains, cycle time reduction, bottleneck elimination) into quantifiable financial results.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Manufacturing Leadership, Facilities leadership, Security leadership, Plant Managers, and operational teams.
• Build scalable organizational structures supporting continued business growth.
• Develop succession plans and leadership development initiatives, including targeted programs that strengthen supervisory skills in core manufacturing disciplines.
• Foster collaboration across Manufacturing, Compliance, EHS, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Human Resources, Automation, IT, and Quality.
• Promote a culture of safety, operational excellence, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Comply with applicable labor peace and neutrality agreements, including the agreement covering New York operations, and ensure managers and supervisors do the same.

Qualifications:

Required Education 

• Bachelor's degree in operations management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Facilities Management, or related field.

Preferred Education 

• Master's degree in business administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or related discipline. 

Required Experience 

• 15+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, including a minimum of 7–8 years in senior multi-site leadership roles (Director level or above) with full P&L or operational financial accountability.
• Demonstrated success creating and deploying supervisory training and development programs focused on manufacturing principles, root cause analysis, Lean manufacturing, cycle time analysis, bottleneck identification, and corrective action systems.
• Proven track record as the primary driver of enterprise OEE initiatives, with measurable improvements in equipment performance and manufacturing capacity.
• Strong, hands-on experience managing manufacturing financials across multiple locations, including budgeting, cost control, labor productivity, and conversion of operational gains into financial results.
• Experience overseeing manufacturing operations within highly regulated industries.
• Experience managing facilities, maintenance, construction, physical security programs, and capital improvement projects.
• Experience leading large, cross-functional operational teams across geographically dispersed sites.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Executive leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
• Advanced understanding of manufacturing operations, facilities management, and physical security.
• Deep expertise in Lean manufacturing, root cause analysis methodologies, cycle time analysis, bottleneck identification and elimination, and OEE measurement and improvement.
• Strong manufacturing financial acumen, including the ability to link operational metrics to cost, margin, and capacity outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of operational risk management and business continuity planning.
• Expertise in process optimization and continuous improvement.
• Financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning.
• Ability to lead geographically dispersed teams in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on operational excellence.
• Knowledge of state cannabis regulations, including track-and-trace requirements.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Preferred Experience 

• Cannabis, pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods, food manufacturing, or similarly regulated industries.
• Experience with enterprise security technologies, including access control technologies and surveillance platforms, and business continuity planning.
• Prior responsibility for developing and leading multi-site supervisory academies or formal manufacturing leadership development programs.

Preferred Certifications 

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• CPIM or CSCP
• Certified Protection Professional (CPP) or Physical Security Professional (PSP) is a plus.

Travel Requirements: 

• Up to 50% travel to manufacturing, distribution, and corporate facilities.

Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to travel regularly between business locations.
• Ability to walk manufacturing floors, warehouses, and construction sites for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work in office, manufacturing, warehouse, and outdoor environments as business needs require.
• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Capable of repetitive hand and arm motions as well as extended periods of typing.
• Capable of looking at a screen for extended periods or entire shifts

Work Schedule (Exempt):

This is a full-time, exempt position. The role requires flexibility to work the hours necessary to meet business needs, which may include extended hours, weekends, and holidays. Work schedules and expectations may be adjusted based on operational priorities and organizational demands.

Allergen Info:

Positions in our production facilities may lead to regular exposure to cannabis plant material, dust, and other potential allergens. Individuals with sensitivity to pollen, molds, or strong odors may experience discomfort. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and required.

EEOC:

DreamFields is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status.

All candidates must be willing to submit to a background check to be considered for the position.