Jobid=4830_504367 – (0.0455)
Plant Manager / Operations Manager
(Cultivation, Post-Harvest & Secondary Operations)
Summary
The Plant Manager / Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational performance of the production site, covering cultivation, post-harvest processing, and secondary operations (packaging and preparation). The role ensures that operations run safely, compliantly, efficiently, and predictably, in line with production plans, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. The Plant Manager translates strategic and operational objectives into stable execution on the floor, leads multidisciplinary teams, and continuously improves processes to support scalability, consistency, and people development.
The role reports to the Director Operations and works closely with Quality, Facilities, Planning, HR, and Supply Chain.
Core Responsibilities
-
Operational Leadership & Performance
-
Lead and coordinate daily operations across:
- Cultivation (grow rooms, crop cycles, yield and quality);
- Post-harvest processing (harvesting, drying, trimming);
- Secondary operations (packaging, labeling, preparation).
- Ensure production targets are met in terms of volume, quality, cost, and timing.
- Translate production plans into realistic daily and weekly execution.
- Monitor operational KPIs and take timely corrective action when deviations occur.
-
Create operational stability by reducing firefighting and improving predictability.
-
Quality, Safety & Compliance
-
Ensure full compliance with regulatory, quality, and safety requirements.
- Embed SOPs, work instructions, and quality standards into daily operations.
- Act as first-line owner of quality and safety on the plant floor.
- Ensure deviations, incidents, and non-conformities are reported, investigated, and structurally addressed.
-
Foster a culture where quality and safety are shared responsibilities, not delegated tasks.
-
People Leadership & Team Development
-
Lead, coach, and develop (with & via leadership) team (Head Grower, Manager processing & packaging, supervisors, team leads, and operators).
- Ensure clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations within teams.
- Support performance management, absenteeism management, and workforce planning.
- Promote ownership, collaboration, and continuous learning.
-
Act as a visible, approachable leader on the floor.
-
Process Improvement & Operational Maturity
-
Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and recurring issues in operations.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives in collaboration with teams.
- Support standardization and documentation of processes.
- Contribute to improving planning rhythms, handovers, and reporting structures.
-
Balance improvement with operational stability and change capacity.
-
Cross-Functional Collaboration
-
Work closely with:
- Director Operations on priorities, performance, and improvement initiatives;
- Quality on compliance, audits, and SOP implementation;
- Facilities & Maintenance on equipment availability and preventive maintenance;
- HR on staffing, training, and leadership development;
- Supply Chain / Planning on alignment between demand and execution.
- Ensure smooth handovers and alignment between functions and shifts.
Key Deliverables
- Stable and predictable daily operations.
- Consistent product quality and regulatory compliance.
- Achieved production targets and improved operational KPIs.
- Engaged, well-led teams with clear accountability.
- Reduced operational disruptions and improved process reliability.
- Continuous improvement initiatives embedded in daily work.
Leadership Profile & Competencies
Leadership Style
- Hands-on, visible, and grounded.
- Calm and structured under pressure.
- Clear in communication and decision-making.
- Collaborative rather than hierarchical.
- Focused on learning and improvement, not blame.
Key Competencies
- Operational planning and execution
- People leadership and coaching
- Quality- and compliance-driven mindset
- Problem-solving and root cause analysis
- Process improvement (Lean / continuous improvement mindset)
- Communication and cross-functional alignment
- Resilience and adaptability in a regulated environment
Experience & Background
- Proven experience in operations or plant management within a regulated production environment (e.g. food, pharma, horticulture, life sciences, or similar).
- Experience managing multidisciplinary production teams.
- Familiarity with SOP-driven operations, audits, and compliance frameworks.
- Experience with scaling operations or professionalizing production environments is a strong advantage.
- Fluent in Dutch and English.
Position in the Organization
- Reports to: Director Operations
- Leads: Manager/Head, Supervisors, team leads, operators (Cultivation, Post-Harvest, Secondary)
- Works closely with: Quality, Facilities, HR, Planning, Supply Chain
Licenses and Certifications
- Ability to obtain a “Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag” (VOG) from the Dutch government.