Associate Vice President, Manufacturing Operations, Security & Facilities

Jeeter•Desert Hot Springs, CA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Vice President of Manufacturing Operations, Security & Facilities provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for manufacturing operations, physical security, and facilities management across all company locations. The role ensures operations are safe, efficient, secure, and compliant while supporting growth and operational excellence. The AVP develops enterprise-wide strategies to improve production performance, protect employees and assets, maximize facility effectiveness, and strengthen operational resilience. The role works with executive leadership and cross-functional teams on continuous improvement, standardization, capital planning, security, and growth initiatives. The position is based 100% onsite in Hazel Park, Michigan; Desert Hot Springs, California; Tyngsboro, Massachusetts; or Tempe, Arizona, with travel to core markets. Travel may be up to 50% to manufacturing, distribution, and corporate facilities. The position is full-time and exempt, with flexibility to work the hours needed to meet business needs, including extended hours, weekends, and holidays. Work schedules and expectations may change according to operational priorities. The role oversees manufacturing strategy and performance across multiple sites, including OEE, operational KPIs, supervisory development, and multi-site standardization. It also leads physical security strategy and programs, facilities and maintenance operations, construction and capital projects, operational excellence, financial planning, and the development of manufacturing, facilities, and security leadership. The AVP reports to the Chief Operating Officer. The job requires regular travel between business locations; walking manufacturing floors, warehouses, and construction sites for extended periods; and occasionally lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds. Work may take place in office, manufacturing, warehouse, and outdoor environments, and includes extended computer, screen, typing, and repetitive hand and arm use. Production facilities may involve regular exposure to cannabis plant material, dust, and other potential allergens; required PPE is provided.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in operations management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Facilities Management, or a related field.
15 or more years of progressive manufacturing operations experience.
At least 7–8 years in senior multi-site leadership roles at 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 record as the primary driver of enterprise OEE initiatives, with measurable improvements in equipment performance and manufacturing capacity.
Hands-on experience managing multi-location manufacturing financials, including budgeting, cost control, labor productivity, and converting operational gains into financial results.
Experience overseeing manufacturing operations in 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.
Executive leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
Advanced understanding of manufacturing operations, facilities management, and physical security.
Deep expertise in Lean manufacturing, root cause analysis, cycle time analysis, bottleneck identification and elimination, and OEE measurement and improvement.
Strong manufacturing financial acumen and ability to connect 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 in 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 focused on operational excellence.
Knowledge of state cannabis regulations, including track-and-trace requirements.
Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Willingness to submit to a background check.
Ability to travel regularly between business locations, walk manufacturing floors, warehouses, and construction sites for extended periods, and occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
Ability to work in office, manufacturing, warehouse, and outdoor environments, sit and work at a computer for extended periods, perform repetitive hand and arm motions, and look at a screen for extended periods.
Flexibility to work hours necessary to meet business needs, including extended hours, weekends, and holidays.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in business administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
Experience in 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.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
CPIM or CSCP certification.
Certified Protection Professional (CPP) or Physical Security Professional (PSP) certification.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute enterprise-wide manufacturing strategies aligned with organizational objectives and growth plans.
Oversee production across multiple facilities to ensure safe, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective manufacturing.
Lead enterprise OEE initiatives by establishing standards, targets, and accountability to improve availability, performance, and quality.
Establish and monitor KPIs for productivity, quality, labor utilization, equipment performance, throughput, cycle time, and bottleneck elimination.
Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Automation, and Compliance to optimize manufacturing performance.
Lead initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and maximize manufacturing capacity.
Develop supervisory training and development programs covering manufacturing principles, root cause analysis, Lean manufacturing, cycle time analysis, bottleneck identification, and corrective actions.
Drive multi-site manufacturing standardization and replication of best practices.
Oversee the physical security strategy across manufacturing, warehouse, office, and distribution facilities.
Develop enterprise security standards, policies, and procedures to protect employees, visitors, facilities, inventory, cash, equipment, and intellectual property.
Oversee internal security leadership and third-party security providers.
Partner with Compliance, Human Resources, Legal, and Operations on investigations involving theft, workplace violence, regulatory concerns, and other security incidents.
Direct executive response planning for emergencies, business continuity, crisis management, and physical security threats.
Ensure security operations comply with applicable cannabis regulations, licensing requirements, and company standards.
Oversee security technologies, including surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, alarm monitoring, and visitor management systems.
Develop asset protection strategies and ensure security personnel and third-party providers maintain required state licenses and permits.
Ensure surveillance and monitoring practices comply with applicable privacy and recording laws.
Oversee facility operations, maintenance programs, utilities management, infrastructure planning, and capital improvement projects.
Develop long-term facility strategies that support expansion, manufacturing growth, and scalability.
Oversee preventative maintenance, asset lifecycle management, and facility improvement initiatives.
Ensure facilities comply with building, environmental, fire, and life safety regulations.
Partner with Expansion and Engineering teams on renovations and capital projects.
Lead continuous improvement and operational excellence programs rooted in Lean manufacturing, including root cause analysis, cycle time reduction, and bottleneck elimination.
Standardize operational processes and develop dashboards and executive reporting on operational effectiveness, OEE, capacity utilization, and manufacturing financial metrics.
Identify ways to improve productivity, reduce costs, and increase efficiency; promote accountability, quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
Direct maintenance teams and programs, setting standards, schedules, and response times for planned and unplanned maintenance.
Lead construction, build-out, and renovation projects from planning through completion, including scope, budgets, schedules, permitting, and contractor performance.
Select and manage 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.
Develop and manage manufacturing, facilities, and security capital expenditure plans; evaluate investments in equipment, infrastructure, automation, and security technologies.
Support new facility development and operational readiness, and ensure capital investments align with business strategy and deliver measurable improvements.
Develop and manage multi-site operating and capital budgets, focusing on cost of goods, labor efficiency, yield, capacity utilization, and contribution margin.
Monitor costs, establish manufacturing financial metrics, improve financial performance, and optimize personnel, equipment, and resource allocation.
Partner with Finance to quantify the financial results of OEE gains, cycle time reduction, and bottleneck elimination.
Lead and develop manufacturing, facilities, and security leadership, Plant Managers, and operational teams.
Build scalable organizational structures, succession plans, and leadership development initiatives.
Foster collaboration across Manufacturing, Compliance, EHS, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Human Resources, Automation, IT, and Quality.
Promote 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.