Trainee Operations Manager

Job Description & Role Profile

Department: Farm Operations
Initial training period: Three months, paid
Employment pathway: Intended progression to permanent Operations Manager
Working arrangement: Residential position, five days per week
Location: CannaMazing farm premises (Alberton, Mayberry Park)

1. Position Overview

The Trainee Operations Manager is a hands-on position designed to develop an individual capable of independently managing the day-to-day operations of the CannaMazing farm.

The role combines practical cultivation work, plant propagation, cloning, production planning, record-keeping, operational problem-solving and the gradual assumption of full management responsibility.

During the initial three-month training period, you will learn the farm’s systems, procedures and production requirements while actively participating in daily farm activities.

The objective is to develop the practical knowledge, confidence and management competence required to take responsibility for the entire operation.

You are expected to be actively involved in the work of the farm, understand the processes being performed and ensure that daily activities are completed correctly and efficiently.

You will be expected to organise your own workload, recognise what needs attention, plan ahead and take initiative without requiring constant supervision.

Our guiding principle is:

Work smarter, not harder.

We value practical thinking, efficient systems, good planning and continuous improvement. You are encouraged to identify problems, question inefficient processes and contribute ideas that improve the operation.

2. The Three-Month Training Programme

The initial three months are a paid training and development period intended to prepare you for permanent employment as Operations Manager.

Training will involve practical participation, learning established procedures, developing management skills and progressively taking responsibility for the operation.

Month 1: Learn the Farm

The focus is on understanding the farm and developing practical competence.

You will learn:

The farm layout, growing areas and production systems.
Plant movements and growing-area preparation.
Grow bag filling, growing media and composting procedures.
Watering and nutrient application routines.
Plant maintenance and cultivation practices.
Cloning, propagation and plant identification.
Sanitation, hygiene and biosecurity requirements.
Operational registers, production records and schedules.
Daily work routines and the farm’s standards.

Month 2: Take Responsibility

The focus shifts towards completing work more independently and taking ownership of assigned activities.

You will begin to:

Organise daily tasks and plan your workload.
Take greater responsibility for clone production.
Monitor plant health and production progress.
Maintain operational records.
Identify and address routine problems.
Plan ahead for upcoming production requirements.
Contribute ideas for improving efficiency.
Assist with practical training and the orientation of new entrants.

Month 3: Demonstrate Operational Readiness

The focus is on demonstrating the ability to manage the operation with minimal day-to-day supervision.

You will be expected to demonstrate that you can:

Organise and coordinate daily farm activities.
Maintain production schedules and agreed standards.
Manage propagation and clone production.
Monitor plant health and identify operational problems.
Maintain accurate records.
Use resources responsibly.
Coordinate work and support team members when required.
Take initiative and make appropriate decisions within your authority.
Contribute practical improvements to the farm’s systems.

The training schedule may involve fewer working days during the initial learning period, with working days and responsibilities increasing progressively.

Progression into permanent employment is intended following successful completion of training and assessment, subject to the agreed employment arrangements.

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3. Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 Hands-On Farm Operations

You will be actively involved in the practical work required to keep the farm running.

Responsibilities include:

Moving plants between designated growing areas.
Filling grow bags and preparing growing areas.
Working with compost and growing media.
Following established composting procedures.
Watering plants and applying nutrients according to farm procedures.
Carrying out appropriate plant maintenance, including defoliation, topping and lollipopping.
Removing damaged plant material where appropriate.
Monitoring plant health and growing conditions.
Maintaining clean, organised and functional work areas.
Ensuring daily cultivation activities are completed properly.
Identifying problems and taking appropriate corrective action.

As your competence develops, you will be responsible for ensuring that daily activities are organised, prioritised and completed without unnecessary delays.

3.2 Plant Propagation and Clone Production

Producing healthy, consistent clones is a major responsibility of the Operations Manager.

The objective is to maintain a reliable supply of plants that meets the farm’s production requirements.

Responsibilities include:

Producing clones according to agreed production requirements.
Monitoring rooting success, clone development and plant health.
Maintaining accurate propagation records.
Ensuring propagation batches and plants are correctly identified.
Following appropriate sanitation and biosecurity procedures.
Monitoring propagation losses and identifying possible causes.
Planning propagation activities around future production requirements.
Maintaining propagation areas and equipment.
Improving consistency and reducing avoidable losses.
Monitoring the quality and quantity of clones produced.

The emphasis is on reliable, healthy propagation rather than simply producing large numbers of clones.

3.3 Strain Selection and Genetics Management

You will contribute to maintaining and improving the farm’s collection of cannabis genetics.

Responsibilities include:

Maintaining accurate strain identification and records.
Monitoring plant health, growth characteristics and production consistency.
Recording observations about strain performance.
Comparing performance across production cycles where appropriate.
Identifying strains that demonstrate desirable characteristics.
Recommending which strains should be prioritised for future production.
Reporting suspected plant health or pathogen concerns.
Following established sanitation, quarantine and biosecurity procedures.
Contributing to decisions about maintaining and improving the genetics collection.

Strain selection should be guided by recorded performance, plant health, consistency, quality and agreed business objectives.

Changes to approved genetics or production priorities must follow the appropriate authorisation process.

3.4 Production Planning and Record-Keeping

You are responsible for keeping accurate operational records and using them to understand how the farm is performing.

Records may include:

Plant counts and movements.
Clone production and propagation results.
Production schedules and targets.
Watering and nutrient application.
Composting and growing media preparation.
Plant health observations.
Supplies and equipment requirements.
Production results, losses and corrective actions.

Records must be accurate, consistent and completed within the required timeframes.

You are expected to use this information to plan ahead, monitor progress and identify problems before they become larger operational issues.

3.5 Independent Work and Operational Management

A key requirement of this role is the ability to work independently and manage the daily operation with minimal supervision.

You are expected to:

Identify what needs to be done without waiting for constant instructions.
Plan and prioritise your workload.
Complete assigned responsibilities properly and on time.
Anticipate upcoming production and resource requirements.
Recognise operational problems and take appropriate action.
Make routine decisions within established procedures and your authority.
Keep records and communicate important issues without repeated reminders.
Follow through on commitments and corrective actions.
Seek approval when decisions exceed your authority.
Keep the business informed of significant problems, risks or delays.

Independence means taking ownership of the work and its outcomes. It does not mean ignoring procedures or failing to communicate important information.

3.6 Team Coordination and Practical Leadership

Although the role is primarily hands-on, you will also be responsible for coordinating work and helping the team operate effectively.

Responsibilities include:

Organising and allocating tasks when required.
Explaining work requirements and expected standards.
Checking that tasks have been completed correctly.
Helping team members understand farm procedures.
Providing practical guidance and feedback.
Identifying training needs.
Addressing routine workflow problems.
Supporting a respectful and productive working environment.

Leadership is demonstrated through practical competence, reliability, initiative and personal accountability.

The objective is to organise the work effectively.

3.7 Workshops and Training

CannaMazing aims to create opportunities for people entering agriculture and cannabis cultivation to gain practical knowledge and experience.

You will help support workshops and practical training activities.

Responsibilities include:

Assisting with the preparation and organisation of workshops.
Helping orientate people entering the farm.
Demonstrating approved cultivation and operational procedures.
Explaining relevant safety, hygiene and biosecurity requirements.
Supporting practical learning activities.
Helping trainees understand their tasks and responsibilities.
Sharing practical knowledge gained through experience.
Identifying opportunities to improve training procedures.

As your experience develops, you will be expected to contribute more actively to practical training and the consistent application of farm standards.

3.8 Continuous Improvement: Work Smarter, Not Harder

You are expected to think critically about how the farm operates and look for practical ways to improve efficiency.

This includes:

Identifying unnecessary repetition and wasted effort.
Improving the organisation of growing areas and workspaces.
Finding more efficient ways to move plants and materials.
Identifying recurring problems and their causes.
Recommending improvements to schedules, equipment use and record-keeping.
Developing clearer procedures and checklists where appropriate.
Reducing avoidable plant and material losses.
Evaluating whether improvements deliver measurable benefits.

Your ideas and input are valued. You are encouraged to raise suggestions, explain their benefits and help evaluate approved changes.

Changes affecting safety, biosecurity, significant expenditure or established production systems must be approved before implementation.

3.9 Supplies, Equipment and Resources

You will help ensure that the farm has the materials and equipment required for daily operations.

Responsibilities include:

Monitoring essential supplies.
Identifying shortages before they disrupt production.
Monitoring equipment condition and maintenance requirements.
Using tools and equipment appropriately.
Reducing avoidable waste.
Reporting equipment failures or supply problems.
Recommending purchases or replacements when necessary.
Using resources responsibly and within approved budgets.

Purchases and expenditure must follow the farm’s authorisation procedures.

4. What Is Expected of You

The Operations Manager is expected to combine practical ability with initiative, organisation and accountability.

You are expected to:

Take ownership of your work.
Work independently without requiring constant supervision.
Remain actively involved in practical farm activities.
Plan ahead and prioritise tasks.
Maintain accurate records.
Recognise problems and communicate them promptly.
Follow established procedures.
Use time, labour and materials efficiently.
Work cooperatively with others.
Accept feedback and continue developing your skills.
Suggest practical improvements.
Maintain professional conduct and respect confidentiality.
Follow safety, hygiene and biosecurity requirements.

You are not expected to know everything at the beginning. You are expected to learn, apply what you learn and demonstrate increasing competence and independence.

5. Skills and Competencies

The role requires:

Practical ability: willingness to carry out hands-on agricultural work.
Propagation skills: developing competence in cloning and monitoring results.
Organisation: planning work and keeping activities on schedule.
Attention to detail: recognising changes in plant health and production.
Problem-solving: identifying issues and finding practical solutions.
Initiative: recognising what needs attention without constant direction.
Accountability: taking responsibility for tasks and results.
Communication: reporting concerns and sharing ideas clearly.
Record-keeping: maintaining accurate operational information.
Continuous improvement: finding better ways to achieve consistent results.

Previous management experience is not essential at the start of training. Competence is expected to develop through practical experience, guidance and assessment.

6. Salary and Performance Incentives

You will receive a salary throughout the initial three-month training period.

Following successful completion of training and assessment, the intended permanent Operations Manager remuneration structure will include:

A fixed salary.
Performance incentives linked to agreed production and operational targets.

The salary, incentive calculations, performance measures and payment conditions will be confirmed in the relevant employment agreement or written schedule.

Performance should be assessed on the overall quality and sustainability of the operation, not production volume alone.

7. Working Arrangements

The normal working pattern is five days per week.

During the initial training period, the schedule may involve fewer working days while you learn the different areas of the operation. Working days and responsibilities will increase progressively.

The work is physically demanding and includes moving plants, filling grow bags, preparing growing areas, working with compost, watering, applying nutrients, maintaining plants and producing clones.

As you progress into management, you will balance practical work with planning, records, coordination and decision-making.

The objective is to manage the operation effectively by organising work and resources, rather than attempting to perform every task personally.

Benefits of the Role

The position offers:

A salary throughout the initial training period.
Practical experience in cannabis cultivation and farm operations.
Development of cloning, propagation and production management skills.
Opportunities to develop leadership and independent decision-making.
Experience assisting with workshops and practical training.
The opportunity to contribute ideas and improve farm systems.
A pathway intended to lead to permanent management employment.
A fixed salary and performance incentives upon progression into the permanent role.

Progression into Permanent Operations Management

The purpose of the training programme is to prepare you to manage the entire farm operation with minimal day-to-day supervision.

Successful progression will depend on demonstrated competence, reliability, practical understanding, organisation and readiness to take responsibility.

By the end of training, you should be able to demonstrate that you can:

Organise daily farm activities independently.
Plan and monitor production.
Manage propagation and clone production.
Maintain accurate records.
Recognise and address operational problems.
Coordinate work and support team members when required.
Contribute to workshops and practical training.
Manage resources responsibly.
Suggest and implement approved improvements.
Take accountability for the overall operation.

The intended outcome is permanent employment as Operations Manager following successful completion of training and assessment, subject to the agreed employment arrangements.

Overall Purpose of the Position

Your role is to ensure that CannaMazing’s farm operations are organised, productive, consistent and continually improving.

You will actively participate in cultivation and production while developing the ability to manage the entire operation independently.

You are expected to take initiative, recognise problems, plan ahead and contribute practical ideas that improve the way the farm works.

Our guiding principle is work smarter, not harder: use good planning, effective systems and sound decisions to achieve better results without unnecessary effort or waste.

The ultimate objective is to build a well-managed operation with healthy plants, reliable production, capable people, accurate records and a culture of continuous improvement.

Learn the work. Take ownership. Run the operation. Improve the way we grow.

[Apply for the Trainee Operations Manager Position]