Lean Implementation Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

The Director, Production Optimization leads the packaging function across Green Thumb's manufacturing network and serves as the operational owner of LEAN implementation across production. The role is accountable for how finished products are packaged - efficiently, compliantly, and to specification - and for driving the continuous-improvement discipline that raises throughput, yield, and quality at every site. 

Beyond packaging and process improvement, the role carries responsibility for production-scheduling alignment and packaging quality outcomes, making it a hub for cross-functional execution. The Director partners closely with the Project Specialist, Production and the Packaging Technical Engineer to track initiatives, maintain visibility across the improvement portfolio, and move projects from concept to sustained result. 

Packaging Operations & Product Packaging 

• Own finished good packaging execution across all manufacturing sites, across all product forms, ensuring output meets specification, label accuracy, and finished-goods standards. 
• Establish and enforce packaging standard work, line-clearance procedures, and changeover routines that maximize units-per-labor-hour (UPLH) without compromising safety and quality. 
• Partner with Packaging Engineering and Procurement on component readiness and bill-of-materials (BOM) accuracy, holding materials-on-site-first discipline, so lines are not started without confirmed inputs. 
• Partner with the Innovation and new-product team to bring new products and packaging formats into production; advising on packaging feasibility, component specifications, and launch readiness so new items transition cleanly into scaled operations 
• Hold sites accountable to OEE and changeover targets established in partnership with Packaging Engineering. 
• Monitor daily packaging-material consumption against production standards to control cost and trigger timely replenishment with the procurement and planning teams. 
• Support the Technical Engineering team in driving IQ, OQ, PQ activities. 

Flower Packaging 

• Serve as the single accountable owner for all flower packaging across the network from bulk finished flower through retail-ready units. 
• Own fill-weight accuracy and net-weight compliance for every flower SKU 
• Partner with cultivation to maintain set flower-handling standards that protect quality 
• Define strain- and lot-specific packaging, labeling, and S2S tag reconciliation requirements unique to flower, ensuring traceability from bulk lot to finished unit. 
• Own flower line changeovers, sanitation, and material readiness so runs start only with confirmed bulk, components, and approved labels - and drive UPLH and yield improvement specific to the flower line. 

Process Optimization & LEAN Execution 

• Serve as the network-wide owner of LEAN deployment, embedding 5S, standard work, visual management, and Gemba practices across production and packaging. 
• Lead value-stream mapping and kaizen events that target changeover time, scrap, rework, and flow constraints, translating findings into standard work and sustained gains. 
• Implement and maintain a continuous-improvement pipeline with quantified savings and clear before/after metrics in partnership with the Continuous Improvement team. 
• Coach site teams on LEAN behaviors so improvement becomes a daily operating habit rather than an event. 
• Own the tiered-metric and daily-management-system structure that makes performance visible and drives accountability at the line, site, and network levels. 

Production Scheduling & Planning 

• Leads the team responsible for production scheduling expertise across the network. Partners with the Primary Production Scheduler to build capabilities, standardization, and reliable, executable plans across sites.  
• Align packaging capacity and staffing to the master production schedule and demand signals from S&OP so the schedule is realistic and achievable. 
• Support MRP/ROP readiness and schedule-lock discipline across the 30/60/90-day planning horizon, reinforcing that materials and capacity are confirmed before commitment. 
• Partner with site schedulers and planning to sequence packaging runs for minimal changeover and maximum flow, improving weeks-of-supply (WoS) performance. 
• Surface and resolve scheduling conflicts across production, packaging, and fulfillment before they become service or compliance risks. 
• Partner with the Data team to define the data requirements and build the reports and dashboards that give schedulers clear visibility into materials, capacity, and demand. 

Quality at the Source Collaboration 

• Collaborate on driving quality at the source in production in support to quality teams priorities 
• Ensure adherence to Batch Production Records (BPR), SOPs, and Good Manufacturing Practices across packaging operations. 
• Use quality data from THCVault to identify recurring defects and drive corrective and preventive action through the improvement pipeline. 
• Own the label-printing function for packaging - printer fleet uptime, print quality, and label accuracy driven through  - ensuring correct, legible, compliant labels and preventing mislabel events. 
• Collaborate with the Compliance function on regulatory requirements affecting packaging - METRC accuracy, DOH, and state-specific labeling rules - owning quality execution while Compliance owns the regulatory determination. 

Cross-Functional Project Leadership 

• Partner closely with the Project Specialist, Production to track projects, maintain a single source of truth for initiative status, and drive execution across the packaging and process-improvement portfolio. 
• Maintain project visibility and cadence through tools such as Smartsheet, keeping owners, milestones, risks, and dependencies current and communicated. 
• Translate operations priorities into scoped, sequenced projects with clear success metrics, and hold the line on follow-through to sustained results. 
• Communicate progress and change to the field through standard channels (Zipline, Teams, Email) so sites stay informed and aligned. 

Leadership & Team Development 

• Lead and develop the packaging leadership team and process-improvement resources, setting clear expectations and building capability. 
• Model GTI's operating principles and foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across a multi-site team. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related field - or equivalent hands-on manufacturing experience. 
• Manufacturing experience: 4+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, with demonstrated ownership of packaging and/or high-volume production. 
• Continuous improvement: Proven track record leading LEAN / continuous-improvement transformations with quantified, sustained results (OEE, changeover, scrap, throughput). 
• Planning fluency: Working knowledge of production scheduling, MRP/MPS, and S&OP in a regulated or high-mix manufacturing environment. 
• Quality orientation: Familiarity with Batch Production Records, SOPs, GMP, and CAPA processes. 
• Systems: Fluency with ERP/MRP (D365) and project-tracking tool; reporting and BI tools a plus. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• LEAN / Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher). 
• Multi-state or multi-site manufacturing leadership experience. 
• Cannabis industry experience, including METRC, BarTender, and QualityOne / Veeva Vault. 
• Experience standing up daily management systems and tiered metrics. 
• Packaging automation or equipment-qualification experience. 

• Must pass any and all required background checks  
• Must be and remain compliant with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry  
• Must possess valid driver's license 
• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age 
• Must be approved by state badging agency to work in cannabis industry

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