Director of Cultivation

Iowa Cannabis Company is a leading medical cannabis provider dedicated to delivering high-quality, consistent, and safe cannabis products to patients across Iowa. With three medical dispensaries and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Iowa City, we are committed to innovation, regulatory excellence, and community wellness.

The Director of Cultivation will oversee all aspects of cannabis cultivation operations, from clone to harvest, ensuring consistent product quality, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. This senior leadership role is responsible for managing cultivation staff, refining SOPs, and driving results through data-driven decision-making and best horticultural practices. The Director of Cultivation plays a critical role in aligning production outputs with business goals while maintaining a healthy, high-yield cultivation environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Cultivation Management

• Lead and manage all cultivation operations, including propagation, vegetation, flowering, and harvest

• Develop and implement long-term cultivation strategies aligned with company goals

• Monitor plant health, pest control, nutrient regimens, and environmental conditions to ensure optimal growth

Team Leadership & Development

• Supervise and mentor cultivation managers, supervisors, and technicians

• Define performance metrics and ensure proper training, scheduling, and team productivity

• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure all activities meet state and local cannabis cultivation regulations

• Maintain accurate records for audits, inventory tracking, and compliance reporting (e.g., METRC or equivalent system)

• Work closely with the compliance and quality teams to ensure adherence to internal and external policies

Facility & Environmental Control

• Oversee environmental systems (lighting, HVAC, irrigation, CO₂, dehumidification) to optimize yields

• Coordinate facility maintenance, sanitation, and biosecurity protocols

• Troubleshoot equipment or environmental issues to prevent crop loss

Data Analysis & Yield Optimization

• Track production data (yields, success rates, nutrient uptake, etc.) and adjust protocols accordingly

• Implement new techniques or technology to improve consistency, quality, and efficiency

• Collaborate with extraction and product development teams to ensure cultivar alignment with market demand

Budgeting & Resource Management

• Manage cultivation budget, including labor, supplies, nutrients, and utilities

• Monitor resource usage and drive cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Plant Science, Agronomy, or related field (Master’s preferred)

• 5+ years of experience managing large-scale indoor or greenhouse cannabis cultivation operations

• Strong understanding of commercial growing systems, IPM, nutrient protocols, and post-harvest processes

• Proven leadership skills with experience managing and developing multi-level teams

• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills

• Proficiency with cultivation software systems and Microsoft Office Suite

• Must be 21+ with valid driver’s license and clean background

• Must remain compliant with all state cannabis industry regulations

Benefits and Compensation:

• Pay range of $90,000 - $120,000 annually commensurate with experience

• Employee discount includes 50% for Iowa medical cannabis card holders

• Perfect attendance incentive program.

• Health, Dental and Vision insurance.

• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Paid Sick Leave (PSL).

• Holiday Pay for anyone working New Years Day, 4/20, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Iowa Cannabis Company is an equal opportunity employer that believes in promoting a diverse workplace and creating a working environment in which all employees are provided with equal employment opportunities. The company will not discriminate against qualified applicants or employees with respect to any term or condition of employment based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other protected class or characteristic established under applicable federal, state or local statute or ordinance.

On May 12, 2017, Governor Terry Branstad signed House File 524 into law, allowing use of medical cannabidiol to treat certain debilitating medical conditions. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health: "The Act provides that a person recommend, possess, use, dispense, deliver, transport, or administer cannabidiol if the recommendation, possession, use, dispensing, delivery, transporting, or administering is in accordance with chapter 124E of the Iowa Code." This law also allows patients and designated primary caregivers to possess cannabidiol and requires the recommendation of a board certified physician.