The Operations Coordinator for Cultivation Facility Infrastructure is the central nervous system of the entire growing enterprise. This role orchestrates the complex web of interconnected systems—HVAC, fertigation, lighting, power, and data networks—that create and maintain the precise environmental conditions required for high-quality cannabis production. The position operates at the intersection of agricultural science, data analysis, and industrial facilities management. Responsibilities include translating vast amounts of sensor and equipment data into actionable maintenance and optimization strategies. The primary objective is to ensure 100% operational uptime, as a single hour of failure in a critical system like power or HVAC can result in the catastrophic loss of a multi-million dollar crop. This coordinator ensures the seamless function, monitoring, and backup of all physical infrastructure, underpinning the quality and consistency of the final product and the financial stability of the operation.
The day begins with a comprehensive review of the Building Management System (BMS) and environmental control data from the overnight period. The coordinator analyzes trend logs for each of the twelve flowering rooms, verifying that temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels remained within the strict parameters defined by the cultivation plan. A minor humidity spike is noted in Flower Room 7 at 2:15 AM, lasting for twelve minutes. The coordinator cross-references this data with the HVAC unit's performance log, observing a momentary dip in the dehumidification cycle. While the deviation was minor and corrected automatically, it is logged in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) as a leading indicator for a potential sensor calibration issue. This proactive data analysis is crucial for preventing larger problems.
Next, the focus shifts to planned operational tasks. The weekly test of the facility's backup power systems is scheduled. This is a critical procedure. The coordinator initiates the test sequence, which involves a simulated utility power failure. The automatic transfer switch (ATS) performance is monitored in real-time as it disconnects from the grid and signals the 2-megawatt diesel generator to start. The coordinator observes the generator come online, stabilize, and accept the full electrical load of the facility. All systems, from grow lights to fertigation pumps, are confirmed to be operating on backup power. The successful test is documented for compliance audits, confirming the reliability of this essential backup infrastructure. This rigorous testing ensures that a real-world power outage will not threaten the crop.
Midday operations involve direct communication and coordination. An alert from the water purification system indicates that the reverse osmosis membrane pressure is trending high, suggesting a potential blockage or fouling. This could impact water quality for nutrient mixing. The coordinator generates a high-priority work order in the CMMS for the maintenance team, attaching the relevant performance data graphs. A clear communication is sent via the team's messaging app, outlining the issue and the required response time. The coordinator then communicates with the Head of Cultivation, providing a status update and confirming that there is enough purified water in the backup storage tanks to continue fertigation cycles without interruption while the repair is underway.
The afternoon is dedicated to data aggregation and quality reporting. The coordinator pulls weekly nutrient consumption data from the automated fertigation system's logs. This data is compared against the projected usage rates from the cultivation schedule. A report is compiled showing that batches in the vegetative stage are consuming 8% more nitrogen than planned. This data-driven insight is forwarded to the Agronomy team for review. They may use this information to adjust feeding formulas, improving plant health and optimizing the use of expensive nutrients. The day concludes with a final systems check and ensuring that all operational data logs from the BMS, CMMS, and security systems are successfully archived to the off-site backup server, guaranteeing data integrity and availability for future analysis and compliance checks.
The Operations Coordinator directs three fundamental pillars of facility stability:
The Operations Coordinator is a value-driver, directly influencing the financial and operational health of the enterprise:
| Impact Area | Strategic Influence |
|---|---|
| Cash | Directly prevents catastrophic crop loss by ensuring 100% uptime of critical life-support systems and their backups, protecting millions in revenue per growth cycle. |
| Profits | Drives down operational costs by using data to optimize energy and water consumption, and by shifting from reactive, expensive repairs to proactive, scheduled maintenance. |
| Assets | Maximizes the lifecycle and performance of multi-million dollar capital equipment (chillers, boilers, LED arrays) through rigorous, data-informed maintenance planning. |
| Growth | Establishes a scalable and repeatable playbook for facility infrastructure management, which can be deployed rapidly and effectively in new expansion sites. |
| People | Increases the efficiency of both cultivation and maintenance teams by providing clear, data-driven priorities and improving cross-departmental communication. |
| Products | Guarantees environmental consistency, which is the single most important factor in producing a cannabis product with a consistent, high-quality chemical profile (cannabinoids and terpenes) from batch to batch. |
| Legal Exposure | Mitigates risk by maintaining a complete and auditable data trail of environmental conditions and system maintenance, proving operational control to regulators. |
| Compliance | Ensures that all infrastructure operations adhere to state-mandated regulations, including protocols for power, water usage, and data logging. |
| Regulatory | Provides the data and documentation necessary to pass unannounced facility inspections from state cannabis commissions or other regulatory bodies. |
Reports To: This position typically reports to the Director of Cultivation or a Director of Facility Operations.
Similar Roles: Professionals with experience as a Data Center Facilities Coordinator, Industrial Plant Controller, Building Automation Specialist, or Maintenance Planner will find the core responsibilities highly analogous. The role combines the critical systems oversight of data center management with the process control of manufacturing and the maintenance logistics of large-scale facilities management.
Works Closely With: This role is a central communication hub and collaborates daily with the Head of Cultivation, Maintenance Manager, IT Manager, and Compliance Officer to ensure alignment between agricultural needs, technical capabilities, and regulatory requirements.
Mastery of specific industrial and data technologies is essential for success:
High-performing candidates often come from industries with similar demands for uptime, data analysis, and process control:
The role demands a unique blend of technical and interpersonal skills:
The standards and best practices governing this role are shaped by these key organizations:
| Acronym/Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| BMS | Building Management System. The centralized computer network used to monitor and control a facility's HVAC, lighting, security, and other automated systems. |
| CMMS | Computerized Maintenance Management System. Software that centralizes maintenance information and facilitates the processes of maintenance operations. |
| EC | Electrical Conductivity. A measure of the total dissolved solids or salt concentration in a nutrient solution, a critical quality parameter for fertigation. |
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. The technology of indoor environmental comfort and air quality control. |
| KPI | Key Performance Indicator. A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives. |
| PLC | Programmable Logic Controller. A ruggedized industrial computer that controls manufacturing processes and machinery. Often the 'brain' of fertigation or lighting systems. |
| PPM | Parts Per Million. A unit of measurement used for CO2 concentration in the air or for specific nutrient concentrations in water. |
| QA/QC | Quality Assurance / Quality Control. The set of processes used to ensure that product quality and operational procedures meet a predefined standard. |
| SCADA | Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. A category of software applications for process control, gathering data in real time from remote locations to control equipment and conditions. |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure. A set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations. |
| UPS | Uninterruptible Power Supply. A device that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source fails, crucial for control systems and servers. |
| VFD | Variable Frequency Drive. A type of motor controller that drives an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to it, used for precise control of pumps and fans. |
| VPD | Vapor Pressure Deficit. The difference between the amount of moisture in the air and how much moisture the air can hold when saturated. It is a critical metric for controlling plant transpiration. |
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