Operations Manager

About the Role

Olistica Health is bringing a newly retrofitted vault and purpose-built cleanroom online at our Spence Street site in Bungalow, Cairns — approved by Queensland Health for storage and wholesaling of medicinal cannabis, and preparing for TGA GMP licensing, with inspection targeted for early Q4 2026, to add licensed flower packaging.

We're hiring an Operations Manager to take day-to-day command of the site through this critical build-up period and into steady-state operation. This is a priority, immediate-start hire — the earlier you're on-site, the more handover time you get from our validation and regulatory consultants before the inspection.

What you'll Be Responsible for

• Running day-to-day site operations: production scheduling, staff supervision, and warehouse/vault management (this role may combine Operations Manager and Warehouse Manager responsibilities).

• Building out the on-site team — starting with two production operators (recruitment underway now), growing to an eventual headcount of 6–10.

• Owning operational input into SOPs, protocols and readiness documentation authored by our validation consultant, ahead of formal QA approval.

• Coordinating and delivering staff training against the site's training matrix (GMP, S8/controlled-substance handling, cleanroom practice, equipment operation).

• Managing and maintaining the dried herb packing facility — vault, cleanroom and packing operation.

• Supporting qualification and validation activities ahead of inspection.

• Acting as the site's operational lead during the TGA inspection, working alongside our Quality/AP and Regulatory Affairs functions.

• Supporting recruitment for the operator team, including coordinating required police checks.

What You'll Need

• Proven operations or production management experience, ideally in a GMP-regulated, pharmaceutical, cannabis, or other controlled-goods manufacturing/storage environment.

• Comfort operating in a highly regulated, document-driven environment — this role works constantly with SOPs, protocols, and a live quality system, even though quality sign-off itself sits with our AP/QA Manager.

• Hands-on leadership style — this is a build-up phase with a small team, real deadlines, and a lot to stand up before external inspection.

• Experience with warehouse/inventory operations is a strong plus, given the dual vault-storage and packaging scope of the site.

• Ability to satisfy a "fit and proper person" check, including a national police check, as required for S8/controlled-substance site licensing.

• Full working rights in Australia. Site-based role — this is not a remote or hybrid position.

Reporting and Start

Reports to Olistica's Executive Officer, with the production and warehouse team reporting into this role on-site. The AP/QA Manager reports separately to the Executive Officer and works alongside this role. Immediate start — interviews are underway now.

About Olistica Health

Olistica Health Pty Ltd is a medicinal cannabis company operating import, wholesale, and packaging services under TGA and state health licensing, supplying a portfolio of cannabis-derived brands into the Australian market.