Maintenance Lead

Description

Job Title: Maintenance Lead

Department: Maintenance

Reports to: GM

FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

Shift: 1st Shift Monday - Friday

About Us


Common Citizen, a Michigan-based cannabis company, is dedicated to reshaping perceptions around cannabis and enhancing lives through our principles of 'cannabis for humanity' and 'change for the better.' Prioritizing people in all aspects, from cultivating high-quality cannabis to providing a world-class customer experience, we embody a commitment to continuous improvement. As we aspire to be recognized as a Fortune Magazine 'Best Company To Work For,' our family of brands also includes 8 cannabis retail stores serving their respective local communities under 4 brands - LIV Cannabis Co., Pure Lapeer Canna, Xplore Cannabis, and Cannavista Wellness, creating a seamless network where we are all one. Join us at Common Citizen for a collaborative and inclusive journey, anchored in the principles of 'cannabis for humanity' and a commitment to positive change.


About This Role


Every position at Common Citizen, from seed to sale, contributes to our mission to serve our fellow citizens of Michigan with the highest quality, safest cannabis products. Our Jackson production facility manufactures gummy edibles for our licensed Wana and Kiva product lines as well as all Common Citizen in-house brands. The Maintenance Lead is the hands-on owner of equipment reliability on the gummy production floor - responsible for preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of depositing, cooking, cooling, and packaging equipment. This is an individual-contributor role with no direct reports; success depends on technical ownership, independent judgment, and close coordination with Production, Quality, and Sanitation.


Responsibilities


Outlined below is what we see you doing at this point in time. We are a fast-growing company looking for people that are excited to grow along with us.


Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance (PM) on all gummy production equipment, including depositing/forming systems, cookers, cooling tunnels, and wrapping/packaging lines, per the facility PM calendar.

• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and PLC-controlled equipment faults to minimize unplanned downtime across Wana, Kiva, and in-house brand production runs.

• Maintain accurate, timely work orders, PM records, and parts/inventory data in the facility's CMMS.

• Coordinate maintenance windows with Production, Quality, and Sanitation to avoid disrupting scheduled production runs.

• Ensure all maintenance and repair work complies with Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) rules, food-grade sanitation (cGMP) standards, and OSHA workplace safety requirements.

• Source, evaluate, and coordinate outside contractors and vendors for specialized repairs, calibrations, and capital equipment projects.

• Maintain spare parts inventory and recommend stocking levels to reduce mean time to repair.

• Troubleshoot facility utility systems supporting production, including compressed air, hot water/steam, chillers, and HVAC, as needed.

• Support installation, commissioning, and validation of new or upgraded production equipment.

• Maintain and update equipment manuals, SOPs, and preventive maintenance schedules.

• Participate in root cause analysis for equipment failures and lead corrective and preventive actions.

• Maintain documentation required for internal audits and CRA facility inspections.

The Experience You Bring and the Skills We Need

• 3-5+ years of industrial maintenance experience, ideally in food, beverage, confectionery, pharmaceutical, or cannabis manufacturing.

• Hands-on experience with gummy or confectionery production equipment (depositors, cookers, cooling tunnels, packaging/wrapping equipment) strongly preferred.

• Strong mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic troubleshooting skills; PLC experience (Allen-Bradley or Siemens) a plus.

• Familiarity with CMMS software for tracking work orders and PM schedules.

• Working knowledge of cGMP, food safety, and OSHA safety standards in a manufacturing environment.

• Ability to read electrical schematics, P&IDs, and mechanical drawings.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Effective communicator, able to coordinate across Production, Quality, and outside vendors without direct reports.

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical/trade school certification or equivalent apprenticeship preferred.

• This is a dynamic team, and daily tasks may vary, resulting in a fast-paced and lively work environment.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand for the duration of the shift and move throughout the production floor.

• Frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

• Use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms.

• Comfortable working around moving machinery and in varying temperature zones (cooking, cooling, and packaging areas).

• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as directed by facility safety protocols.

• Talk or hear, including in a production-floor environment with ambient machine noise.

Why You'd Love This Role


You have:

• A high level of professionalism and believe in our founding principles: "Cannabis for humanity" and "Change for the better." As such, you enjoy being involved in the community and being a steward for the company and the positive change that we believe in.

• A passion for providing the residents and visitors of Michigan with the highest quality and safest cannabis products in the state.

• A desire to change the social perception of cannabis and a passion for humanity.

• A constant desire to learn new skills and believe in continuous improvement, both personally and professionally.

• Value integrity and honesty and want to bring those values to the cannabis industry.

• Enjoy being part of a team and sharing your skills with your fellow citizens.

• An appreciation for the production process behind the products you help keep running - from raw ingredient intake through finished, packaged gummies.

We Offer

• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits active the first of the month following your first day of employment.

• Paid time off.

• Employee discount.

• Employee-sponsored life insurance.

• Employee assistance program.

• 401(k) & 401(k) matching.

Common Citizen is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an environment of mutual respect for all people. If you are a member of an equity group, you are encouraged to self-identify on your application, cover letter, or resume.


**Must be at least 21 years of age as required by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency**