Senior Manager Genetics

Rubicon Organics is a BC-based licensed producer of premium cannabis. Our brands, Simply Bare and 1964, are built on cultivar quality, and genetics is the upstream foundation of that promise. At Rubicon Organics, our vision is to be the most trusted house of premium cannabis brands, creating elevated experiences for people everywhere. Our mission is to build brands people believe in by delivering elevated experiences in all we do. Through uncompromising quality, purposeful innovation, and trusted partnerships, we create products and relationships that enrich lives and help shape the future of cannabis.

As Senior Manager, Genetics Program, you will lead the development of Rubicon’s breeding and tissue culture capabilities, building the scientific infrastructure and team required to deliver a consistent, high-quality cultivar pipeline. This is a genuine builder role, with the mandate and latitude to design and implement from the ground up.

This role is ideally based out of our Squamish location, with an expectation of 5 days on site. This position reports directly to the Director of Cultivation.

Responsibilities

Breeding Program

• Design and lead a structured breeding program aligned to Rubicon’s commercial channel strategy
• Establish selection criteria, crossing protocols, and evaluation frameworks in collaboration with the Program Lead
• Build and maintain a cultivar library with full genetic documentation and phenotypic records
• Develop data collection standards and trial rubrics that support rigorous, repeatable cultivar evaluation
• Oversee the operations of the breeding facility activities including routine plant care, IPM, irrigation and basic maintenance of operations

Capability Development

• Evaluate and scope emerging capabilities – including tissue culture – to assess feasibility, timing, and fit within the genetics program
• Develop and maintain biosecurity and quality standards appropriate to a regulated plant science environment
• Build and document operating SOPs across all program activities to support consistency and scale

Team Leadership & People Development

• Build, lead, and develop a genetics team capable of supporting a growing commercial pipeline
• Coach and mentor team members through regular feedback, goal-setting, and deliberate development planning
• Create an environment where scientific rigor and continuous learning are embedded in day-to-day practice
• Identify skill gaps and build team capability proactively, ahead of program needs
• Manage program-level budget in partnership with the Program Lead

Commercial Pipeline & Collaboration

• Ensure genetics output consistently meets the quality and timing requirements of commercial cultivation
• Integrate post-harvest and processing feedback into cultivar selection and development decisions
• Serve as the primary liaison between genetics, R&D, and operations
• Contribute to genetics strategy and multi-year roadmap planning

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in plant science, botany, horticulture, plant biology, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated experience in plant breeding in a commercial or research setting
• Hands-on background in plant health, propagation, and controlled growing environments
• Proven ability to build scientific or operational programs and protocols from the ground up
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing a team
• Strong data literacy – able to design systems, interpret results, and communicate findings clearly
• Self-directed and effective in an entrepreneurial, build-phase environment

Preferred Experience

• Experience in cannabis genetics, cultivation, or licensed production
• Background in tissue culture or other advanced propagation techniques
• Familiarity with biosecurity protocols in a plant propagation context
• Experience working across R&D and operations in a production environment
• Background in controlled environment agriculture

What Success Looks Like

• In your first 12 months, you will have:
• Delivered a breeding program framework with documented crossing design, selection criteria, and evaluation rubrics
• Completed a structured assessment of advanced capabilities – including tissue culture – with a clear recommendation and path forward
• Built a data-driven cultivar evaluation process integrated with Rubicon’s cultivation research trial workflow
• Developed your team – each person has a clear role, a development plan, and is performing against it
• Established yourself as a trusted partner to cultivation, operations, and marketing

Benefits

• Base salary of $100,000–$125,000
• 20% bonus potential
• Monthly phone stipend
• Unlimited vacation
• Medical and dental benefits after 3 months