The posting
High Plainz Strains is hiring a full-time Lead Budtender for our new Peetz dispensary.
This is a working leadership position. Lead Budtenders serve customers alongside the retail team while taking additional responsibility for keeping the store organized, employees productive and daily operations running properly.
Because Peetz is a new location, the opening team will also help establish the routines and expectations that become normal as the store develops its customer base.
At a smaller store, a Lead needs to be versatile and self-directed. We're looking for someone who can recognize what needs attention, make reasonable decisions and keep the shift moving without requiring constant management direction.
Previous cannabis retail experience is strongly preferred. We will also consider candidates with meaningful leadership experience in retail, restaurants, hospitality, convenience stores, grocery or other customer-facing businesses.
What You'll Be Responsible For
Leading the Shift
- Providing direction to Budtenders and Front Desk employees
- Coordinating breaks, meal periods and customer coverage
- Adjusting priorities as customer traffic changes
- Supporting employees with product, POS and customer issues
- Keeping the team productive during slower periods
- Helping establish effective routines as the new store opens
- Communicating operational problems to management
- Maintaining a clean, organized and compliant retail environment
- Stepping into customer service, stocking, cleaning or other work when needed
A Lead shouldn't need a manager to assign every task. Part of the position is noticing what the store needs and helping the team respond.
Customers, Cash and Store Operations
Lead Budtenders continue working directly with customers while also taking responsibility for routine store operations.
Responsibilities can include:
- Helping customers compare cannabis products and available options
- Completing transactions accurately
- Maintaining knowledge of products, promotions and loyalty programs
- Resolving customer problems and supporting other Budtenders
- Preparing and balancing cash drawers
- Reconciling drawers, safe and ATM cash as required
- Tracking authorized cash movement
- Resolving POS, pricing and discount issues within company procedures
- Counting and recording employee tips
- Documenting and reporting discrepancies
- Completing assigned opening and closing procedures
Accuracy and integrity are essential. Leads are trusted with company money, cannabis products and regulated transactions.
Help Build a New Store
Working at a new location is different from joining a store that has operated the same way for years.
The Peetz opening team will be building relationships with customers, learning local traffic patterns and helping establish the everyday routines that make the store work.
That creates an opportunity for a Lead who likes taking ownership. It also means being comfortable when business levels change and not assuming there's nothing to do because there isn't currently a line of customers.
During slower periods, the team should be stocking, cleaning, organizing, learning products and promotions and preparing for the next customer.
Working in a Small Community
Peetz is a small community, and employees are likely to serve people they know.
Being familiar with customers can help build a strong local business, but it doesn't change the rules. Friends, neighbors, relatives and regular customers follow the same verification, transaction and compliance procedures as everyone else.
Lead Budtenders are expected to reinforce that standard with the rest of the team.
Compliance
Lead Budtenders help ensure company procedures and Colorado cannabis regulations are followed throughout the shift.
We don't expect Leads to memorize every unusual situation. We expect them to recognize when something needs to be checked, use established procedures, make decisions within their authority and involve management when appropriate rather than guessing.
What We're Looking For
Relevant experience and skills include:
- Strong customer-facing experience
- Experience directing coworkers or leading shifts
- Cash handling and accurate cash counting
- Clear communication
- Organization and time management
- Self-direction and initiative
- Customer conflict resolution
- Good judgment and problem-solving
- Ability to work effectively when business levels change
- Reliability and accountability
- Consistent adherence to procedures
Previous cannabis retail experience is strongly preferred, but it isn't the only way to qualify.
Relevant backgrounds include Budtender, Lead Budtender, retail keyholder, shift supervisor, convenience or grocery supervisor, restaurant shift leader, hospitality supervisor, banking and other customer-facing leadership positions.
Experience in a smaller business where employees handle multiple responsibilities can be particularly useful.
You also don't need to make cannabis your entire personality to work here. At the Lead level, we're interested in whether you know how to take care of customers, support your coworkers and take responsibility for the store.
Schedule
This is a full-time position, generally scheduled 30–35 hours per week over approximately five shifts.
The Peetz store is planned to operate approximately 9:00 AM–8:50 PM, seven days a week.
Lead Budtenders need flexibility for opening and closing shifts, including mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays as required.
Pay and Tips
Starting Base Pay: $17.00/hour
Lead Budtenders also participate in the store's applicable tip distribution.
Because Peetz is a new location, we do not yet have enough operating history to provide a meaningful estimate of hourly tip income. Tips will vary based on customer traffic, staffing, shifts worked and other factors and are not guaranteed.
The $17.00/hour base wage is guaranteed.
Colorado Cannabis Requirements
Applicants must be at least 21 years old and must hold an active Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) Employee License before beginning regulated cannabis work.
An active MED license is helpful but is not required to apply. Candidates who are eligible and willing to obtain one before beginning regulated work are encouraged to apply.
Employees are responsible for obtaining, maintaining and paying for their required MED license.
Benefits
Full-time employees have access to:
- Kaiser Permanente medical insurance
- Delta Dental insurance
- VSP vision coverage
- Transamerica supplemental accident, illness and gap coverage
- Colorado SecureSavings retirement program
- Paid sick leave
- PTO/vacation beginning after six months
- PTO increasing with tenure, up to four weeks annually after five years
- Performance and wage reviews
- Opportunities for advancement
- Participation in our regular customer loyalty program, including 10% back in loyalty rewards on eligible purchases, subject to program terms and applicable law
Build Your Retail Leadership Experience
The Lead position develops practical experience with shift leadership, employee coordination, cash controls, opening and closing procedures, customer problem resolution and compliance oversight.
Opening a new store also gives the Peetz team experience establishing routines and building a customer base rather than simply inheriting an existing operation.
Our retail progression can include:
Budtender → Lead Budtender → Assistant Store Manager → Store Manager
Advancement is based on demonstrated skills, judgment, performance and available opportunities.
About High Plainz Strains
High Plainz Strains is a privately owned Colorado cannabis company with roots in Northern Colorado.
Our broader operation includes retail dispensaries, cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. We're continuing to grow our retail footprint while also expanding distribution of products manufactured within our operation to dispensaries throughout Colorado.
The Peetz location represents the next part of that growth, and its opening team will have an opportunity to help establish the store from the beginning.
Location: 719 Main Street, Peetz, CO Employment: Full-time, on-site Starting Base Compensation: $17.00/hour + tips
Apply through this posting with a current resume.
High Plainz Strains is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
