Director of Manufacturing | Zenabis
Search Overview
Organization:
Zenabis
Sector:
Cannabis Manufacturing and Consumer Products
Location:
New Brunswick, Canada
Mandate Type:
Leadership Search
Leadership Function:
Director of Manufacturing
Search Scope:
National Open Search
Engagement Focus:
Manufacturing Leadership and Operational Scalability
Confidentiality:
Public Leadership Recruitment Engagement
The Business Landscape
Zenabis engaged KIRAH to support the appointment of a Director of Manufacturing for its New Brunswick production facility during a significant period of operational growth and industry expansion.
As the Canadian cannabis industry continued evolving rapidly, organizations across the sector faced increasing pressure to scale production capabilities, strengthen operational consistency, maintain compliance standards, and support growing market demand.
Zenabis required a manufacturing leader capable of overseeing large scale production operations while helping strengthen operational efficiency, facility leadership, process management, and manufacturing scalability within a highly regulated environment.
The mandate carried strategic importance as the New Brunswick facility represented a critical component of the organization’s broader production and operational infrastructure.
The Leadership Requirement
The role required far more than traditional plant management capability.
Zenabis needed a senior manufacturing executive capable of balancing operational leadership, team management, production oversight, compliance awareness, and continuous improvement initiatives within a rapidly evolving industry environment.
The ideal candidate required strong experience across manufacturing operations, production leadership, process optimization, workforce management, and operational scalability.
Equally important was the need for an individual capable of operating effectively within a fast paced and growth oriented environment where adaptability and leadership maturity were critical.
The Search Mandate
KIRAH was retained to conduct a national open search for the Director of Manufacturing role supporting Zenabis’ New Brunswick operations.
The assignment focused on identifying manufacturing leaders with experience operating within regulated production environments, large scale operational facilities, and complex manufacturing infrastructures.
Rather than approaching the mandate as a transactional operational hire, the search process centered around identifying a strategic manufacturing leader capable of supporting long term operational growth and organizational stability.
The engagement involved targeted outreach, candidate evaluation, and close collaboration with leadership throughout the recruitment process.
The Search Strategy
KIRAH conducted focused outreach across manufacturing, consumer products, food production, pharmaceutical, cannabis, and industrial operational sectors throughout Canada.
The process emphasized identifying leaders with strong facility management capability and experience operating within regulated and production intensive environments.
Candidates were evaluated beyond technical manufacturing experience alone.
The assessment process focused heavily on leadership capability, workforce management approach, operational problem solving, process improvement mindset, scalability experience, and organizational alignment.
Particular emphasis was placed on identifying a manufacturing leader capable of supporting both immediate operational needs and long term production growth objectives.
The search process also prioritized candidates capable of operating effectively within a rapidly scaling production environment.
Candidates were assessed on adaptability, leadership style, communication capability, and their ability to contribute positively within a fast evolving operational structure.
The Appointment
The search resulted in the successful appointment of Parbinder Cheema as Director of Manufacturing for Zenabis’ New Brunswick facility.
Parbinder brought strong manufacturing leadership capability, operational management experience, and production oversight strength aligned with the organization’s operational growth and manufacturing objectives.
His ability to lead complex production environments while supporting operational efficiency and facility leadership positioned him effectively within the organization’s manufacturing leadership structure.
The appointment represented an important addition to Zenabis’ operational infrastructure during a critical stage of industry and organizational expansion.
The Outcome
Strengthened Manufacturing Leadership
Supported the appointment of a senior operational leader capable of contributing strategically across production and facility management initiatives.
Enhanced Production Infrastructure
Helped strengthen operational leadership capability within a large scale manufacturing environment.
Specialized Manufacturing Search Execution
Delivered a targeted leadership search process focused on manufacturing and production leadership within regulated operational sectors.
Long Term Operational Scalability Alignment
Identified leadership capability aligned with the organization’s production growth and operational expansion objectives.
Key Search Metrics
National Manufacturing Search
Targeted outreach conducted across manufacturing, production, industrial, and regulated operational sectors throughout Canada.
Operational Leadership Evaluation
Comprehensive assessment focused on facility management capability, production oversight, leadership maturity, and organizational alignment.
Regulated Industry Search Focus
Search execution tailored to highly operational and compliance driven manufacturing environments.
Successful Leadership Placement
Completed the successful placement of Parbinder Cheema as Director of Manufacturing for Zenabis’ New Brunswick operations.