Who We Are
Ascend Wellness Holdings (AWH) is a vertically integrated cannabis cultivator, processor, and retailer with assets in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Our mission is to shape the future of cannabis as a leading healthcare solution while delivering a premium, customer-focused retail experience. We are committed to building a high-performing team that is passionate about our products, our communities, and creating operational excellence across our growing footprint.
The Role
The Director, EHS & Compliance Operations reports to the SVP, Compliance and serves as the enterprise leader for Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) across Ascend Wellness Holdings' multi-state operations. This role has primary responsibility for building, managing, and continuously improving a comprehensive EHS program aligned with OSHA standards, state-specific requirements, and AWH's operational risk tolerance. The Director will directly oversee Regional EHS Directors covering Midwest and East Coast markets, ensuring consistent program execution, regulatory compliance, and a strong safety culture across all retail, wholesale, and cultivation facilities.
In addition to the primary EHS focus, this role provides compliance operations support as needed, leveraging expertise in multi-state cannabis regulatory environments to assist the broader compliance team with operational alignment, audit readiness, and cross-functional initiatives. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in OSHA compliance, workplace safety program design, incident management, and regulatory affairs within a multi-state, multi-site organization.
Environment, Health & Safety (Primary Focus)
- Serve as the enterprise EHS leader, owning the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of AWH's Health & Safety and OSHA compliance program across all licensed facilities - retail, wholesale, and cultivation.
- Directly manage and provide strategic direction to Regional EHS Directors for the Midwest and East Coast, including task delegation, performance management, workflow prioritization, and ongoing mentorship.
- Develop, maintain, and standardize EHS policies, procedures, training programs, and documentation in alignment with federal OSHA standards, state-specific requirements, and AWH's enterprise compliance framework.
- Implement and administer an enterprise Learning Management System (LMS) platform for standardized EHS and safety training, tracking completions, and ensuring audit-ready records across all operating entities.
- Develop and maintain OSHA documentation including Health & Safety Manuals, OSHA Toolkits, and site-level binders, ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local requirements across all jurisdictions.
- Lead physical site risk assessments across licensed facilities, identifying infrastructure, procedural, and safety gaps; design and implement corrective action plans to mitigate regulatory, operational, and liability exposure.
- Oversee internal EHS investigations and incident management, including employee and customer injuries, operational disruptions, and equipment failures; partner with HR and Legal to ensure consistent fact-finding, remediation, and disciplinary outcomes.
- Manage the full workers' compensation lifecycle from injury reporting through return-to-work coordination while mitigating liability exposure and maintaining accurate records.
- Maintain OSHA logs and filings and lead responses to EHS inspections, audits, and enforcement actions across multiple jurisdictions.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with OSHA officials and state safety regulators, serving as the primary point of contact for inspections, clarifications, and issue resolution.
- Develop and maintain an enterprise EHS SOP library for vertically integrated operations, ensuring regulatory alignment, operational consistency, and audit readiness.
- Provide executive-level reporting to the SVP, Compliance and General Counsel on EHS posture, emerging risks, regulatory trends, and remediation plans.
- Travel regularly to multi-state facilities to conduct site reviews, support regulatory inspections, and directly engage with local teams and Regional EHS Directors.
Compliance Operations Support (Secondary Focus)
- Provide operational compliance support to retail and wholesale compliance teams as directed by the SVP, Compliance, including audit reviews, inspection preparation, and cross-functional alignment initiatives.
- Assist with the development and delivery of compliance-related training content, standard operating procedures, and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) tracking as needed.
- Support compliance monitoring activities across multiple states, including reviewing regulatory updates, contributing to compliance dashboards, and helping operationalize new requirements.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Legal, Operations, HR, Facilities, and Quality teams to ensure EHS and compliance initiatives are aligned and effectively executed.
- Assist with regulatory submissions, variance requests, and formal agency correspondence as needed in coordination with state-specific compliance leads.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of the enterprise compliance and legal template/SOP library to promote consistency and reduce regulatory risk.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support the broader goals of the Compliance department and Ascend Wellness Holdings.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Business, Legal Studies, Compliance, Public Policy, or a related field required; advanced degree or relevant certification (CSP, CHMM, CHC, or similar) preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in EHS program management, with at least 2 years in a leadership role overseeing multi-site or regional EHS operations.
- Deep working knowledge of OSHA standards (General Industry and Construction), federal and state environmental regulations, and workplace safety compliance requirements.
- Experience in the cannabis industry or another highly regulated field (e.g., pharmaceuticals, healthcare, food and beverage, or manufacturing) strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement scalable EHS programs, including safety training, incident management, OSHA documentation, and workers' compensation oversight.
- Proven experience managing direct reports and leading distributed, regional teams in a multi-state environment.
- Strong knowledge of corrective action plan (CAPA) frameworks, audit methodologies, and regulatory inspection management.
- Proven ability to build collaborative relationships with operational teams, senior leadership, external regulators, and government agencies.
- Exceptional project management, organizational, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
- Superb written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex regulatory language into clear operational guidance.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); experience with LMS/ETS platforms, audit management tools, and compliance tracking systems preferred.
- High attention to detail with strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Ability to work independently and cross-functionally in a remote, multi-state environment.
- Ability and willingness to travel frequently (approximately 25%) to support EHS and compliance needs across AWH's multi-state footprint.
- Must be 21 years of age or older.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain any required cannabis agent or registered agent badge based on applicable state regulations.
- Must pass all pre-employment background checks and screenings.
AWH offers a comprehensive compensation package for this role that includes base salary, bonus opportunity, and flexible time off. The anticipated base salary range for this role is $130,000 and $150,000.
Physical Requirements
The position must occasionally lift, push, pull and /or move up to 25 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, this position is occasionally required to sit and regularly use hand(s) to handle, grasp, feel, and or touch. This position is frequently required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. This position requires you to speak and listen regularly.
EEO Statement
Ascend Wellness Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries is an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the population of differences and does not discriminate in its hiring / hiring practices, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Nothing in this job specification restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.