[Hiring] Vice President, Litigation, Labor & Employment Counsel @Ascend Wellness Holdings

Role Description

AWH is seeking an experienced attorney specializing in Litigation, Labor & Employment to join our in-house Legal Department. This role will serve as the company's primary in-house resource for all employment law and labor relations matters, partnering closely with the HR team and business leadership to bring a substantial portion of outside counsel work in-house. This role will also assist the General Counsel in managing general litigation matters, and also support the organization on general business matters as well. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in employment and labor law, union relations, and ideally cannabis or other highly regulated industry experience.

Location: Remote.

Key Responsibilities

• Labor & Employment Counseling
  • Serve as the primary in-house legal advisor on all day-to-day employee relations and labor matters
  • Provide strategic counsel to the HR team on employment policies, disciplinary actions, terminations, leaves of absence, and accommodation requests
  • Lead negotiations with unions and serve as the company's primary point of contact for labor relations
  • Manage employee and union grievances from intake through resolution
  • Draft, review, and update employee handbooks, policies, and related HR documentation
  • Advise on compliance with federal, state, and local labor and employment laws across all AWH operating jurisdictions
• Outside Counsel Management & Cost Reduction
  • Strategically reduce reliance on outside labor and employment counsel by handling matters in-house
  • Manage and direct outside counsel on active or complex matters, maintaining efficient and targeted engagements
  • Identify ongoing matters suitable for transition in-house and implement sustainable processes to preserve those savings
• General Litigation, Legal & Business Support
  • Contribute to the broader Legal team on matters within your expertise, including cannabis regulatory compliance and general business counseling
  • Support the General Counsel and legal team colleagues during peak periods, leave coverage, or special projects
  • Assist with legal department operations and cross-functional initiatives as the business evolves
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar admission in good standing in at least one AWH operating state
• Minimum 5 years of experience practicing labor and employment law, with in-house and/or law firm experience
• Demonstrated experience in union negotiations, collective bargaining, and grievance handling
• Substantive knowledge of federal and multi-state employment law (NLRA, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, and analogous state laws)
• Experience advising HR teams and business leadership on day-to-day employment matters
• Strong drafting skills for policies, handbooks, and employment-related agreements
• Ability to manage a high-volume, varied workload with competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Cannabis industry experience or experience in another highly regulated industry (healthcare, alcohol & beverage, financial services) is a plus
• In-house legal experience with a demonstrated track record of reducing outside counsel spend is a plus
• Business counseling experience beyond core labor and employment matters is a plus
• Must be and remain compliant with any and all regulatory requirements for working in the cannabis industry
• Willing to build understanding of applicable state and local laws and regulations as they pertain to the industry, personnel law, safety regulations, and organizational rules and procedures

Work Environment

This position primarily performs duties in a remote office setting, with occasional travel to AWH facilities and operating markets as required.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, this position is regularly required to sit and regularly use hand(s) to handle, grasp, feel, and or touch. This position is occasionally required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. This position is required to speak and listen regularly.

EEO Statement

Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. 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.