Director of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS)

Ascend Wellness Holdings•Franklin, NJ

8d•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced EHS Director to lead environmental, health, and safety efforts across our cannabis operations spanning seven U.S. states , while being based onsite at our Franklin, New Jersey location . This strategic role will ensure enterprise-wide compliance with regulatory requirements, build and implement scalable safety programs, and champion a culture of safety across cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution operations. You'll lead site-level safety initiatives in Franklin, while also setting and enforcing standards across all our facilities nationwide.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Safety, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
6+ years of EHS experience in cannabis, pharma, food/beverage, or similar regulated industries.
3+ years in a multi-site or regional leadership role REQUIRED
Strong working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and cannabis industry-specific regulatory requirements.
OSHA 30 (minimum)
Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Must be eligible to work in cannabis in all relevant states and pass applicable background checks.

Nice To Haves

Experience in managing indoor cultivation, lab, or manufacturing EHS programs preferred.
CSP, CHMM, CIH, or equivalent certifications are a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Strategic Oversight (Multi-State): Develop, implement and monitor a company-wide EHS strategy that aligns with federal, state, and local regulations in all operational states.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry standards, local, state, and federal regulations, and ensure the organization remains compliant.
Serve as the subject matter expert on OSHA, EPA, DOT, and state cannabis regulations , including NJ CRC compliance .
Harmonize where possible and monitor safety programs in all states ensuring consistency in risk mitigation, training, and reporting.
Coordinate and streamline cost effective selection and/or purchasing of first aid and safety equipment and services.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives related to workplace safety, health, and environmental sustainability.
Work with cross-functional teams, such as HR, operations, and legal, to address EHS-related concerns and initiatives.
Team Management & Training: Build and lead a distributed EHS team, including regional and site-level safety personnel.
Develop and deliver a strategic EHS training program to educate employees on safety protocols, environmental concerns, emergency response procedures, and regulatory changes.
Promote a proactive safety culture through leadership engagement, communication, and performance metrics.
Compliance & Reporting: Monitor regulatory documentation, injury/illness logs, SDS systems, and environmental permits.
Liaise with local and federal agencies during inspections and investigations.
Track, analyze, and report safety KPIs across all sites; drive continuous improvement.
Prepare and submit EHS-related reports to senior management, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as required.
Site-Based Leadership (Franklin, NJ): Act as the primary EHS leader at the Franklin facility, overseeing inspections, audits, trainings, and compliance programs.
Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action plans locally and nationally.
Conduct risk assessments and enforce controls for indoor cultivation, extraction, lab, and packaging areas.
Travel: Travel to operational facilities across seven states (approx. 25-40%) to conduct audits, train teams, and provide leadership support.