Director of Human Resources (Cannabis Industry)

Claybourne Co. • Perris, CA

3d • $125,000 - $175,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Human Resources leads our day-to-day HR operations for a licensed, multi-state cannabis company with cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, delivery and wholesales operations. Reporting to the President and CEO, this role turns HR strategy into practice across employee relations, compliance, talent acquisition, compensation, training and HRIS. The Director keeps the company audit-ready under state cannabis regulations and multi-state employment law. The Director partners with site leaders to build a safe, fair and engaged workforce in a fast-changing, highly regulated industry.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3+ years in an HR management or leadership role.
• Working knowledge of California employment law and experience with multi-state compliance.
• Experience leading workplace investigations and advising managers on complex employee-relations issues.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll platforms, plus proficiency in Google Workspace.
• Strong judgment, discretion and ability to handle confidential information.
• Clear written and verbal communication with employees at every level.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must pass a background check as required by state cannabis regulations, conducted in line with applicable fair chance laws.
• Must obtain and maintain any state-required cannabis registration or credential.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Leadership or a related field.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR or equivalent certification.
• 2+ years of HR experience in cannabis, pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience with Nevada and New York employment law.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the HR Department, setting priorities, workloads and performance goals.
• Oversee HR policies, procedures and state-specific employee handbooks; recommend updates as laws change.
• Act as a strategic advisor to site and department leaders on workforce planning, organizational design and change management.
• Prepare HR metrics, workforce analyses and executive-level reports for the leadership team.
• Ensure compliance with federal, California, Nevada and New York employment laws, including wage and hour, leave, accommodation, posting and recordkeeping requirements.
• Coordinate with compliance and security teams on cannabis-specific workforce requirements, including employee age verification, background checks and state agent or worker registrations.
• Keep drug-testing and cannabis-use policies aligned with state protections for off-duty use, such as California Gov. Code §12954, Nevada NRS 613.132 and New York Labor Law §201-d.
• Maintain personnel files, I-9s and training records so the company is ready for state regulator, DOL and agency audits.
• Investigate complaints of harassment, discrimination, retaliation and policy violations; document findings and recommend action.
• Guide managers on progressive discipline, performance improvement, leaves of absence and terminations.
• Partner with legal counsel on agency charges, demand letters and litigation.
• Oversee recruiting for salaried roles across cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, delivery and sales.
• Ensure job postings meet pay-transparency rules in California and New York.
• Run onboarding that covers state-required cannabis training, safety orientation and Spanish-language materials where needed.
• Support the design of competitive, equitable pay structures and annual compensation reviews.
• Partner with payroll and benefits vendors on accurate pay, open enrollment and leave administration.
• Deliver or coordinate required training, including harassment prevention (California and New York) and workplace violence prevention (California).
• Partner with safety leads on Cal/OSHA, OSHA and site safety programs.
• Lead engagement, recognition and retention initiatives across all locations.
• Own HRIS data integrity, reporting and process improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• paid vacation
• paid sick leave
• company-observed holidays
• participation in the Company's management discretionary incentive bonus program (15% on target up to 30% max)
• discounted stock purchase option (Company's common stock)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director