Construction Project Manager - Retail - Ascend Wellness Holdings
Fort Lee, NJ
About the Job
We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Construction Project Manager - Retail to lead retail construction initiatives across multiple regions. This role encompasses oversight of all aspects of construction management, including new builds, renovations, and refreshes, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and in alignment with company standards. The Construction Project Manager will establish and drive processes and standards with external partners while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure efficiency, innovation, and exceptional execution. The Construction Project Manager will take full ownership of overall project success. Our ideal candidate is a visionary leader with a proven track record in retail construction, exceptional project management expertise, and a deep commitment to fostering a high-performing team environment.
Location: Remote with a strong preference for candidates who reside in or nearby Ascend's states of operation. (MA, NJ, NY, MD, PA, CT, DE, RI, MI, IL, OH)
Travel: Up to 50%, to oversee projects.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership and guidance to organizational partners, ensuring projects are aligned with organizational goals and deliver exceptional results.
- Develop and oversee a multi-year construction roadmap in collaboration with the Senior Leadership, ensuring alignment with company expansion strategies.
- Manage a diverse portfolio of retail construction projects across multiple regions, including ground-up, renovation, and refresh initiatives.
- Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for project success, including timelines, budgets, quality metrics, and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Drive consistency in construction standards, processes, and systems to ensure quality and brand alignment across all locations.
- Lead high-level negotiations with contractors, vendors, and suppliers to secure cost-effective agreements while maintaining quality standards.
- Foster strong partnerships with cross-functional teams (e.g., Real Estate, Design, IT, Operations, Compliance, Marketing, Finance) to ensure seamless project execution.
- Ensure all construction projects comply with cannabis industry regulations, including security, zoning, and licensing requirements, in collaboration with internal compliance teams and external stakeholders.
- Assess and mitigate risks across the project portfolio, proactively implementing contingency plans to address challenges.
- Act as a key liaison between executive leadership and project teams, providing regular updates on project progress, risks, and strategic initiatives.
- Stay ahead of industry trends, integrating innovative construction techniques and sustainability practices into project plans.
- Oversee external resources, including contractors, subcontractors, architects, and consultants, ensuring accountability and alignment with project goals.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in retail or commercial construction, including multi-unit and multi-regional projects a must.
- Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing high-performing teams in construction project management.
- Current Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred.
- Familiarity with retail branding and customer experience integration in construction.
- Experience in the cannabis retail industry or other highly regulated sectors.
- High level of professionalism and discretion.
- Knowledge of sustainability practices and LEED certification standards.
- Expertise in construction methodologies, project management systems, and contract negotiation.
- Proven ability to manage complex budgets, timelines, and resources across multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong understanding of risk management, quality control, and compliance within the construction industry.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management software; experience with AutoCAD preferred.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Company Overview
Ascend Wellness Holdings (AWH) is a vertically integrated cannabis cultivator, processor and provisioning center operator with assets in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. We seek to foster a robust and inclusive cannabis industry through a premium, unmatched customer-focused retail experience. We are looking to build a world-class team that will help carry out our mission of helping to shape the future of cannabis as a leading healthcare solution. We are committed to improving the quality of our patient's lives by offering unrivaled quality, consistency and meticulously curated products that satisfy our customers unique, individual needs. When it comes to customer service experience, our dispensaries will set a new standard of excellence, emphasizing health and wellness by a highly knowledgeable team. A team that is committed to our values, our people, and our communities; we are looking for people who are inspired by our vision and stay dedicated to our mission as we continuously expand.
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.