Company Description
AYR Wellness is a publicly traded, multi-state cannabis company with more than 85 dispensaries. We are one of the largest scale producers of high-quality cannabis in the U.S., and our purpose is to be a force for good. People are at the heart of everything we do, and we are passionate about bringing progress and positive changes to our communities, our industry, and our world.
Our talented and reliable team members are the foundation of our business and investing in exceptional talent is paramount to our success. The key to building a culture where everyone can thrive starts and ends with our teams. Their collective courage and kyndness sets AYR apart. Your career growth at AYR is limitless, and we believe in creating an environment where everyone can flourish and win together.
Job Summary
Reporting to the CEO and the Board of Directors, the General Counsel serves as the senior legal officer at Ayr Wellness. The GC is responsible for overall management of the legal function including but not limited to, drafting, and reviewing contracts, overseeing litigation, supporting with employment related legal issues, general oversight of IP and advising on compliance with state laws and regulations. In addition, the GC will assist in building out a legal department consistent with the growth of the company and coordinating with other departments that overlap with legal, especially Compliance, Asset Protection, and People Operations. The GC will also coordinate with the board on operational legal topics and compliance matters.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Plays a key role on the company leadership team contributing to organizational strategy and achievement of annual business plans. Provides overall leadership and direction for all legal matters and supporting Ayr’ functions and business through the delivery of legal support and guidance.
- Responsible for advising, drafting and review of contracts.
- Provides general legal advice and guidance to Operations.
- Oversees litigation and potential litigation with an emphasis on avoiding lawsuits and managing risk.
- Supervises of all outside law firms. Responsible for retaining and overseeing outside counsel for financing and intellectual property matters.
- Assists Compliance and People Operations in carrying out their functions. Participates in the resolution of labor and employment issues and issues of environmental/health/safety and other regulatory matters as they arise.
- Works with Corporate Officers and Communications Group to ensure protection of Ayr’s IP and conformity with IP law and obligations.
- Advises on Compliance with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, especially regarding cannabis, ethics, public company trading and reporting.
- Works closely with the board to advise on legal and compliance matters.
Education
- Juris Doctorate with admission to practice in US. Preference for admission in FL, NY, PA, MA, NJ, CT, OH, NV or DL.
Experience
- The successful candidate will have at least 12 years of legal in-house experience managing a legal division or department in a complex, dynamic and publicly traded company.
- Experience in retail or consumer business is preferable. Experience in non-retail or consumer best-in-class company is beneficial.
- Experience overseeing compliance within a highly regulated industry preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Unquestionable integrity, ethics, and judgment.
- Excellent communication, relationship building and influencing skills. The ability to be collaborative, drive progress, help the organization evaluate ideas from a legal and operations perspective, and keep the organization focused on its goals.
- The ability to represent the whole company with internal and external audiences, consistent with the organization’s values.
- Ability to help the company manage appropriate business risks.
- Ability to anticipate, recognize and assess relevance of issues before escalating to major issues.
- Effective crisis manager who can apply mature judgment in the face of well-mobilized external stakeholders and critics.
- Able to present complex information in a clear and concise manner.
- A natural leader with proven abilities across a broad range of internal and external constituencies.
- A team player with a high level of self and cross-cultural awareness. Demonstrated track record of building strong and enduring relationships and teams.
- Authentic, confident, and assertive.
- The ability to influence and inspire through, around and with people in a fast-growing, dynamic organization.
Direct reports – if applicable, select one answer, remove the remainder
- Inhouse legal team
- National compliance team
- Asset protection/security team
Working conditions
- Ability to travel and work remotely.
At AYR Wellness, our vision is to be a force for good in all we do and to bring lasting positive change to our communities, our industry, and our world. And it wouldn’t be possible without our exceptionally talented team. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer that celebrates the uniqueness of each employee and supports their individual journey in finding their genius and pursuing their passion.
AYR Wellness is committed to the policy that all persons have equal access to employment. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and the LGBTQ+ community, regardless of age, gender, religion, marital or veterans’ status.
