Senior Manager, Extraction Operations

Ascend Wellness Holdings•Morristown, NJ

About The Position

The Extraction & Post-Processing Leader is responsible for providing strategic leadership, technical expertise, and operational oversight across all extraction laboratories nationwide. This role drives standardization, process optimization, equipment reliability, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives to support production targets, product quality, and cost efficiency. The position partners cross-functionally with Extraction, EHS, Quality, and Operations teams to implement scalable methodologies, advance research and development, and ensure consistent execution of best-in-class laboratory practices across all sites.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
Minimum of 3 years of cannabis laboratory management experience.
3-5+ years of hands-on experience with ethanol extraction, hydrocarbon extraction, and wiped-film distillation.
Strong technical troubleshooting and problem-solving capabilities within chemical processing or manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and working knowledge of extraction and laboratory support equipment.
Comprehensive understanding of ethanol, hydrocarbon, distillation, and solventless extraction principles.
Ability and willingness to travel extensively (75-100%) to support national laboratory operations.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and train teams across multiple sites.
Must be at least 21 years of age.
Must remain compliant with all regulatory requirements for employment within the cannabis industry.
Ability to obtain and maintain required agent cards or state credentials in all operating jurisdictions.

Nice To Haves

Residence within proximity to key operational markets (IL, MA, NJ, OH).
Experience with statistical process control (SPC), process validation, and data-driven manufacturing environments.
Advanced knowledge of cannabinoids, terpenes, and related product development considerations.
Demonstrated success leading multi-site operations or enterprise standardization initiatives.
Experience implementing continuous improvement, Lean, or operational excellence methodologies.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Director of Extraction to develop, standardize, and streamline extraction and post-processing methodologies across hydrocarbon, ethanol, and solventless platforms.
Travel regularly to laboratory sites nationwide to provide leadership, coaching, and technical guidance aligned with company objectives.
Serve as a subject matter expert for extraction operations, processing methodologies, equipment functionality, troubleshooting, and process development.
Plan and coordinate production schedules; evaluate capacity, resource allocation, and workflow to meet production targets and departmental goals.
Optimize and scale extraction and post-processing operations to support increased demand while maintaining quality and efficiency.
Oversee repair coordination, preventative maintenance programs, and spare parts management to minimize equipment downtime across all sites.
Maintain accurate equipment inventories, maintenance logs, and operational status documentation; proactively identify service needs.
Lead training initiatives for laboratory personnel, ensuring competency validation and completion of required training documentation.
Partner with Engineering and Facilities teams to ensure environmental and infrastructure standards support laboratory performance requirements.
Collaborate with EHS and Safety teams to maintain compliance with safety programs, hazard awareness, and regulatory expectations.
Ensure adherence to all state regulatory requirements including inventory control, safety documentation, and record retention standards.
Enforce standardized documentation and data capture practices; analyze operational data trends to inform process improvements.
Support development and monitoring of departmental KPIs and capacity models to drive performance visibility and strategic planning.
Champion a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and transparent communication.
All other responsibilities as required
Support onboarding and implementation of remediation technologies related to pesticides, heavy metals, and color remediation.
Integrate research and development initiatives into production environments to support innovation and operational advancement.
Identify, evaluate, and deploy emerging technologies and methodologies that improve workflow efficiency, product quality, and cost of goods.
Participate in cross-functional initiatives and special projects as assigned.
Perform additional duties as required to support business needs.