Trade Activation Associate

Curaleaf; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

Curaleaf is seeking a Trade Activation Associate in Chicago, IL. This field-based role drives in-market execution, brand visibility, and sell-through across wholesale accounts.

You will act as the frontline between Curaleaf, dispensary partners, and shoppers, ensuring products are represented with excellence at retail. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced field environment and is highly organized.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in cannabis, beverage alcohol, field marketing, retail activation, or related industries.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently in a highly field-based role.
• Willing to travel extensively throughout the market.

Responsibilities

• Support in-store sell-through programs and promotional execution.
• Identify opportunities to improve visibility, conversion, and shopper engagement.
• Provide market feedback and execution insights to sales and trade marketing teams.
• Deliver brand and product education to dispensary staff and onboarding of new accounts.
• Execute visual merchandising and in-store activation standards.
• Maintain brand presence and execution quality across accounts.
• Conduct menu and digital presence audits and support digital merchandising.

Skills

Cannabis industry experience

Field marketing

Retail activation

Strong communication

Travel readiness

Tools

Microsoft Office

Mobile tools

Reporting platforms

Job description

At Curaleaf, we’re redefining the cannabis industry with a strong commitment to quality, expertise, and innovation. As a leading global cannabis provider, our brands—including Curaleaf, Select, and Grassroots—offer premium products and services in both medical and adult-use markets.

Join us at Curaleaf to be part of a high-growth, purpose-driven company that champions corporate social responsibility through our Rooted in Good initiative, supporting community outreach and positive change. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, drive innovation, and help shape the future of cannabis.

Title: Trade Activation Associate

Type: Full-Time, Field-Based

Location: Chicago, IL

Schedule: Tuesday – Saturday

The candidate must have reliable transportation and the ability to travel throughout their assigned territory up to 100% of the time.

Who You Are

As a Trade Activation Associate, you will play a critical role in driving in-market execution, brand visibility, and sell-through across Curaleaf’s wholesale business. You will serve as the frontline connection between Curaleaf, dispensary partners, and shoppers; ensuring our brands are consistently represented with excellence at retail.

This role is responsible for executing trade marketing programs, supporting dispensary staff education, conducting market audits, identifying opportunities for improved execution, and helping drive product visibility and velocity within assigned accounts.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, self-motivated, execution-focused, and energized by working in a fast-paced, field-based environment.

What You’ll Do

Sell-Through Support

• Support in-store sell-through programs and promotional execution
• Identify opportunities to improve visibility, conversion, and shopper engagement
• Provide market feedback and execution insights to sales and trade marketing teams

Account Education

• Support new account onboarding and launch execution
• Deliver brand and product education to dispensary staff
• Ensure merchandising and activation standards are established from day one

In-Store Execution

• Execute visual merchandising and in-store activation standards
• Support premium programming and key market initiatives
• Maintain strong brand presence and execution quality across accounts

Menu & Digital Excellence

• Conduct menu accuracy and digital presence audits
• Support execution of digital merchandising and promotional visibility
• Identify opportunities to improve online shopper experience and conversion

Consumer Activation

• Execute pop-ups, demos, and local consumer events
• Support community activations and market engagement opportunities
• Drive brand visibility and shopper interaction in market

Trade & Events

• Support trade shows, buyer events, and retailer engagement activities
• Assist with market event execution and branded experiences
• Manage field distribution of approved activation materials and swag

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with Account Executives and market leadership to support territory priorities and business objectives
• Submit timely recaps and reporting including field insights, execution photos, activation results, and competitive intelligence
• Maintain a consistent and professional brand presence across all market activities

What You’ll Bring

• 1+ years of experience in cannabis, beverage alcohol, field marketing, retail activation, or related industries
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to work independently in a highly field-based role
• Strong attention to detail and execution standards
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, evolving environments
• Tech savvy with proficiency in Microsoft Office, mobile tools, and reporting platforms
• Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays as business needs require
• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel extensively throughout the market

Even Better If You Have

• Experience in trade marketing, retail merchandising or field activation
• Experience working directly with dispensaries or retail accounts
• Familiarity with visual merchandising and in-store execution standards
• Experience supporting events, activations, or community engagement programs

What We Offer:

Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance*
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and/or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)*
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Wellness program and challenges
• Gym discounts

Financial Security

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Life and disability insurance*
• Supplemental Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Accident Insurance*
• Commuter benefits*

Time Off

• Paid time off (PTO) including vacation*, sick leave and holidays
• Parental leave
• Bereavement leave

*Available to eligible, full-time employees only.

$50,000 - $55,000 USD

What We Offer:

• Competitive Pay and Benefits
• Generous PTO and Parental Leave
• Life/ Disability Insurance
• Community Involvement
• Referral Bonuses and Product Discounts

Benefits vary by state, role type, and eligibility.

Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to enhance lives by cultivating, sharing, and celebrating the power of the plant. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company, and its brands, including Curaleaf, Select, Grassroots, Find, and Anthem provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. Curaleaf International is powered by a strong presence in all stages of the supply chain. Its unique distribution network throughout Europe, Canada and Australasia brings together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Home | Curaleaf | Cannabis with Confidence

Our Vision:

To be the world's leading cannabis company by consistently delivering superior products and services and driving the global acceptance of cannabis.

Our Values:

• Lead and Inspire.
• Commit to Win.
• ONE Curaleaf.
• Driven to Deliver Excellence.

Curaleaf is an equal opportunity employer. Curaleaf recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Individuals adversely impacted by the war on drugs are encouraged to apply.

Current Curaleaf employees should apply for open positions through our Internal Job Board, which can be accessed via the link on The Leaf.

***Please note that U.S. immigration rules and regulations are governed by federal law; not state law. Although Curaleaf operates in states that have legalized and decriminalized marijuana, it is still considered a controlled substance under federal regulations and thus illegal under federal law. For this reason, unless and until federal law changes, Curaleaf is prohibited from offering sponsorship for any non-immigrant or immigrant visas.

***Please also note that while candidates who are Lawful Permanent Residents (such as those with Green Cards) are eligible for employment with, and are hired by Curaleaf, working for a company engaged in a business that grows and sells a product that is illegal under federal law might compromise the candidate’s immigration status. Before a Lawful Permanent Resident accepts an offer of employment, Curaleaf recommends that the candidate seek the advice of an immigration lawyer.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Curaleaf ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.