Vice President – Enterprise Infrastructure

Ascend Wellness Holdings (CSE: AAWH.U / OTCQX:AAWH); Rochelle Park (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascend Wellness Holdings seeks a senior IT leader to own the strategy, performance, and security of our enterprise infrastructure serving corporate users and Retail & Cultivation locations. You will manage multi-year roadmaps, budgets, and the implementation of new enterprise technology, partnering with IT leadership to shape the overall IT strategy and report to executives.

The role oversees enterprise platforms including M365/Azure, identity, and security, while driving AI readiness, vendor

Qualifications

• Fifteen+ years in IT; minimum five years leading an Enterprise Infrastructure function
• Experience supporting multi‑unit retail/restaurant environments across multi-site footprints
• Proven ownership of capital and operating budgets (forecasting, vendor negotiation, TCO)
• Ability to communicate tech strategy and investment cases to executives/Board
• Experience operationalizing AI in enterprise environments (capacity, access, security)
• Bachelor’s degree in CS or equivalent; MBA/masters preferred
• Ability to work independently, on teams, and travel up to 50%

Responsibilities

• Own strategy, roadmap and performance of the Enterprise Infrastructure portfolio
• Build and lead a multi-tier Enterprise Infrastructure team
• Evaluate, select and govern external technology service providers
• Own enterprise identity in Microsoft Entra and collaborate on RBAC/Provisioning
• Ensure responsive, customer-focused service to users and Enterprise Support
• Direct evaluation and deployment of enterprise platforms across locations
• Develop infrastructure for enterprise AI adoption and guardrails
• Implement InfoSec across Enterprise Infrastructure
• Maintain change logs, procurement, and asset lifecycle
• Govern project/portfolio management with budgets and milestones
• Provide governance of IT assets, standards, and performance reporting
• Oversee disaster recovery and business continuity plans for infra
• Lead due diligence for acquisitions and new site openings
• Report KPIs and risks to executive leadership and Board
• Be on-call, travel up to 50% as required

Skills

Strategic IT leadership

Budget management

Enterprise infrastructure

AI enablement

Security governance

Vendor management

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Multi-site operations

Cloud platforms (M365/Azure)

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science

MBA or related master's

Tools

Microsoft 365 / Azure

Microsoft Entra

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Vice President of Enterprise Infrastructure owns the strategy, performance, and security of a high performance, fault tolerant business systems infrastructure serving corporate users as well as Retail & Cultivation locations. They are accountable for the multi-year infrastructure roadmap and its associated capital and operating budgets, including the research, selection, planning, implementation, and support of new enterprise technology. As a member of the IT leadership team, this role co-owns the development, revision, and execution of the overall IT Strategy and represents Enterprise Infrastructure to executive leadership.

Brief Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Vice President of Enterprise Infrastructure owns the strategy, performance, and security of a high performance, fault tolerant business systems infrastructure serving corporate users as well as Retail & Cultivation locations. They are accountable for the multi-year infrastructure roadmap and its associated capital and operating budgets, including the research, selection, planning, implementation, and support of new enterprise technology. As a member of the IT leadership team, this role co-owns the development, revision, and execution of the overall IT Strategy and represents Enterprise Infrastructure to executive leadership.

The role operates in close collaboration with Enterprise Applications, Enterprise Support, and Enterprise Data Science to deliver the broader Enterprise Solutions agenda.

• Own the strategy, roadmap, and operating performance of the entire Enterprise Infrastructure portfolio, including Microsoft 365 / Azure; internet services; storage and backup services; telecommunications services; network and end-user hardware.
• Build, develop, and lead a multi-tiered Enterprise Infrastructure organization of associates, managers and senior professionals, and own workforce planning and succession for key roles.
• Evaluate, select, negotiate with, and govern external technology service providers to augment Enterprise Infrastructure capabilities as needed from time to time.
• Own enterprise identity in Microsoft Entra, including directory architecture, authentication, conditional access, and privileged access management. Partner with Enterprise Applications, which administers user accounts for SaaS platforms outside Entra, on role-based access design and automated provisioning to the highest security standards.
• Ensure responsive, customer-focused service to the user base, including knowledge-sharing processes that enable the Enterprise Support team to provide Level 1 support on all Enterprise Infrastructure systems.
• Direct the evaluation, selection, design, configuration, testing, and implementation of enterprise platforms, network components, and systems across all locations, including Microsoft 365 and Azure, to improve business processes across the Organization.
• Build and operate the infrastructure foundation for enterprise AI adoption, including compute and data platform capacity, identity and access controls, acceptable-use and data-protection guardrails, and partnership with Enterprise Data Science and business leaders to move AI pilots into production.
• Research, select and implement appropriate InfoSec across the entire Enterprise Infrastructure.
• Ensure change management processes include accurate maintenance of systems change logs so that there is an audit trail in the event of system failures and oversee specification and procurement of new equipment to continuously advance infrastructure performance and quality.
• Establish and govern the project and portfolio management process for Enterprise Infrastructure, including intake and prioritization, resourcing, milestone and budget tracking, and status reporting to executive leadership.
• Own the administrative and operating processes that support the function, including IT asset lifecycle and inventory management, documented standards and procedures, help desk incident reporting, and periodic performance reporting.
• Develop and manage the Enterprise Infrastructure capital budgets, and report on spend, forecast, and total cost of ownership to executive leadership.
• Own enterprise disaster recovery and business continuity planning for infrastructure systems, including reliable, high-performing storage and backup services, annual testing, and remediation of findings.
• Lead infrastructure due diligence and integration for acquisitions, new market entries, and new site openings.
• Define and report Enterprise Infrastructure KPIs and service levels to executive leadership, and present technology plans and risks to the executive team and the Board as requested.
• Be on-call, work irregular hours, and travel (max 50%) as required.

Requirements

• Minimum fifteen years’ business experience in an IT environment that includes a minimum five years leading an Enterprise Infrastructure function at the director level or above, with accountability for budget and staff
• Demonstrated experience supporting a multi-unit retail or restaurant environment across a multi-site, multi-state operating footprint, including new site build-outs and acquisition integrations.
• Demonstrated ownership of a capital and operating budget, including forecasting, vendor negotiation, and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Proven ability to communicate technology strategy, risk, and investment cases to executive leadership and the Board.
• Experience supporting the operationalization of AI in an enterprise environment, including the platform capacity, data access, identity, and security controls needed to move AI capabilities from pilot into production use
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science. Will accept a combination of relevant work experience, course work, and certifications.
• Ability to work independently, on a team, and a virtual team
• Ability to be on-call, work irregular hours, and travel (max 50%) as required.
• PREFERRED
• Depth across Microsoft 365 / Azure, LAN / WAN, HPBX, Client-Server infrastructures, and SaaS architectures
• MBA or master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience with new building infrastructure design and project management.

Physical Requirements

Sitting Frequently Lifting Standing Occasionally 10 lbs. or less Occasionally Walking 11 to 25 lbs. Occasionally Bending Over 26 to 50 lbs. Occasionally Crawling 51 to 75 lbs. Not Applicable Occasionally Climbing 76 to 100 lbs. Not Applicable Occasionally Reaching Overhead Over 100 lbs. Not Applicable Crouching Occasionally Carrying Kneeling 10 lbs. or less Occasionally Balancing 11 to 25 lbs. Occasionally Pushing or pulling Talking Frequently 51 to 75 lbs. Not Applicable Repetitive use of hands/arms Frequently 76 to 100 lbs. Not Applicable Repetitive use of legs Occasionally Over 100 lbs. Not Applicable Grasping Occasionally Hearing Continuously Eye/Hand Coordination Occasionally Visual Acuity Continuously Fine Manipulation Occasionally Subject to Noise Occasionally

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.