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:
Director, Retail Marketing Activation
Full Time
Role Summary
The Director, Retail Marketing Activation leads how the retail brand experience comes to life across the store fleet of 172 Curaleaf dispensaries. Working closely with the
Marketing Director, CL Retail Brand , this role translates brand strategy, campaigns, seasonal priorities, and product launches into compelling, customer-centered retail execution that is both brand-right and operationally executable.
This leader oversees a team of
8 Retail Activation Managers
and is responsible for building a strong field activation engine across stores and markets. The role sits at the center of
CL Retail Brand, Shopper Marketing, Creative, Retail Operations, Merchandising, CRM, and field execution , ensuring that stores consistently deliver a high-quality brand experience while supporting traffic, conversion, basket size, and loyalty.
Key Responsibilities
Retail activation strategy and execution
In partnership with the
Marketing Director, CL Retail Brand , lead the strategy and execution of retail marketing activations across the store fleet
Translate retail brand priorities into in-store programs, storytelling, and execution that strengthen the customer experience and support commercial goals
Ensure activations are clear, compelling, and executable across stores with the right balance of consistency and market relevance
Build a retail activation approach that makes stores feel elevated, intentional, and customer-centric, not merely promotional
Campaigns, launches, and seasonal moments
In partnership with the
Marketing Director, CL Retail Brand , lead retail activation planning for key campaigns, seasonal moments, product launches, and broader brand initiatives
Develop activation briefs, timelines, toolkits, and execution plans for stores and field teams
Ensure campaigns come to life cohesively across signage, fixtures, events, sampling, digital surfaces, associate communication, and other customer touchpoints
Adapt broader brand direction into practical, high-quality retail execution across the fleet
In-store storytelling and customer journey
Partner closely with
Shopper Marketing and Creative
to shape how storytelling shows up in-store
Help define how campaign messaging, product stories, merchandising, and customer journey moments work together to create a clear and inspiring path to purchase
Champion a premium, uncluttered, customer-friendly experience that reflects the ambition of the brand
Ensure the store environment supports both discovery and decision-making in ways that feel intuitive and brand-right
Field activation and team leadership
Directly manage a team of
8 Retail Activation Managers
responsible for field execution across markets
Set clear priorities, objectives, and ways of working for the activation team
Coach and develop the team to deliver high-quality in-store execution, strong cross-functional coordination, and consistent market feedback
Ensure the team identifies and helps execute local opportunities for community engagement, events, partnerships, and store-specific traffic drivers
Establish clear guardrails so local activation remains relevant and responsive without compromising brand consistency
Ensure flagship, high-priority, and unique-format stores receive the right level of activation support and attention
Cross-functional integration
Serve as a key connector across CL Retail Brand, Shopper Marketing, Creative, Retail Operations, Merchandising, CRM, Planning, and Field Leadership
Partner closely with the Director of CRM to connect retail activation with customer marketing programs that drive traffic into stores, increase engagement, and support priority campaigns and launches
Align activation calendars and priorities with inventory realities, staffing constraints, store readiness, and business needs
Ensure retail activations are grounded in operational realities and can be executed at a high level in-store
Build strong operating rhythms across functions so work moves with clarity, speed, and accountability
Communication, feedback, and continuous improvement
Own store-facing activation communication for key campaigns, launches, and seasonal priorities
Ensure stores and field teams receive clear, simple, and timely direction on what matters most
Manage the field feedback loop through the Retail Activation Managers, using in-store insights to continuously improve tools, formats, standards, and processes
Help build more effective and repeatable activation systems over time, improving both quality and consistency across the fleet
Performance and optimization
Define and track KPIs for retail activation success, including traffic, conversion, attachment, UPT, ATV, sales lift, event productivity, and execution quality
Use customer, store, and market insights to identify what is working, what is not, and where activation can improve
Distill performance into actionable learnings that strengthen future launches, campaigns, and field execution
Balance brand-building ambition with commercial effectiveness in decision-making
Qualifications
10+ years of experience in retail marketing, retail activation, shopper marketing, field marketing, or brand experience
Significant experience leading execution across a multi-location retail environment
Strong experience partnering across brand, creative, operations, and commercial teams
Proven ability to translate brand strategy into strong in-store execution at scale
Experience directly managing field, market, or activation teams
Strong planning, prioritization, and execution discipline
Strong eye for brand expression, customer experience, and in-store storytelling
Strong leadership and coaching capability
Experience in high-growth, premium, or customer-experience-led brands preferred
Success Profile
Brand-minded enough to elevate the in-store experience
Commercially grounded enough to support business performance
Operationally strong enough to deliver consistent execution across the fleet
A strong people leader who can manage and develop a distributed activation team
Highly collaborative and effective across functions
Taste-driven, with a strong instinct for what makes retail feel modern, compelling, and on-brand
What Success Looks Like
Stores feel like a true expression of the retail brand
Campaigns and launches show up in-store with consistency, clarity, and energy
Retail Activation Managers execute at a high level and surface useful market insight back to the organization
Local activation is stronger, more disciplined, and more scalable
Retail activation becomes a meaningful driver of traffic, conversion, and loyalty
Connecticut Hiring Range
$140,000-$155,000 USD
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
Additional Perks
• Employee discounts
• Recognition programs
• Pet insurance*
*Available to eligible, full-time employees only.
Illinois Hiring Range
$140,000-$155,000 USD
What We Offer:
Career Growth Opportunities
Competitive Pay and Benefits
Generous PTO and Parental Leave
401(K) Retirement Plan
Life/ Disability Insurance
Community Involvement
Referral Bonuses and Product Discounts
Benefits vary by state, role type, and eligibility.
Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: @curaleaf.usa
Twitter: @Curaleaf_Inc
LinkedIn: Curaleaf LinkedIn
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.

Director, Retail Marketing Activation
Curaleaf, Chicago, IL, United States
Salary min: $140,000.00
Salary max: $155,000.00