Dispensary General Manager

Higher Collective is seeking an experienced, hands-on General Manager to lead our Torrington retail location.

The General Manager is the primary leader of the store and is responsible for the overall day-to-day operation, including team leadership, staffing and scheduling, regulatory compliance, customer experience, inventory controls, and business performance.

We are looking for someone who is comfortable taking ownership, making decisions, developing a team, holding employees accountable, and maintaining high operational and compliance standards in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.

• Take ownership of the overall day-to-day operation and performance of the Torrington location.

• Provide visible, consistent leadership to Team Leads, Budtenders, and other store employees.

• Set clear expectations and hold the team accountable for performance, attendance, conduct, customer service, and compliance.

• Coach and develop employees while addressing performance or operational concerns promptly.

• Create an environment built around professionalism, communication, accountability, and teamwork.

• Develop and maintain employee schedules based on business needs, employee availability, and appropriate store coverage.

• Manage call-outs, attendance issues, vacation requests, and changing staffing needs.

• Identify staffing needs and partner with Human Resources and the Director of Operations on recruiting and hiring.

• Participate in interviewing, onboarding, training, and development of store employees.

• Maintain strict compliance with Connecticut cannabis regulations and company policies and procedures.

• Ensure employees consistently follow required compliance, security, identification verification, inventory, and product-handling procedures.

• Conduct routine compliance checks and promptly address deficiencies.

• Maintain required documentation, records, logs, and operational controls.

• Support regulatory inspections, internal audits, and compliance reviews.

• Monitor sales, customer traffic, labor utilization, inventory, and other key performance indicators.

• Identify opportunities to improve sales, productivity, customer experience, and overall store performance.

• Manage labor responsibly while maintaining appropriate staffing and compliance coverage.

• Implement company promotions, initiatives, and operational priorities.

• Develop and execute action plans when performance falls below expectations.

• Ensure customers receive knowledgeable, professional, and welcoming service.

• Reinforce customer service expectations with the team.

• Address escalated customer concerns professionally and efficiently.

• Ensure employees maintain appropriate product knowledge and responsible cannabis retail practices.

• Ensure inventory is properly received, stored, tracked, transferred, and reconciled.

• Monitor and investigate inventory discrepancies.

• Maintain appropriate controls over cash, products, keys, access credentials, and company assets.

• Support inventory counts, audits, and loss-prevention efforts.

• Maintain regular communication with the Director of Operations regarding store performance, staffing, compliance, employee concerns, and operational needs.

• Ensure important company communications and operational changes are effectively communicated to employees.

• Maintain appropriate documentation of significant operational and employee matters.

• Follow through on commitments, action items, and deadlines.

• Know when to resolve an issue at the store level and when additional operational, HR, or executive support is appropriate.

• 3+ years of retail management experience preferred.

• General Manager or comparable leadership experience strongly preferred.

• Cannabis retail experience is a plus, but experience successfully managing operations in another highly regulated environment will also be considered.

• Demonstrated experience managing employees, schedules, performance, and daily business operations.

• Strong leadership, communication, conflict-resolution, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to hold employees accountable while maintaining a professional and respectful workplace.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to regulatory compliance.

• Ability to prioritize and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.

• Comfortable using point-of-sale, scheduling, and standard business technology.

• Ability to obtain and maintain all credentials required to work in a Connecticut cannabis establishment.

This is a full-time, on-site leadership position. The General Manager must have the flexibility to work based on the needs of the business, including some evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Higher Collective is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.