Standard Wellness Maryland, LLC SWM, The Forest Baltimore - General Manager Baltimore, MD · Full time

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At Standard Wellness Maryland, we are driven by a vision of a world where cannabis is not only respected but embraced as a safe, natural path to healthier living. With a firm belief that health and wellness should empower and free us from judgment, our mission extends beyond the simple provision of cannabis products. We are committed to fostering a positive and enriching relationship with health, offering our clients not just products but a way to integrate cannabis into a holistic wellness regime. Our operational foundation is built on the highest standards of quality and sustainability, ensuring that every product we deliver is not only naturally grown but also contributes to the well-being of our planet. Join us in our journey to redefine wellness, inspire positive lifestyle choices, and create a culture where every individual can thrive.

General Manager, The Forest Baltimore  

Location: The Forest - Baltimore, MD 

Reports to: Head of Retail, People, & Organizational Strategy 

Department: Dispensary Leadership  

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The General Manager of The Forest Baltimore is responsible for leading one of Maryland’s most dynamic and evolving cannabis retail environments. This role is designed for a high-level retail operator and people-focused leader who thrives in fast-paced, growth-oriented businesses and understands how to balance operational excellence, customer experience, team development, and revenue growth. 

The General Manager will oversee all aspects of dispensary operations while helping drive the next phase of growth for The Forest through elevated retail execution, strong leadership presence, data-driven decision making, community engagement, and cross-functional collaboration. 

This leader will play a critical role in scaling the business through initiatives such as: 

• Revenue and KPI optimization 
• Advanced retail merchandising and customer journey development 
• Wellness and lifestyle retail expansion 
• Bulk flower and pre-roll program execution 
• Seasonal campaigns and high-volume retail events 
• Team training and leadership development 
• Operational efficiency and process improvement 
• Enhanced loyalty and customer retention strategies 

The ideal candidate is strategic, hands-on, and someone who can analyze the business, lead and inspire teams, execute at a high level, and create an exceptional retail culture and customer experience. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Retail Leadership & Revenue Growth 

• Drive overall store performance through strong leadership, sales strategy, operational execution, and customer experience initiatives 
• Analyze KPIs including sales, AOV, UPT, labor, discounts, conversion, loyalty, and inventory performance to identify opportunities and drive business growth 
• Collaborate with leadership to execute promotional strategies, merchandising initiatives, product launches, and experiential retail moments 
• Lead floor strategy and sales culture initiatives that encourage upselling, customer engagement, and larger basket sizes 
• Support the rollout and execution of new business initiatives including wellness/lifestyle retail, bulk flower programs, and pre-roll production initiatives 

Operational Excellence 

• Ensure operational consistency, organization, accountability, and execution across all departments 
• Develop, implement, and improve SOPs, workflows, and retail best practices 
• Lead daily store operations while proactively identifying operational inefficiencies and recommending solutions 
• Ensure compliance with all state and local cannabis regulations, company policies, and inventory controls 
• Partner cross-functionally with compliance, inventory, marketing, finance, and cultivation teams 

Customer Experience & Merchandising 

• Maintain a best-in-class retail environment focused on hospitality, education, and elevated customer experience 
• Lead merchandising strategies that support sales growth, operational flow, and customer engagement 
• Support seasonal campaigns, in-store events, vendor activations, and community-driven experiences 
• Stay informed on customer trends, market trends, and emerging wellness and cannabis retail opportunities 

People Leadership & Culture 

• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing teams 
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, positivity, and operational excellence 
• Lead performance management, development conversations, and succession planning for dispensary leadership and team members 
• Support onboarding, training, and ongoing development initiatives for all retail staff 
• Create a team environment that balances high standards with strong morale and engagement 

Strategic Collaboration 

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to executive leadership regarding retail operations, staffing, customer experience, and growth opportunities 
• Collaborate with marketing and leadership teams on promotional planning, campaign execution, and event strategy 
• Contribute ideas and solutions that improve revenue, efficiency, customer retention, and team performance 

IDEAL CANDIDATE 

• Strong retail leadership background in high-volume, customer-focused environments 
• Proven ability to analyze data, identify trends, and drive sales growth 
• Exceptional leadership presence and communication skills 
• Highly organized with strong project management and prioritization abilities 
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving and evolving business environment 
• Passion for hospitality, wellness, customer experience, and team development 
• Cannabis industry experience preferred but not required for the right operational leader 
• Experience with experiential retail, merchandising, wellness, hospitality, or lifestyle brands is a plus 
• Must meet all eligibility requirements established by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), including successful completion of applicable background checks, licensing, and employee badging requirements 

 

SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY 

• Comfortable operating within fast-paced retail technology environments, including POS systems, inventory platforms, loyalty systems, reporting tools, and operational software  
• Working knowledge of cannabis and retail operational systems such as Dutchie, Alpine IQ, Metrc, mobile POS platforms, and related dispensary technologies preferred  
• Ability to analyze and interpret operational and sales data to support decision-making, KPI tracking, and business growth initiatives  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and collaboration platforms, including Excel, Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word  
• Comfortable creating reports, reviewing spreadsheets, communicating across teams, and managing operational follow-through through digital tools and project tracking systems 

 

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE 

• Strong operational execution and accountability 
• Revenue growth and KPI improvement 
• High-performing and engaged team culture 
• Elevated customer experience and community reputation 
• Clean, compliant, and organized operations 
• Successful execution of strategic retail initiatives and events