Senior Brand Manager

Our Story:

Story Cannabis was built by misfits on a mission — people bold enough to shift the cannabis narrative and create something better. Founded in 2021 by industry veterans, Story is a vertically integrated company headquartered in Phoenix, operating across Arizona, Maryland, Ohio, and Louisiana, and we’re just getting started.

Our vision is to bring hope, happiness, and healing to the world through cannabis, and we’re doing it one state, one store, and one customer at a time.

Leadership defines how we show up. Data drives how we grow. Gratitude keeps us grounded. Unity fuels our momentum. And growth, in every sense, inspires everything we do.

If you’re ready to challenge what’s expected and shape the future of cannabis, your next chapter starts with Story.

Overview:

We are looking for a Senior Brand Manager to steward our "House of Brands." This role requires a strategic architect who can manage a diverse portfolio ranging from ultra-premium lifestyle lines to high-volume value staples. You will be responsible for defining how these distinct tiers live together without cannibalizing each other—driving scarcity and "drop culture" for our top shelf, while driving velocity, consistency, and mission-driven storytelling for our value lines.

We need a leader who is boots-on-the-ground in Maryland, capable of defending our market share in the region, while traveling frequently to Arizona to coordinate with HQ and drive our strategy in the West.

Responsibilities:

• Execute distinct go-to-market strategies for a multi-tiered portfolio with both premium and value tier brands.

• Define and protect each brand’s identity within the portfolio—ensuring the premium line signals "culture and exclusivity" while the value line signals "community and accessibility".

• Develop lifecycle marketing strategies that retain customers. Segment audiences to drive "drops" to premium buyers and "bundles" to value buyers.

• Manage the brand presence on our owned websites and maximize visibility/ranking on third-party marketplaces (Leafly, Weedmaps, iHeartJane).

• Lead retail merchandising strategy across 1st and 3rd party locations to ensure strong brand presence and an optimized physical shelf experience.

• Oversee merchandising execution in Story Dispensaries ensuring company brands are the “hero” through impactful displays, product storytelling, and effective budtender education.

• Develop and manage trade marketing kits and merchandising tools that drive brand visibility and win share-of-mind within partner and competitor dispensaries.

• Lead strategy for brand activations, from industry trade shows to consumer-facing pop-ups and music/culture events.

• Identify and negotiate strategic partnerships (collabs) and manage co-op marketing budgets to maximize reach.

• Oversee the creation of high-value content that drives organic traffic and domain authority for our specific brand keywords.

• Lead regional market strategy across Maryland, Arizona, and expansion markets by staying active in local dispensaries, analyzing competitor dynamics, developing challenger strategies, and creating scalable brand playbooks for future market launches.

• Drive portfolio strategy across all tiers by aligning SKU decisions with Operations and Cultivation, executing differentiated launch approaches, and leading packaging and form-factor development that maximizes shelf appeal while meeting state-by-state compliance requirements.

• Own market intelligence and performance analytics by leveraging cannabis data platforms to track real-time share, pricing dynamics, and competitor activity, while managing KPIs, including sales velocity and market share, and assessing how pricing shifts impact tier performance.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or related field preferred.

• 6+ years of brand management experience, with at least 3+ years specifically in Cannabis or CPG industries.

• Demonstrated experience managing the entire marketing mix, including CRM/Loyalty, SEO/Web, and Retail Merchandising.

• Proven ability to manage a "House of Brands" with multiple price points (Premium vs. Economy) simultaneously.

• Experience with cannabis data platforms or CPG analytics tools (Headset, BDSA, Alpine IQ) is highly preferred.

• Strong understanding of the nuances between mature markets (AZ) and license-capped/high-growth markets (MD).

• Must reside in or near Maryland/DC metro area.

• The ability to travel frequently in our markets, which includes local travel in MD and trips to HQ in AZ.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment:

• This role requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Occasional lifting, carrying, or transporting of marketing materials, signage, or event supplies (up to 25 pounds) may be required.

Maryland Pay Range
$115,000—$125,000 USD

Our Benefits:

• Paid time off (PTO) including 8 paid holidays per year*

• Medical Insurance, which includes a 100% company paid option for employees*

• Dental Insurance, which includes a 100% paid option for employees*

• Vision Insurance, which includes a 100% paid option for employees *

• 401k retirement savings plan*

• Company paid Short-Term & Long-Term disability*

• Company paid Life Insurance*

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Employee referral program

• Commuter benefits*

• Product discounts

• Additional compensation incentives (tips, bonuses, etc.)

*For full-time positions only

We want our story to be one that fosters an inclusive culture and provides an enriching employee experience. As an equal-opportunity employer, we embrace individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all individuals, including those who may have encountered legal issues related to previous marijuana laws. We understand that these laws have disproportionately impacted certain communities and individuals. We are committed to considering all candidates based on their qualifications, skills, and potential to contribute to our team, rather than focusing solely on past legal encounters. We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with past involvement with the legal system, to apply for positions within our organization.