Head of Compliance - Hemp / Cannabis

As we continue to grow, we are seeking a Head of Compliance to lead our regulatory strategy and operations at our new Santa Fe Springs facility. This role is essential to ensuring that our manufacturing processes, product development, and commercial operations remain fully aligned with California hemp laws, FDA and CDPH requirements, and emerging federal and state regulations.

The Head of Compliance will report directly to executive leadership and work cross-functionally with operations, quality assurance, legal, and marketing to build and sustain a best-in-class compliance program. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines regulatory knowledge, policy development, internal auditing, and team training into one cohesive, scalable system.

Role & Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of business-critical licenses and permits, including hemp extract registration, food processing facility permits, and all related renewals. Prepare supporting documentation for new license applications or modifications based on operational expansion.
• Oversee all regulatory compliance efforts across the organization, with a primary focus on California Department of Public Health (CDPH), FDA (for ingestibles), Cal/OSHA, and local health regulations. Monitor and interpret relevant state and federal laws, including HSC §11018.5 and §111920, and provide actionable updates to executive leadership
• Develop and maintain robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all regulated processes, ensuring full alignment with cGMP, HACCP, QMS standards, and evolving compliance frameworks. SOPs should clearly govern all manufacturing activities across prerolls, vape filling, and edible production.
• Lead the creation of documentation systems that ensure accurate, audit-ready records for all regulatory touchpoints, including batch tracking, raw material COAs, sanitation logs, employee training files, and incident or recall reports.
• Establish and execute internal audit schedules to assess compliance adherence across departments. Identify risk, lead root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) as needed.
• Oversee compliance testing protocols for all raw materials and finished products. Confirm results meet required thresholds for potency, contaminants, and microbial content. Review all packaging and labels to ensure compliance with California and FDA regulations, including ingredient panels, QR codes, and health warnings.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for state and federal inspections. Lead the organization’s audit preparedness and respond to compliance-related notices, product holds, or consumer complaints in collaboration with legal counsel when necessary.
• Design and lead company-wide training initiatives on regulatory expectations, GMP practices, and hygiene protocols. Maintain documentation of all compliance training activities and ensure they are refreshed and up to date.
• Support environmentally responsible waste disposal practices and ensure compliance with CalEPA and hazardous materials handling requirements.
• Collaborate closely with QA/QC, production, R&D, marketing, HR, and executive teams to ensure a cohesive, company-wide compliance culture. Advise on product claims, marketing materials, and customer-facing content to prevent unlawful or misleading representations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of compliance leadership experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (cannabis or hemp)
• In-depth understanding of California and nationwide hemp regulations, FDA and CDPH standards, and food safety laws
• Strong working knowledge of cGMP, HACCP, QMS, and regulatory audit frameworks
• Proven success developing and enforcing SOPs, maintaining licensing portfolios, and managing regulatory audits and inspections
• Demonstrated ability to build documentation systems that support transparency, traceability, and recall readiness
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational discipline, and risk management acumen
• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence and educate across departments and levels of seniority
• Experience collaborating with executive teams and regulatory counsel on compliance strategy and operational impact
• Must be 21+ and authorized to work in the United States
   

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation between based on experience
• Full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and paid time off
• High-visibility leadership role with significant impact on the company’s growth and operational integrity
• A collaborative, high-performance environment built on accountability, transparency, and innovation
• The opportunity to define and scale a compliance function in one of the most dynamic, fast-evolving industries in the country