VP, Real Estate

Job Summary

Verano Holdings Corp. is a U.S. multi state operator of vertically integrated licensed cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and retail facilities. The Vice President, Real Estate leads the administration, growth, and day to day management of Verano's real estate portfolio and transactions across all markets, based out of Verano's Chicago corporate office. This role owns leasing, property acquisitions and dispositions, mortgages and financings, zoning, entitlements and permitting, real estate due diligence, development contracts, and environmental, title, and survey review. The Vice President partners closely with Verano’s Legal, Compliance, Finance, and Operations, and supervises the real estate asset manager, lease administrator and real estate paralegal to ensure the portfolio is well managed, compliant, and positioned to support Verano's growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead negotiation, drafting, and execution of leases, amendments, renewals, and terminations across Verano's national real estate portfolio, partnering with brokers, landlords and internal teams
• Own property acquisitions and dispositions for cultivation, processing, retail, and office locations, including site sourcing, financial underwriting, and negotiation of letters of intent and purchase and sale agreements, from beginning stages through completion
• Structure and negotiate mortgages, financings, sale leaseback transactions, and other capital arrangements tied to owned real estate, in partnership with internal teams
• Own zoning, entitlement, and permitting matters for new and existing locations, working with local planning and zoning authorities, outside counsel and internal teams
• Manage and conduct due diligence for all real estate transactions, coordinating title, survey, environmental, zoning, and property condition reviews with internal teams, brokers, and third-party advisors
• Review and evaluate environmental site assessments, and coordinate remediation and risk mitigation with environmental consultants and internal teams
• Review title commitments, exceptions, and surveys, resolve title issues, and coordinate title insurance and closing requirements with title companies, lenders, and outside counsel
• Partner with Verano’s Compliance, and Regulatory teams on site selection and cannabis licensing requirements tied to real estate, including local approvals, host community agreements, and state application requirements
• Supervise, train, and develop the real estate asset manager, lease administrator and real estate paralegal, overseeing lease abstracting, critical date tracking, document management, and day to day portfolio administration
• Administer the maintenance of the overall real estate portfolio, including lease compliance, rent rolls, insurance certificates, property tax matters, reporting to senior leadership
• Oversee and manage outside real estate counsel as needed on select transactions
• Manage ongoing relationships with outside brokers, landlords, lenders, appraisers, surveyors, and other outside real estate professionals across all markets
• Develop and present real estate strategy, budget, and portfolio performance updates to senior leadership
• Support landlord and tenant disputes, notices, defaults, and enforcement matters in coordination with the Legal team
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate and licensed to practice law in good standing in Illinois
• At least ten or more years of progressively responsible commercial real estate experience, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and financing, ideally across a multi-state or multi-site portfolio
• Demonstrated experience negotiating leases, purchase and sale agreements, and financing or mortgage documents
• Experience reviewing and working on title, survey, and environmental site assessments
• Working knowledge of zoning, land use, and permitting processes across multiple jurisdictions
• Prior experience supervising outside real estate legal counsel and internal staff, including asset management, lease administration or paralegal functions
• Strong financial acumen, including underwriting, budgeting, and portfolio reporting
• Excellent negotiation, project management, and cross functional collaboration skills
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage a high-volume, fast-moving portfolio and multiple concurrent transactions
• Proven written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to senior leadership
• High level of discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential and sensitive information
• Willingness to travel as needed to support the portfolio
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Willing to undergo a background check
• Professional references and proof of bar license required for final candidates

Preferred Qualifications

• Cannabis industry experience preferred, though not required

What We Offer

Verano Base Pay Range 

$235,000 - $275,000 + Bonus and LTI

Actual pay is based on experience, qualifications, and location of the role. Roles may be eligible for annual bonus program based on individual and company performance. 

Benefits: 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• 401(k) matching 
• Paid holidays 
• Paid time off 
• Product discounts 

Physical and Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position, move and/or position oneself, communicate, operate and/or prepare, place, position objects, tools, or controls. The employee must occasionally move packages weighing up to 10 lb. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close observation and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Working Environment

Work is performed in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.