Job Profile: Asset Protection Partner

Job Overview

The Asset Protection Partner serves as the primary custodian of an organization's physical and financial integrity in the cannabis sector. This role is responsible for the design, implementation, and management of a comprehensive security program that protects against a unique combination of threats. These threats include internal diversion, external criminal activity, and catastrophic compliance failures. The position operates at the critical intersection of physical security, regulatory adherence, and operational continuity. Due to federal banking restrictions, cannabis operations are cash-intensive and hold high-value, federally restricted inventory, making them prime targets. The Asset Protection Partner develops the security architecture and operational protocols required to mitigate these amplified risks. This professional ensures the business can maintain its license to operate, protect its workforce, and secure its revenue streams in a dynamic, high-stakes environment. Success in this role directly underpins the company's ability to scale securely and maintain its standing with state regulators.

A Day in the Life

The day's operations begin with a comprehensive review of the overnight security posture. This involves analyzing incident reports from the third-party guard force, reviewing alarms from the intrusion detection system, and examining access control logs for unauthorized entry attempts into sensitive areas like vaults or drying rooms. A segment of time is dedicated to a systematic review of CCTV footage, using analytics to flag unusual activity around points of sale or inventory storage. The partner confirms that all cameras are recording correctly and that their data retention meets the stringent 90-day (or more) requirement mandated by state cannabis authorities.

The focus then shifts to proactive physical assessments. A walkthrough of a dispensary location is conducted to audit cash handling procedures. The partner observes budtenders' interactions at the point-of-sale terminal, verifies that cash drops into secured safes are performed correctly, and ensures the end-of-day reconciliation process is followed without deviation. During this walk, the partner will test duress alarms and inspect the integrity of locks and physical barriers. This is a hands-on verification that security protocols are being followed in practice, not just on paper. The partner identifies a faulty magnetic lock on a backroom door, immediately documents the issue, and generates an urgent work order for the facilities team to execute repairs, creating an interim action plan to secure the area until the repair is complete.

Midday operations involve managing a specific security event. An alert from the inventory management system shows a discrepancy between the digital seed-to-sale record and a physical spot count in the vault. The Asset Protection Partner initiates a formal investigation. This process involves sequestering the affected inventory, pulling all relevant CCTV footage from the moment the product entered the vault, and reviewing all access control data to identify every individual who entered the secure area. Confidential interviews are conducted with relevant personnel to reconstruct the chain of custody. The goal is to resolve the discrepancy, determine if it was a clerical error or a potential theft, and document every step of the investigation for a potential report to state regulators.

The afternoon pivots to strategic planning and reporting. The partner analyzes security metrics from the past month to identify trends, such as an increase in after-hours access requests in the cultivation facility. This data forms the basis of a revised security protocol that is presented to the Director of Cultivation. The day concludes with the preparation of a daily security summary for executive leadership. This report provides a concise overview of incidents, the status of investigations, and system health checks. The partner also prepares a training bulletin for all retail staff on new de-escalation techniques for handling difficult customers, an action plan developed in response to a recent minor incident.

Core Responsibilities & Operational Impact

The Asset Protection Partner has accountability for three primary functions:

1. Physical Security & Threat Mitigation

• Security System Management: Overseeing the design, installation, and maintenance of all physical security systems, including enterprise-level CCTV networks, multi-factor access control systems, and intrusion detection alarms, ensuring they exceed state regulatory minimums.
• Risk & Vulnerability Assessment: Conducting regular, comprehensive security assessments of all facilities—cultivation, processing, and retail—to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities related to physical barriers, security technology, and operational procedures.
• Emergency & Crisis Management: Developing and implementing robust action plans for critical incidents such as armed robbery, smash-and-grab attempts, medical emergencies, and workplace violence. This includes conducting regular drills and training exercises with staff.

2. Compliance, Investigation & Reporting

• Regulatory Compliance Oversight: Acting as the subject matter expert on all state and local security regulations, ensuring every aspect of the physical security program—from camera angles to visitor log protocols—is audit-proof and fully compliant.
• Internal Investigations: Leading all investigations into incidents of theft, fraud, diversion, and other policy violations. This involves evidence collection, witness interviews, and the creation of detailed investigative reports for internal use and potential submission to law enforcement or regulators.
• Cash & Inventory Control: Developing and auditing protocols for cash-in-transit, vault management, and inventory chain of custody to prevent loss and ensure accountability throughout the entire supply chain.

3. Program Development & Workforce Training

• SOP Development & Refinement: Authoring, maintaining, and continuously improving Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all security-related activities, including opening/closing procedures, incident reporting, and access control management.
• Security Awareness Training: Building and delivering ongoing training programs for all employees on topics such as situational awareness, recognizing internal theft indicators, robbery response, and social engineering threats.
• Performance Reporting & Analytics: Analyzing data from security systems and incident reports to identify risk trends, measure the effectiveness of security controls, and provide actionable intelligence to senior leadership to inform business decisions.

Strategic Impact Analysis

The Asset Protection Partner creates quantifiable value and mitigates risk across the entire enterprise:

Chain of Command & Key Stakeholders

Reports To: This position typically reports to the Director of Security, Chief Compliance Officer, or Vice President of Operations.

Similar Roles: Professionals with titles like Regional Loss Prevention Manager, Corporate Security Manager, or Physical Security Specialist possess a strong foundational skill set for this role. Key differentiators in the cannabis space are the intense focus on state-specific regulatory compliance and the management of risks associated with a cash-heavy business. The role often combines the investigative duties of a traditional loss prevention manager with the compliance and system design duties of a physical security specialist, making it a uniquely hybrid and strategic position.

Works Closely With: This position requires deep collaboration with the Director of Retail, Director of Compliance, Facilities Manager, and Head of Finance to ensure security protocols are integrated seamlessly into daily operations.

Technology, Tools & Systems

Mastery of modern security technology is fundamental to success:

• Video Management Systems (VMS): Proficiency with enterprise-level platforms such as Genetec, Milestone, or Avigilon is essential for managing hundreds of cameras across multiple sites and ensuring compliance with video storage regulations.
• Access Control Systems (ACS): Deep knowledge of cloud-based and on-premise access control platforms like LenelS2, Brivo, or Openpath to manage employee credentials, define access zones, and generate audit-ready reports.
• Seed-to-Sale Tracking Software: Working knowledge of state-mandated systems like METRC or BioTrack is critical to cross-reference inventory data with security events to investigate potential diversion or theft.
• Incident & Case Management Software: Experience using systems to log, track, and analyze security incidents, manage investigations, and identify risk trends across the enterprise.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

Transferable Skills

High-performing candidates often transition from industries with parallel risk profiles:

• Multi-Unit Retail & Logistics: Professionals with experience in managing loss prevention, supply chain security, and organized retail crime (ORC) for large-footprint retailers bring immediately applicable skills in investigation and inventory control.
• Casino & Gaming: Experience from the gaming industry provides unparalleled expertise in cash control, high-stakes compliance, and the operation of complex surveillance systems in a heavily regulated environment.
• Banking & Financial Institutions: A background in securing financial assets, managing vault and ATM security, and overseeing secure cash transportation logistics is directly transferable to the cannabis industry’s cash management challenges.
• Law Enforcement & Military Security: Individuals with a background in physical security design, threat analysis, investigations, and crisis response protocols from law enforcement or military roles are well-equipped for the tactical demands of this position.

Critical Competencies

Specific professional capabilities are required to excel:

• Regulatory Fluency: The ability to read, interpret, and translate complex state and local security regulations into clear, actionable, and auditable operational procedures.
• Investigative Mindset: A systematic and impartial approach to conducting internal investigations, driven by facts and evidence, with the ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity throughout the process.
• Technical Aptitude: A strong understanding of the capabilities and limitations of modern security technologies (CCTV, access control, alarms) and how to deploy them for maximum effectiveness and compliance.

Top 3 Influential Entities for the Role

The operational landscape for this role is shaped by these key organizations:

• State Cannabis Regulatory Agencies: Entities like California's Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) or Colorado's Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) are the most dominant influence. They publish and enforce the specific, non-negotiable rules for security systems, facility design, inventory control, and incident reporting.
• ASIS International: As the preeminent global organization for security management professionals, ASIS provides the foundational standards, best practices, and certifications (like the CPP) that define professional excellence in physical security and risk management. Their principles are directly applied in this role.
• Local Law Enforcement and Municipalities: Local police departments and city governments dictate specific requirements for alarm response, permitting, and facility hardening. Building a strong, collaborative relationship with these local entities is crucial for effective crisis response and crime prevention.

Acronyms & Terminology