Director Manufacturing - Food CPG (REMOTE - US ONLY)

The Director, Manufacturing leads the companys manufacturing and supply chain strategy, building strong supplier partnerships and managing a network of contract manufacturers and co-packers. Serve as the technical lead in facility negotiations, securing the equipment, line configurations, and operating parameters needed for efficient, cost-effective production.

Growing Food Manufacturer is hiring for a Remote Director Manufacturing!

The Director, Manufacturing leads the companys manufacturing and supply chain strategy, building strong supplier partnerships and managing a network of contract manufacturers and co-packers. The role partners closely with R&D and Quality to translate new products into scalable, repeatable production. This leader drives performance against KPIs, advances the product roadmap, and builds the capacity and capabilities needed to support growth.

• Lead technical and equipment strategy across partner facilities, optimizing line configuration, productivity, cost, process efficiency, and automation.
• Own qualification, onboarding, and ongoing management of new co-packers and manufacturing sites, ensuring consistent execution of trials, scale-ups, and launches.
• Serve as the technical lead in facility negotiations, securing the equipment, line configurations, and operating parameters needed for efficient, cost-effective production.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership and troubleshooting support to quickly resolve complex production issues.
• Establish standardized protocols, performance expectations, and accountability across the co-manufacturing and co-packing network.
• Partner with R&D to ensure new and reformulated products are manufacturable and cost-effective, leading tech transfer, plant trials, scale-up, and commercialization.
• Drive process, product, and capability improvements with manufacturing and supplier partners to support the innovation pipeline.
• Advise executive leadership on manufacturing and engineering strategy.
• Identify and mitigate production risks, developing business continuity plans to protect supply.
• Lead end-to-end capacity and capability planning across the manufacturing network to align supply with demand.
• Own the manufacturing operating plan and budget, including infrastructure, labor, cost management, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and monitor KPIs across capacity, attainment, yield, cost, and quality in partnership with Quality Assurance.
• Partner with Quality to ensure all manufacturing and co-packing sites meet food safety, regulatory, and specification requirements.
• Own manufacturing performance reporting, providing senior leadership with insights, recommendations, and corrective actions.

Keyword: co-manufacturing, supply chain, operations, cpg
Required Experience:

* Bachelors degree in food science, engineering, supply chain, business, or a related field.
* 8+ years in food manufacturing or supply chain, including direct management of co- manufacturing or co-packing partners; experience in the snack category.
* Working knowledge of snack manufacturing processes and equipment and the ability to evaluate line capability against product specifications.
* Proficient with common computer programs, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint), and experience working in an ERP + MRP system (e.g., NetSuite, SAP).
* Prior quality and food safety training (e.g., GMP, HA/RA, HACCP, understanding of specification sheets, certificates of analysis, etc.).
* Strong understanding of the food supply chain, regulatory requirements, commodity and trading markets, and risk management.
* Demonstrated use of continuous improvement methodology (Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent) to drive yield, cost, and throughput gains.
* Outstanding organization, communication, and follow-up skills, with impeccable attention to detail and the drive to see things through.
* Experience working in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment.
* Collaborative mindset with strength in effectively receiving and communicating feedback.
* Position will be remote with flexibility to travel up to 60%, travel to NY once a month.

The range for this role is up to $160k base, 20% Target Bonus, Monthly Car Allowance,EQUITY and Employer Paid Benefits.

From: LDK Talent Solutions