Director of Packaging & Contract Manufacturing

About the Role:

The Director of Packaging & Contract Manufacturing provides enterprise leadership for packaging strategy and contract manufacturing strategies across all Kalmbach Feeds operations. This role sets the direction for packaging materials and external manufacturing partnerships to ensure operational efficiency, quality standards, service reliability, cost performance, and long-term scalability. The Director serves as the executive owner of packaging systems and the contract manufacturing network, with full accountability for standards, supplier governance, commercial performance, and risk management.

Primary Responsibilities:

Enterprise Packaging Strategy and Governance

• Define and lead the long-term enterprise packaging strategy.
• Establish and enforce packaging standards, specifications, and approved supplier frameworks.
• Drive packaging standardization across plants to reduce complexity and operational variability.
• Oversee packaging material performance tied to downtime, waste, quality, and service.
• Lead packaging innovation and material transitions aligned to growth and operational needs.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies to protect packaging supply continuity.
• Provide executive oversight of packaging supplier commercial agreements in partnership with Purchasing.

Enterprise Contract Manufacturing Strategy and Governance

• Define and lead the long-term enterprise contract manufacturing strategy.
• Design and optimize the external manufacturing network to support capacity, geographic reach, and growth.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard contract manufacturing partners aligned with operational and commercial objectives.
• Establish operating, quality, food safety, and service standards for all contract manufacturing partners.
• Oversee commercial structures, pricing models, and contractual frameworks in partnership with Purchasing and Legal.
• Lead executive-level performance reviews and governance processes.
• Align contract manufacturing capacity with demand forecasts and business growth initiatives.
• Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply, performance, and compliance risk.
• Lead strategic make-versus-buy decisions and network optimization initiatives.

Supplier and Partner Performance Accountability

• Establish enterprise performance standards for packaging suppliers and contract manufacturers.
• Implement scorecards and KPIs measuring cost, service, quality, and responsiveness.
• Drive corrective action and recovery plans when performance gaps impact operations or customers.
• Lead supplier consolidation and capability development initiatives.
• Identify strategic cost and value improvement opportunities across both packaging and contract manufacturing portfolios.

Leadership and Organizational Impact

• Lead and develop a team aligned to packaging and contract manufacturing priorities.
• Serve as the senior authority on packaging and outsourced manufacturing matters for plant leaders and executive leadership.
• Align external manufacturing and packaging strategies with operational expansion and long-term business objectives.
• Build scalable supplier and contract manufacturing partnerships that support sustained company growth.

Who you are:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, engineering, operations, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Significant leadership experience in packaging and contract manufacturing within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing multi-site external manufacturing networks.
• Demonstrated success in negotiating and governing complex commercial agreements.
• Deep understanding of packaging systems and external manufacturing operations.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen related to supplier and contract manufacturing agreements.
• Ability to evaluate network strategy, capacity planning, and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Strong risk management and supply continuity planning capability.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and external executive partners.
• Executive-level communication and decision-making skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in animal nutrition, pet food, food, or agricultural manufacturing.
• Experience supporting growing operations and increasing production complexity.

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage is effective on your first day.
• 401(k) with company match (Traditional and Roth options).
• 3 weeks paid time off in your first year.
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability.
• Company-paid life insurance.
• On-staff life coach.
• Medical and dependent care reimbursement plans.
• Access to company-owned beachfront condo in Fort Myers, FL.
• Competitive pay and supportive work culture.

About Kalmbach Feeds

Founded in 1963, Kalmbach Feeds has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality nutritional products for livestock, poultry, and companion animals. With a culture rooted in integrity, innovation, and service, we're proud to be a leader in animal nutrition. Learn more about who we are and what we do at www.kalmbachfeeds.com or watch our company video.