POSITION SUMMARYThe
Director, Contract Manufacturing reports to the Vice President, Integrated Planning, U.S. Beverage and is based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
The Director is responsible for defining the role of contract manufacturing within the Beverage Division's broader supply network and translating business plans into clear external capacity, capability, geographic, and partnership requirements across the U.S. and Canada. This role leads the development and optimization of the contract manufacturing network to ensure the right capabilities, capacity, cost, quality, service, and resilience to support business growth.
The Director oversees relationships with contract manufacturing partners from initial capability assessment and commercial selection through operational integration, product launch, ongoing governance, and continuous performance improvement.
The Director aligns internal business and functional leaders around external manufacturing decisions and builds productive relationships with strategic partners. The role ensures that external manufacturing resources are positioned to support the division's growth plans, innovation agenda, service expectations, cost objectives, and business continuity requirements.
Up to 25% travel requiredRESPONSIBILITIESExternal Manufacturing Strategy & Network Optimization- Define and execute the contract manufacturing strategy for the Beverage Division across the U.S. and Canada, translating business requirements into external manufacturing capacity, capability, geographic, and partnership needs.
- Optimize the existing contract manufacturing network by assessing manufacturing capabilities, capacity, geographic footprint, technology, cost, service, quality, and supply risk.
- Partner with Integrated Planning, Operations, Finance, Procurement, and other key stakeholders on make-versus-buy decisions and long-term capacity strategies.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the external manufacturing landscape to identify new capabilities, technologies, potential partners, and opportunities to strengthen the overall supply network.
Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Management- Translate business requirements into sourcing strategies for externally manufactured products, balancing economics, available capacity, technical capability, speed, flexibility, and supply risk.
- Lead competitive sourcing and partner-selection activities, including market assessment, RFIs/RFPs/RFQs, commercial evaluation, supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, and implementation.
- Structure and negotiate commercial agreements that clearly define pricing, capacity commitments, service expectations, quality requirements, flexibility provisions, liability, and business continuity obligations.
- Develop fact-based sourcing recommendations considering total cost of ownership, capacity, capability, risk, and overall strategic fit.
- Establish pricing mechanisms and commercial frameworks that promote transparency, competitiveness, and sustainable productivity.
- Provide financial stewardship of external manufacturing spend through disciplined budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, variance management, and productivity delivery.
Supplier Relationship & Performance Management- Establish and lead a structured Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approach for strategic contract manufacturing partners.
- Establish and maintain a robust performance management framework and supplier scorecards for the contract manufacturing network.
- Establish a disciplined operating rhythm with strategic partners, supported by agreed performance measures, periodic operating and executive business reviews, documented recovery plans, and clear ownership of actions.
- Build strategic relationships with key external manufacturing partners to improve service, strengthen capacity and flexibility, accelerate innovation, and identify productivity opportunities.
- Lead supplier and network risk assessments and ensure appropriate business continuity, contingency, and risk mitigation plans are developed and maintained.
The Director owns the performance framework for the external manufacturing network, ensuring that targets reflect the division's priorities for customer service, product quality, delivered cost, productivity, available capacity, launch execution, contractual compliance, and supply continuity. The role is responsible for converting performance information into timely decisions, recovery actions, and clear visibility of results and risks for business leadership.
Commercialization & Cross-Functional Execution- Lead the external manufacturing workstream for new product commercialization, capacity expansions, product transfers, and new contract manufacturer onboarding.
- Partner with R&D, Marketing, Quality, Engineering, Operations, Integrated Planning, and other key functions to ensure new products and external manufacturing capabilities are launched on time, at target cost, and in accordance with quality and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure effective integration of contract manufacturers into the broader planning and supply network, including capacity planning, production planning, inventory management, service, and supply continuity.
- Coordinate resolution of operational and supply issues across internal functions and external manufacturing partners, ensuring clear ownership and escalating material business risks when required.
Team Leadership & Governance- Lead, coach, and develop the Contract Manufacturing team, establishing clear goals, accountability, and individual development plans.
- Establish the governance, processes, tools, decision rights, and performance standards required to effectively manage the external manufacturing network.
- Ensure accurate and actionable contract manufacturing information is maintained, including supplier capabilities, capacity, pricing, commercial terms, products/SKUs, performance, and contractual commitments.
- Provide business leadership with regular visibility into external manufacturing cost, capacity, service, performance, supply risk, and opportunities, enabling timely and informed decision-making.
- Drive cross-functional alignment and accountability for initiatives and decisions affecting the external manufacturing network.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCEMinimum Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in contract manufacturing, external manufacturing, strategic sourcing, procurement, operations, or supply chain, preferably within the CPG, food, or beverage industry.
- Demonstrated experience managing third-party manufacturing relationships and complex commercial agreements.
- Strong experience in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contracting, and supplier relationship management.
- Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives involving Operations, Planning, Quality, R&D, Finance, Procurement, and Commercial teams.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate cost, capacity, capability, service, quality, and supply risk and translate analysis into effective business recommendations.
- Strong financial and analytical acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, cost modeling, and productivity initiatives.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and external business partners within a complex matrix organization.
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and change-management skills.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience in the food, beverage, or broader CPG industry.
- Experience managing a multi-site or North American external manufacturing network.
- Experience with new product commercialization, manufacturing transfers, and external partner onboarding.
- APICS/ASCM certification, CPSM, or comparable supply chain/procurement certification.
- MBA or advanced degree.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES- Directly manages three employees, providing coaching, development, performance management, and clear accountability for results.
- Establishes team priorities, objectives, and performance expectations aligned with the contract manufacturing strategy and broader business goals.
- Builds team capability and expertise while fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and results.
- Provides leadership across a broader cross-functional network, influencing internal stakeholders and external manufacturing partners to achieve service, quality, cost, capacity, innovation, and supply continuity objectives.
- Leads through influence across a matrix organization, driving alignment and accountability among internal functions and strategic external partners.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONSThis position requires sufficient physical ability to work in a typical office setting; driving a motor vehicle, taking the plane, doing north American travel and occasionally working in the field.
FREQUENT: sitting, upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity and light to moderate finger pressure to include extended periods of keyboard and mouse use, side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending and stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials.
OCCASIONAL: squatting, kneeling, reach above and at shoulder height, moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20 - 35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.
VISION: Ability to see in the normal visual range with or without correction.
HEARING: Ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive list of the responsibilities that are required to successfully perform in this position. Other duties as assigned are part of every job description. The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform essential job functions. 
