WHAT YOU'LL DO 🎯The Director of Manufacturing & Supply is a critical leadership hire responsible for owning the full production value chain - from co-manufacturer management and production execution through raw material sourcing and supplier relationships. This role is the production and sourcing engine of RYZE's Operations function.
This role requires someone who will roll up their sleeves. RYZE is at a stage where the manufacturing function needs both strategic thinking and hands-on execution. The Director must be comfortable operating at the co-man floor level while simultaneously building the systems, processes, and team that will scale to $1B.Responsibilities will include:
Co-Manufacturer Management- Own full accountability for all co-manufacturing partners, serving as the single point of ownership for output, quality, cost, and delivery
- Lead onboarding and stabilization of new co-manufacturers, including recipe transfer, production validation, equipment installation, and ramp-up execution
- Manage transitions away from legacy partners, ensuring zero disruption to supply continuity
- Establish and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with each co-manufacturing partner in collaboration with Quality
- Develop and implement performance scorecards tracking delivery, quality, cost, and responsiveness
Production Execution- Oversee production scheduling, capacity planning, and line allocation across all manufacturing sites in coordination with Supply Chain Planning
- Ensure production commitments are met while proactively resolving constraints, bottlenecks, and line conflicts
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase yield, reduce waste, and optimize per-unit costs
- Implement inventory buffer strategies for packaging and raw materials to stabilize operations and eliminate reactive supply issues
Sourcing & Procurement- Own sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management across all raw materials and inputs
- Hire and lead sourcing leadership to manage day-to-day supplier relationships, negotiations, and vendor onboarding
- Define and execute a supplier diversification strategy to mitigate single-source risk
- Lead supplier negotiations, contract management, and cost optimization at scale
- Manage critical raw material supply challenges and ensure continuity of supply for key inputs
Team Leadership- Lead and develop a team supporting production, supply, and sourcing operations
- Provide coaching, performance management, and day-to-day leadership
- Build and scale a high-performing, execution-focused team aligned to business growth
Cross-Functional Leadership- Supply Chain Planning: Align on demand forecasts, production priorities, and inventory targets while providing feedback on constraints and lead times
- Quality: Partner on audits, inspections, batch release processes, and QBRs while maintaining a collaborative relationship within an independent governance structure
- New Product Introduction (NPI): Support production readiness for new SKUs, including trials, validation, and commercialization ramp-up
- R&D / Innovation: Collaborate on formulation feasibility, pilot runs, and scale-up of new products
WHAT WE OFFER 🌟PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS- 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, operations, or supply chain, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role
- Proven experience managing co-manufacturing partners, with full accountability for output, quality, cost, and delivery
- Demonstrated success onboarding new co-manufacturers, including recipe transfer, production validation, equipment installation, and ramp-up
- Experience leading transitions between manufacturing partners with no disruption to supply continuity
- Track record of owning sourcing, procurement, and supplier management across raw materials and packaging, including negotiations and contract management at scale
- Experience building and leading teams across production, supply, and sourcing functions
- Strong command of production scheduling, capacity planning, and line allocation across multiple sites
- Proven ability to drive continuous improvement that increases yield, reduces waste, and lowers per-unit costs
- Experience developing supplier diversification strategies and mitigating single-source risk
- Ability to design inventory buffer strategies for raw materials and packaging that prevent reactive supply issues
- Working knowledge of food safety and quality systems, including audits, inspections, and batch release (e.g., GMP, HACCP, SQF/BRC)
- Strong financial acumen, including cost modeling, budgeting, and negotiation of commercial terms
- Proficiency with ERP and supply chain planning systems and data-driven decision-making
