Co-Manufacturing Manager

About Snack Innovations
Snack Innovations is a leading manufacturer of better-for-you salty snack food located in Piscataway NJ. We produce a wide range of snack chips, sticks, straws, curls and popcorn.

Job Summary
The Co-Manufacturing Manager is responsible for overseeing the performance and execution of assigned offsite snack food co-manufacturing and co-packing operations. This role serves as the primary liaison between the company and external manufacturing partners, ensuring adherence to safety, food quality, service, cost, and operational standards. The Co-Manufacturing Manager drives accountability through influence and partnership, monitors key performance indicators, supports continuous improvement initiatives, and ensures co-packers consistently meet business and customer requirements.
Co-Pack Operations Oversight
• Serve as the primary company representative for assigned snack food co-pack manufacturing locations.
• Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly operational performance against established KPIs.
• Ensure production plans are executed on time and in full to support customer demand and inventory requirements.
• Review production schedules, capacity utilization, labor efficiency, yield, and waste metrics.
• Partner with co-pack facility leadership to address operational challenges and improve performance.

Food Safety, Quality, and Compliance
• Ensure compliance with all company food safety, quality, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Monitor adherence to GMPs, HACCP, sanitation, allergen controls, and food safety programs.
• Support internal and external audits, customer visits, and regulatory inspections.
• Review quality performance, consumer complaints, corrective actions, and root cause investigations.
• Ensure product specifications and packaging standards are consistently met.

Relationship Management
• Develop strong partnerships with co-pack facility management and key stakeholders.
• Conduct regular business reviews to assess operational performance and improvement opportunities.
• Drive accountability for service levels, quality standards, production commitments, and contractual expectations.
• Facilitate communication between co-pack partners and internal teams including Operations, Supply Chain, Planning, Procurement, Quality, R&D, and Customer Service.

Continuous Improvement
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, increase yields, and lower operating costs.
• Support implementation of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze operational and financial performance data to identify trends and performance gaps.
• Lead or support initiatives related to capacity expansion, new product launches, packaging changes, and process improvements.

Supply Chain and Customer Service
• Partner with Planning and Logistics teams to ensure material availability and inventory accuracy.
• Monitor service performance, production attainment, and order fulfillment metrics.
• Assist in resolving supply disruptions, quality issues, and customer concerns.
• Support contingency planning and risk mitigation activities.

Performance Management and Reporting
• Monitor and report performance metrics including:
• Safety
• Food Safety & Quality
•  Production Attainment
•  Yield and Waste
•  Service Level
•  Cost Performance
•  Inventory Accuracy
•  Customer Complaints
•  Develop action plans to address performance gaps and drive sustainable improvement.
• Prepare operational reviews and recommendations for company leadership.

Qualifications
Required
• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Food Science, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in food manufacturing, snack food production, co-packing, or supply chain operations.
• Experience working with third-party manufacturers or contract packaging partners.
• Knowledge of food safety systems including GMPs, HACCP, allergen management, and sanitation programs.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and manufacturing performance reporting tools.

Preferred
• Experience in snack foods, bakery, confectionery, salty snacks, or other consumer packaged goods manufacturing environments.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience with customer audits and retailer quality requirements.
• Knowledge of SQF, BRCGS, or other GFSI-recognized food safety standards.

Key Competencies
• Influencing without direct authority
• Food safety and quality focus
• Relationship management
• Operational excellence
• Data analysis and performance management
• Continuous improvement
• Project leadership
• Strategic thinking
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Effective communication