Co-Manufacturing Manager
Piscataway
Co-Manufacturing Manager
Full Time • Piscataway
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
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
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
Compensation: $130,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
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