Co-Manufacturing Manager

Snack Innovations; Piscataway Township (NJ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Snack Innovations is seeking a seasoned Co-Manufacturing Manager in Piscataway, NJ to oversee offsite co-pack manufacturing and ensure safety, quality, and on-time delivery. You will liaison with external partners and drive performance against KPIs.

The role requires leadership in food manufacturing, strong analytical and project management skills, and experience with third-party manufacturers and ERP systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of leadership in food manufacturing or co-packing.
• Experience with third-party manufacturers and contract packaging.
• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, allergen controls, and sanitation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and manufacturing reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Oversee assigned snack co-pack manufacturing and co-packing operations.
• Monitor KPI performance and ensure production plans meet demand.
• Collaborate with co-pack facility leadership to address challenges.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement, waste reduction, and cost control.
• Coordinate with Planning, Supply Chain, Quality, and Customer Service.

Skills

Operations leadership

Food manufacturing

Co-pack operations

GMP/HACCP

Data analysis

Project management

Lean/Six Sigma

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel/Reports

Job description

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

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