Co-Packer/Supply Planning Manager Emerging Brands

Perdue Chicken; Sioux City (IA); Remote; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Co-Packer Manager to oversee relationships with third-party co-packers. This remote-based role emphasizes optimizing production and ensuring compliance with food safety standards. With a focus on cost control and timely delivery, the successful candidate will leverage their extensive experience in the food industry to drive operational excellence. The position requires significant travel, making it ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic environments. Join a forward-thinking company that values innovation and quality in its operations, and make a meaningful impact in the food and agriculture sector.

Benefits

Competitive Compensation

Management Incentive Program

Excellent Benefits

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in related fields with strong business acumen.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills required.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with third-party co-packers ensuring quality and compliance.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and cost savings.

Skills

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Analytical Skills

Supply Chain Knowledge

Production Planning

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a Related Discipline

Tools

Manugistics DSM

SCN

SAP

ERP Systems

Job description

Perdue Farms is a family-owned food and agriculture company now in its second century of growth and innovation. We were founded on trust—a value that carries through everything we do. Perdue Foods is a leader in Premium Proteins and Perdue AgriBusiness ranks among the top US grain companies.

Summary

The Co-Packer Manager is responsible for managing relationships with third party copackers, ensuring product quality, compliance, and efficiency in contract manufacturing. This role will focus on optimizing production, maintaining cost control, and ensuring timely delivery of goods while upholding company standards for food safety, quality, and operational excellence. This is a remote-based position with Central Standard Time zone preference. 55% or more travel. Perdue offers competitive compensation, management incentive program, and excellent benefits.

Principal and Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Oversight: Responsible for managing (overseeing) the day-to-day copacker operations and coordinating the process that support but not limited to:

• Protein (meat) sourcing
• Ingredient sourcing
• Packaging sourcing
• Capacity and supply planner direction
• FG inventory levels
• Logistics of all inbound and outbound freight

Co-Packer Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with co-packers, serving as the primary point of contact to ensure seamless operations.

Sourcing: Develops and manages "unique" ingredient sourcing and inventory management process for co-packers and internal plants to ensure supply availability while mediating risk.

Production Process: Understands all production processes within each co-packer and internal pet plant to provide direction and add support to R&D and process improvements.

Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process improvement, efficient gains, and cost savings within co-packing operations.

Quality & Compliance: Ensure all co-packers adhere to company regulatory standards (e.g. FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMPs). Address production, quality, or supply chain issues promptly, working cross-functionally to implement changes.

Production Oversight: Monitor and coordinate co-packing activities to meet production schedules, quality expectations, and cost objectives. Must have working knowledge of product costing methods within each production facility.

• Assists Sr. Director of Operations in assessing and managing Pet capacity (supply/demand).

Minimum Education

• Bachelors degree in a related discipline.

Experience Requirements

• 10 years related work experience with sound business and industry knowledge.
• Excellent communication and problem solving skills.
• Senior management and peer presentation experience.
• Knowledge of supply chain.
• Must be highly numerate and analytical.
• Knowledge of production planning and optimizing within constraints.
• Knowledge of Manugistics DSM, SCN, SAP, or other ERP and production planning technologies.
• Requires an understanding of IT systems and how they interact.
• Must be able to travel overnight to customer, vendor, and plant locations (55% or more travel).

Experience Preferred

• Experience in the food, beverage, or consumer goods industry.
• Knowledge of food safety certifications and regulatory standards.

Environmental Factors and Physical Requirements

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies, and equipment.

When in a plant environment:

• Exposure primarily consists of wet and moist floors which include metal and plastic grating surfaces.
• May be exposed to temperatures of 28 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity.
• May handle product 25 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• May be exposed to noise ranges of 50 db. to 110 db.
• May be exposed to all chemicals used in poultry, food, processing facility.
• Must wear and use protective and safety equipment required for the job as directed by the Company.

Perdue Farms, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.