Contract Manufacturing Director

David Protein; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

401(k) with 4% match

Gym expenses covered

Substantial PTO

Company equity opportunity

Job summary

David is seeking a Director on the Manufacturing team in New York City to own relationships with key co-manufacturing partners and drive performance across quality, yield, cost, and throughput. You will build data-driven insights, align cross-functional teams, and manage risk with a high bar for service and outcomes.

You will lead reviews, establish clear metrics, and ensure capacity keeps pace with growth while representing partner capabilities internally and externally.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or supply chain.
• Strong relationship management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Proactive, data-driven decision maker with ownership.
• Comfortable navigating challenging conversations and driving accountability.

Responsibilities

• Own relationships with co-manufacturing partners as primary contact.
• Lead performance reviews and establish KPIs and accountability.
• Manage KPIs: production attainment, OTIF, RFT, throughput, yield, scrap, cost per pound.
• Identify gaps, drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement with partners.
• Inform production allocation and strategy through partner insights.
• Collaborate with Planning to ensure capacity alignment.
• Communicate capabilities and constraints to stakeholders.
• Build analytics and reporting to improve manufacturing performance.
• Lead high-impact operational initiatives with clear ownership.

Skills

Relationship management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Ownership mindset

Job description

Company:

David creates tools to increase muscle and decrease fat. Our first product is a protein bar. More broadly, David is a platform to develop high-protein, low-calorie, blood-sugar-friendly foods that are craveable.

This is a rare opportunity to join a breakout food brand at a pivotal stage of growth. Led by CEO Peter Rahal, Cofounder and Former CEO of RXBAR, David is working to become the leading consumer food brand focused on high-protein foods in North America and beyond.

Role & Responsibilities:

As a Director on the Manufacturing team at David, you will own the relationship and performance of key co-manufacturing partners. You will be responsible for building strong partnerships while holding a high bar for service, quality, cost, yield, throughput, and capacity.

You will develop a deep understanding of each partner’s operations, use data to drive performance, and ensure risks and opportunities are acted on quickly. Internally, you will represent your partners’ capabilities and constraints, aligning cross-functional teams around clear priorities and decisions.

In this role you will:

• Own relationships with key co-manufacturing partners, serving as the primary point of contact for performance, priorities, risks, and escalations.
• Lead performance reviews and quarterly business reviews, establishing clear metrics, commitments, owners, and accountability.
• Own manufacturing KPIs including production attainment, OTIF, RFT, throughput, yield, scrap, cost per pound, quality performance, and complaint rates.
• Identify performance gaps, lead root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions through measurable and sustained resolution.
• Drive continuous improvement across throughput, yield, quality, service, and cost in partnership with co-manufacturers.
• Develop a deep understanding of partner capabilities, constraints, processes, and economics to inform production allocation and manufacturing strategy.
• Partner with Planning to manage short- and long-term capacity, ensuring the manufacturing network can reliably support David’s growth.
• Represent manufacturing partners internally, clearly communicating capabilities, constraints, risks, and tradeoffs to drive effective decision-making.
• Partner cross-functionally with Quality, R&D, Procurement, Finance, Fulfillment, and Commercialization to execute operational priorities and product launches.
• Build the analytical tools and reporting required to create visibility, identify opportunities, and drive manufacturing performance.
• Lead high-impact operational initiatives from problem definition through execution, with clear ownership for results.

• 8+ years of experience in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment; manufacturing, operations, supply chain, high-growth startup, or similarly rigorous experience preferred.
• Strong relationship management skills with the ability to build trust while holding external partners to a high bar for performance.
• High motor and strong ownership mentality; you identify problems early, drive them to resolution, and take accountability for outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and drive results through others without relying on direct authority.
• Clear, direct communicator who is comfortable navigating difficult conversations, challenging stakeholders, and driving accountability.
• Strong judgment and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize and make decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a track record of identifying opportunities and translating them into measurable results.

• We work in the office 5 days per week in New York City – when culture lines up, it is fun to be in the office together.
• Salary: $200–250K per year, inclusive of cash bonus based on attainment of company targets.
• Company equity opportunity on top of cash compensation.
• 100% covered Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance.
• 401(k) with 4% match.
• Additional perks, such as covered gym expenses.
• Substantial and required PTO.