Contract Manufacturing Manager

Ghirardelli Chocolate; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ghirardelli Chocolate is looking for a remote Contract Manufacturing Manager responsible for overseeing co-manufacturing projects and ensuring supplier compliance with operational standards. You will serve as the key liaison for multiple manufacturing sites, coordinating initiatives valued at over $200 million in annual sales. This role requires strong project management skills and effective communication to ensure that products meet Ghirardelli's quality specifications while managing cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing manufacturing locations across North America.
• Ability to indirectly manage a project team of 4-6 people.
• Strong collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive co-manufacturer initiatives and production processes.
• Lead communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate production trials and ensure Ghirardelli specifications are met.

Skills

Project Management

Supplier Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Communication

Tools

SAP

Job description

Description

WHO WE ARE

At Ghirardelli, we’re on a mission to become a one billion dollar brand and beyond. We want to be every consumer’s first choice of premium chocolate, and we believe we can do that through our products and the way we do business, which are all inspired by our brand commitment to Making Life A Bite Better. We are a company committed to both personal and professional growth and believe that each employee contributes directly to Ghirardelli's growth and success.

The Contract Manufacturing Manager is responsible for driving various Co-Manufacturer initiatives and production processes, including new item launches from conception through commercialization, leading cross functional teams to define and execute co-manufacturing projects, and establishing process documents and communications for improved supplier performance.

The Co-Manufacturing Manager is expected to operate as the key liaison between external suppliers and internal stakeholders, including Planning, Project Management, Procurement, Quality, Finance, Marketing, and R&D. This position, along with the Co-Manufacturing team, is responsible for ensuring supplier compliance to all Ghirardelli policies and procedures, including meeting the Production schedule and ensuring that all products meet Ghirardelli specifications and quality requirements.

This is a remote role that requires travel.

Qualifications

This role will be the primary liaison for 5-8 manufacturing locations across North America and support a product portfolio with over $200 million in annual sales.

You will need to indirectly manage a small project team of 4-6 people and coordinate with other Contract Manufacturing Managers.

This role will also work closely with the Sr Manager of Contract Manufacturing and Analysts to ensure the manufacturing production plan is done according to existing Ghirardelli requirements and specifications.

• Work with cross functional partners to identify options for manufacturing existing and new products. Recommend optimum production solutions for the needs of the business
• Determine project timelines, tasks, and requirements for Co-Manufacturer production
• Lead communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders as part of daily operations and project management, including documenting open issues and team decisions
• Hold cross-functional, and supplier stakeholders accountable for meeting deadlines
• Support internal master data requirements and validations for co-manufactured items in Devex and SAP systems
• Translate requirements into working project documents that can be used to communicate with stakeholders and suppliers
• Coordinate production trials, and scale up through full production
• Coordinate, distribute, and ensure supplier implementation of all Ghirardelli process documents, specifications, and quality requirements. Manage updates to specifications and procedure manuals as needed
• Work on other projects and tasks, as assigned