Contract Manufacturing Manager

DuPont Group; Kentucky; On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

DuPont seeks a Contract Manufacturing Manager to lead third-party manufacturing relationships, ensuring safe, efficient and compliant production. You will govern supplier performance, coordinate cross-functional teams, and drive improvement initiatives across the external network.

The role requires strong analytics, project management, and negotiation skills, with a focus on quality, delivery, and cost. A related bachelor’s degree and experience in regulated manufacturing are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Chemistry, or related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Experience in manufacturing, supplier relationships, and contract manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Oversee assigned contract manufacturing partners and coordinate cross-functional support (engineering, quality, safety, supply chain, sourcing).
• Serve as primary contact for supplier operational matters and crisis management; lead cross-functional resolution.
• Own ASL status, supplier scope and governance with Quality, Procurement and Business stakeholders.
• Lead supplier selection, approval, qualification, requalification, and performance assessments.
• Plan and coordinate supplier audits and self-assessments; close findings and follow-up actions.
• Establish supplier performance expectations and drive scorecards and reviews.
• Analyze supplier quality data to identify risk and drive corrective actions.
• Administer SCARs and verify effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Develop supplier quality improvement plans for safety, quality, reliability, and cost.

Skills

Contract manufacturing

Supplier governance

Supplier quality

Cross-functional coordination

Lean Six Sigma

Project management

Quality systems

Data analysis

Negotiation

ERP

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree related field

Education/experience equivalence

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Job description

At DuPont, our purpose is to empower the world with essential innovations to thrive. We work on things that matter. Whether it’s providing clean water to more than a billion people on the planet, producing materials that are essential in everyday technology devices from smartphones to electric vehicles, or protecting workers around the world. Discover the many reasons the world’s most talented people are choosing to work at DuPont. Why Join Us | DuPont Careers

The Contract Manufacturing Manager develops, manages, and optimizes third-party manufacturing relationships to ensure products are produced safely, efficiently, cost-effectively, and in compliance with company quality, regulatory, contractual, and customer requirements. The role is accountable for supplier governance, supplier performance, supply continuity, capacity planning, quality improvement, cost management, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement across assigned contract manufacturers.

Main responsibilities

• Oversee assigned contract manufacturing partners and coordinate the engineering, technical, quality, process safety, supply chain, sourcing, and business support required for successful performance.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for operational and business matters at assigned suppliers, including critical supplier issues and supplier-related crisis management; lead the cross-functional response through resolution.
• Own Approved Supplier List (ASL) status, supplier scope control, and supplier governance for assigned contract manufacturers in partnership with Quality, Procurement, and Business stakeholders.
• Lead supplier selection, approval, qualification, requalification, and disqualification activities, including supplier qualification projects and manufacturing readiness assessments.
• Plan and coordinate supplier audits and self-assessments; ensure findings, commitments, and follow-up actions are completed and closed.
• Establish supplier performance expectations and lead performance management through scorecards, KPI reviews, business reviews, escalation routines, coaching, and continuous improvement plans.
• Analyze supplier quality performance, defect trends, manufacturing deviations, recurring issues, and incoming supplier nonconformance information to identify risk and drive corrective action.
• Administer Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs), ensure timely supplier responses and closure, and coordinate verification of corrective-action effectiveness and sustained results.
• Develop, implement, and monitor supplier quality improvement plans to improve safety, quality, reliability, delivery, service, cost, and operational performance.
• Coordinate supplier recovery actions for customer-impacting events and support timely, sustainable resolution of customer complaints caused by supplier issues.
• Coordinate demand forecasts, production schedules, capacity, inventory, shipment performance, product transfers, process changes, and new product introductions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitor manufacturing cost, pricing, productivity, and profitability; partner with Procurement and Legal on manufacturing agreements, commercial terms, contractual obligations, and supplier cost initiatives.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, operational performance, long-term sustainability, and business continuity risk; develop and maintain contingency and risk-mitigation plans.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, operational excellence, cost reduction, productivity, and supply chain optimization opportunities across the external manufacturing network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Chemistry, or a related field.
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Relevant experience in manufacturing, machining operations, supply chain, procurement, operations, supplier quality, or contract manufacturing.
• Experience managing supplier, vendor, customer, or contract manufacturer relationships.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional initiatives and resolving complex manufacturing, quality, supply, or customer issues.
• Knowledge of manufacturing operations, supply chain management, quality systems, manufacturing compliance requirements, and contract manufacturing business models.
• Strong analytical, financial, negotiation, influencing, project management, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex business relationships and to work effectively through influence rather than direct supervision.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and supply chain management tools.
• APICS CPIM or CSCP, CPSM, PMP, or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience in aerospace manufacturing, chemical, specialty materials, industrial, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing global contract manufacturing relationships.

DuPont offers a comprehensive pay and benefits package. To learn more visit the Compensation and Benefits page.

For additional information on our unbridled commitment to deliver essential innovations that enrich people's lives, enable sustainable development and foster human potential for generations to come, please access the following link to better understand & appreciate.

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DuPont is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit our Accessibility Page for Contact Information.

DuPont is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit our Accessibility Page for Contact Information.