Contract Sourcing and Production Manager

Exploding Kittens, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Exploding Kittens, Inc. seeks a Sourcing and Production Manager to lead production schedules, POs, costs, and materials across multiple games and products.

You’ll be the primary liaison with manufacturing partners and internal teams to keep projects organized and on time. The role requires strong project management, negotiation, and cost-analysis skills, plus proven ability to balance quality with efficiency in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in sourcing, production, manufacturing, supply‑chain management, or a related field.
• Strong project‑management skills, with the ability to plan and oversee multiple projects and deadlines at once.
• Experience working directly with manufacturers, suppliers, and cross‑functional internal teams.
• Proven negotiation and cost‑analysis skills, including the ability to identify savings without compromising product quality.
• Working knowledge of supply‑chain operations, logistics, inventory considerations, and production scheduling.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high quality standards.
• Strong organizational and problem‑solving abilities, with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving production challenges.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to balance immediate project requirements with longer‑term business goals.
• Flexibility in a fast‑moving environment where priorities may evolve.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for manufacturing partners and internal stakeholders across assigned games and products.
• Develop and manage strategic production schedules, purchase orders, milestones, and delivery timelines.
• Monitor project execution and proactively address risks that could affect cost, quality, or on-time delivery.
• Manage and maintain accurate Bills of Materials, technical packs, RFQs, and supplier quotations for new and existing products.
• Conduct cost analyses and negotiate with manufacturers and suppliers to secure competitive pricing and favorable production terms.
• Recommend materials and manufacturing methods that improve quality, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Coordinate closely with internal teams to align production requirements and launch timelines.
• Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring tasks and deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Track production performance against cost, delivery, and project-management goals.
• Identify opportunities to improve sourcing, production, and supply-chain processes from development through cargo-ready date.

Skills

Project management

Sourcing

Negotiation

Manufacturing

Cost analysis

Supply chain

Cross-functional comms

Attention to detail

Tools

Google Workspace

Excel

Job description

The Sourcing and Production Manager plays an essential role in bringing Exploding Kittens games and products to life. In this role, you’ll manage production schedules, purchase orders, costs, materials, and manufacturing timelines across multiple concurrent projects. You’ll serve as the primary point of contact between our manufacturing partners and internal teams, keeping projects organized and moving toward successful, on‑time delivery.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized project manager and confident communicator who can balance competing priorities without losing sight of the details. You understand how materials, manufacturing methods, costs, and timelines affect one another, and you’re comfortable identifying practical solutions that protect both product quality and the business.

If you love turning creative ideas into physical products, enjoy building strong relationships with manufacturing partners, and know how to keep complex projects on track, you’ll fit right in.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the primary point of contact for manufacturing partners and internal stakeholders across assigned games and products
• Develop and manage strategic production schedules, purchase orders, milestones, and delivery timelines
• Monitor project execution and proactively address risks that could affect cost, quality, or on‑time delivery
• Manage and maintain accurate Bills of Materials, technical packs, requests for quotation, and supplier quotations for new and existing products
• Conduct cost analyses and negotiate with manufacturers and suppliers to secure competitive pricing and favorable production terms
• Recommend materials and manufacturing methods that improve quality, efficiency, and cost performance
• Coordinate closely with internal teams, including Creative, Marketing, and Sales, to align production requirements and launch timelines
• Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring tasks and deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule
• Track production performance against cost, delivery, and project-management goals
• Identify opportunities to improve sourcing, production, and supply‑chain processes from development through cargo‑ready date

What We Need

• Experience in sourcing, production, manufacturing, supply‑chain management, or a related field
• Strong project‑management skills, with the ability to plan and oversee multiple projects and deadlines at once
• Experience working directly with manufacturers, suppliers, and cross‑functional internal teams
• Proven negotiation and cost‑analysis skills, including the ability to identify savings without compromising product quality
• Working knowledge of supply‑chain operations, logistics, inventory considerations, and production scheduling
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high quality standards
• Strong organizational and problem‑solving abilities, with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving production challenges
• Strategic thinking and the ability to balance immediate project requirements with longer‑term business goals
• Flexibility and adaptability in a fast‑moving environment where priorities may evolve
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, order management systems, and project‑management tools
• Experience with games, toys, consumer products, packaging, or printed goods is a plus

This is a full‑time temporary role. The position may have the opportunity to convert to permanent employment following an assessment of the company’s long‑term business needs; however, permanent employment is not guaranteed.

$55 - $65 an hour

This position is a full‑time temporary role, with benefits provided through our staffing agency. The hourly rate will depend on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and location and is subject to change. This role may have the opportunity to convert to permanent employment following an assessment of the company’s long‑term business needs; however, conversion is not guaranteed.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.