Contract Manufacturing Manager

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.