Contract Manufacturing Manager (Pittsburgh)

Purpose of Position:

Del Monte Foods is the Foods Division of Fresh Del Monte, a global grower, producer and marketer of fresh, value-added, and shelf-stable produce. Del Monte Foods has a powerful portfolio of brands, including the iconic Del Monte®, Contadina® and S&W®. We are currently seeking a Manager of Contract Manufacturing.

As the Manager of Contract Manufacturing at Del Monte Foods, you will play a vital role in overseeing the co-manufacturing strategy and operations to ensure the successful production and delivery of high-quality products in collaboration with our external manufacturing partners. Your responsibilities will include selecting co-manufacturers, negotiating contracts, managing relationships, and driving continuous improvement initiatives with a focus on operational excellence to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. This role is accountable for delivering operational and financial performance across the co-manufacturing network through effective supplier management, budget stewardship, forecasting, cost optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Accountabilities:

Co-Manufacturing Strategy and Planning:

• Develop and execute co-manufacturing strategies that align with company manufacturing, supply chain, financial, and business objectives, ensuring the network can support current and future growth.
• Evaluate, qualify, and select co-manufacturing partners through comprehensive assessments of operational capabilities, capacity, quality systems, food safety standards, financial stability, service performance, and geographic fit.
• Lead network planning activities to ensure adequate manufacturing capacity, flexibility, and scalability while balancing cost, service, quality, and risk considerations.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, R&D, Quality, and Finance to support new product launches, supply continuity initiatives, and strategic business priorities.
• Manage and continuously enhance supplier scorecard processes to evaluate co-manufacturer performance against key operational, service, quality, cost, and compliance metrics, driving accountability and continuous improvement.
• Support contract negotiations and supplier business reviews by providing operational, performance, and financial insights that drive informed decision-making.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of supplier capabilities, strategic priorities, and long-term growth plans to ensure alignment with Del Monte's manufacturing and supply chain objectives.
• Proactively identify network gaps, capacity constraints, and emerging business requirements, recommending solutions that strengthen supplier performance and supply chain resiliency.

Supplier Performance Management:

• Own the strategic and day-to-day relationships with co-manufacturing partners, fostering collaboration, transparency, and alignment to Del Monte's operational, quality, service, and financial objectives.
• Lead regular business reviews with suppliers to evaluate performance against key metrics, including service, quality, cost, capacity, and operational efficiency, driving accountability and corrective actions where needed.
• Conduct performance assessments, audits, and compliance reviews to ensure adherence to quality standards, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Develop and implement supplier improvement plans to address performance gaps, enhance capabilities, and drive continuous improvement across the co-manufacturing network.
• Monitor and analyze supplier scorecard results, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities to improve overall supplier performance and business outcomes.
• Partner cross-functionally with Procurement, Quality, Supply Chain, R&D, Finance, and Operations teams to resolve issues, execute strategic initiatives, and ensure supplier alignment with business priorities.
• Lead supplier-facing root cause analyses and corrective action processes to improve reliability, reduce disruptions, and strengthen supply continuity.
• Identify and drive productivity, cost savings, and process optimization opportunities with supplier partners while maintaining service, quality, and food safety standards.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for supplier performance issues, ensuring timely resolution and effective communication with internal stakeholders and external partners.

Quality Assurance and Compliance:

• Support the implementation and oversight of quality assurance processes to ensure co-manufactured products meet regulatory requirements and quality specifications.
• Participate in audits and inspections at co-manufacturing facilities, collaborating with quality assurance teams as needed.
• Manage continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality and safety.

Operational Excellence:

• Drive initiatives to optimize production processes, reduce waste, and improve efficiency at co-manufacturing facilities.
• Manage the implementation of best practices in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence to drive cost savings and improve overall performance.
• Establish, monitor, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) including yield, throughput, schedule adherence, service levels, quality, waste, and cost performance, identifying opportunities and implementing corrective actions as needed
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the co-manufacturing team.
• Develop a deep understanding of co-manufacturing operations, capabilities, constraints, and cost drivers to effectively support strategic planning, capacity management, and performance improvement initiatives. Lead cross-functional efforts to improve manufacturing reliability, supply continuity, inventory performance, and network flexibility in support of business objectives.
• Champion a proactive approach to problem-solving, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation to prevent recurring operational issues and improve long-term performance.

Financial Management & Cost Optimization:

• Develop and manage annual co-manufacturing budgets, ensuring alignment with business objectives and operational plans.
• Lead monthly forecasting activities for co-manufacturing spend, volume, and capacity requirements, identifying risks and opportunities to financial targets.
• Monitor actual performance against budget and forecast, analyze variances, and recommend corrective actions to improve financial performance.
• Partner with Finance, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to support financial planning, reporting, and achievement of cost objectives.
• Identify and execute cost savings and productivity initiatives across the co-manufacturing network while maintaining quality, service, and supply performance.
• Support the financial evaluation of supplier selection, contract negotiations, business cases, and capital investment opportunities.
• Track and report key financial metrics, including manufacturing costs, inflation impacts, productivity savings, and budget adherence.
• Drive accountability with co-manufacturing partners to achieve cost, efficiency, and profitability targets.

Risk Management and Contingency Planning:

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks across the co-manufacturing network that could impact supply continuity, customer service, product quality, cost, or operational performance.
• Develop and maintain contingency plans, alternative sourcing strategies, and capacity solutions to minimize disruptions and ensure business continuity.
• Monitor economic trends, commodity markets, labor availability, transportation capacity, geopolitical events, regulatory changes, and environmental factors that may impact suppliers, food supply availability, manufacturing operations, or broader supply chain performance.
• Proactively assess supplier vulnerabilities and emerging risks, partnering with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to develop mitigation plans and strengthen network resiliency.
• Maintain awareness of market conditions affecting key ingredients, packaging materials, freight costs, utilities, and manufacturing capacity, communicating potential risks, opportunities, and business impacts to leadership.

Minimum Skills Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in manufacturing operations, supply chain management, or related roles within the CPG industry.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Familiarity with quality standards and best practices in food safety and quality assurance.
• Proficiency in data analysis and project management.
• Procurement or Vendor management
• Proficiency in second language preferred.
• Negotiation skills preferred.

Benefits We Offer Include:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Employer‑paid life & disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 7 Company Paid Holid]]>