Senior Manager, Co-Manufacturing

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Co-Manufacturing plays a key leadership role in enabling Welch’s growth and innovation agenda by building, scaling, and optimizing a high-performing external manufacturing network. This role partners cross-functionally to shape product and supply chain strategies, identify and onboard best-in-class co-manufacturing partners, and ensure seamless commercialization of new products.

You will own the end-to-end co-manufacturing ecosystem, from partner selection and contract negotiation to performance management and continuous improvement—driving excellence across cost, quality, service, and speed to market. This role also leads the development of standardized processes and performance frameworks that elevate capabilities and deliver best-in-class results across the network.

Where You’ll Work

This role will be based out of our Waltham, MA headquarters, the hub of our family-farmer owned manufacturing company. Immerse yourself in a dynamic workplace where innovation thrives, and collaboration is key.

Our company in-office schedule is designed to maximize collaboration & relationship building balanced with flexibility and well-being with 3 days in office and Thursdays/Friday being remote, flex days.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing co-manufacturing team while driving accountability and capability building
• Define and execute co-manufacturing strategies that enable innovation, capacity expansion, and long-term growth
• Identify, evaluate, onboard, and manage external manufacturing partners to build a resilient, scalable network
• Negotiate and manage strategic contracts to ensure optimal cost, quality, and service outcomes
• Partner cross-functionally to support successful commercialization and efficient scale-up of new products
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost efficiency, product quality, service levels, and speed to market
• Design and implement standardized processes for partner selection, onboarding, and performance management
• Establish KPIs and lead regular business reviews to monitor performance and drive accountability across partners
• Proactively identify risks and lead resolution of operational challenges to ensure supply continuity
• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and cost optimization initiatives tied to co-manufacturing operations
• Lead cross-functional projects and communicate progress, insights, and risks to senior leadership

Who You Are

• Excellent leadership skills with strong business acumen
• Bias for action
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills
• Strong interpersonal skills w/ ability to interact with all levels and functions of organizations on both an individual and team basis
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities under pressure
• Knowledge and experience in all aspects of operations including manufacturing and/or engineering, logistics and quality
• Strong people leadership skills with a track record of developing talent, building trust, and driving accountability
• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate business priorities into actionable operational plans
• Proactive, solutions-oriented approach with a bias for action and continuous improvement
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively and influence outcomes across internal and external stakeholders
• Highly effective at building relationships and collaborating across functions, levels, and partner organizations
• Comfortable navigating complexity and ambiguity while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Broad supply chain knowledge, including experience across manufacturing, engineering, quality, and logistics
• Data-driven decision maker who uses metrics and insights to improve performance and guide strategy
• Clear and confident communicator, able to tailor messaging from operational teams to senior leadership

What You’ll Need

• 7+ years of progressive supply chain experience, including manufacturing, engineering, project management,