Head of Manufacturing and Supply Chain

Are you a seasoned leader in manufacturing and supply chain management within the food industry?

MyForest Foods, a leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) food company, producing sustainable food products from mushroom mycelium is seeking an experienced and innovative;  Head of Manufacturing and Supply Chain to lead its production operations and supply chain management. This role is pivotal in driving the success of our product portfolio, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality food products to the market, and maintaining strong relationships with co-manufacturers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

Production Strategy and Planning:

Develop and implement comprehensive production strategies for the company's product line(s), aligning with growth objectives and market demand. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Operations, Sales, and Marketing, to create production plans for both existing products and new launches.

Manufacturing Operations:

Oversee and optimize the manufacturing process, ensuring high quality and safety standards adherence. Implement best practices for efficient production, minimizing waste, and ensuring cost-effectiveness.Lead all aspects of enterprise-wide manufacturing operations, process engineering, operational continuous improvement, planning, procurement, and logistics.Coordinate strategic decisions, considering manufacturing capacity, scheduling workloads, electronic interfacing, quality control, and workforce balancing.

Supply Chain Management:

Develop and implement actionable strategies, objectives, and plans that ensure alignment with and achievement of short- and long-term goals.Manage the end-to-end supply chain, including procurement, logistics, and inventory management, ensuring a steady flow of raw materials and finished goods.Establish relationships with suppliers and logistics partners, ensuring reliable and cost-effective supply chain operations.Strategically manage, organize, and coordinate the responsibilities and deliverables of multiple locations and functions. Ensure 3PL partnerships and transportation logistics enable efficient distribution of products directly to customers, distribution centers, or warehouses. Manage operational inventory to ensure adequate levels for immediate production items and future forecasting.

Co-Manufacturer Management:

Identify and engage with co-manufacturers to expand production capacity, ensuring they meet the company's quality and sustainability standards. Develop and maintain strong relationships with co-manufacturers, facilitating effective communication and coordination.

Quality Assurance and Compliance:

Implement rigorous quality control standards, ensuring consistent product quality and compliance with all relevant regulations. Monitor compliance with food safety and sustainability certifications, maintaining industry standards.

Continuous Improvement:

Drive process improvement initiatives to optimize manufacturing and supply chain operations, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Explore opportunities for automation and technology integration to enhance productivity and sustainability.Utilize a data-driven approach to problem-solving, championing continuous improvement. Reduce waste and obsolescence significantly. Partner closely with finance, sales, marketing, R&D, and product development to enhance coordination with suppliers and manufacturing, improving execution across forecasting/S&OP, inventory, and product lifecycle management.

Team Development and Leadership:

Provide leadership to the manufacturing and supply chain teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. Set performance targets, conduct evaluations, and provide coaching and feedback to team members. Develop and support training programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of the manufacturing team.

Desired Outcomes:

• Establish systems and processes across the end-to-end supply chain, creating an ecosystem of accountability and robust communication
• Ensure a flexible and agile supply chain that emphasizes redundancy and resilience, allowing the company to maintain supply and continue to scale
• Develop a robust commercialization process that allows for speed and scalability
• Reduce product costs through both scale and improved processes

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Food Science, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; Master’s degree is a plus
• Proven experience in a leadership role within a CPG food company, with at least 15 years of experience
• Demonstrated success in optimizing manufacturing and supply chain operations for food products
• Strong understanding of co-manufacturing management and experience in managing suppliers and logistics partners
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, fostering a collaborative and sustainable environment.In-depth knowledge of quality assurance practices, food safety regulations, and sustainability certifications
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a data-driven approach
• Experience in large and smaller, high-growth company environments, with best-in-class environments combined with more entrepreneurial settings where pace and decision-making are paramount
• Experience in fast-moving consumer goods, where shelf-life, in-stock availability, and dynamic SKUs are central to success

If you are passionate about the food industry, have a proven track record in manufacturing and supply chain management, and want to lead a dedicated team in delivering high-quality products to consumers, we invite you to apply and be a driving force behind MyForest Foods to continue success.

Albany Salary Range $150,000-225,000 annually based on the candidate's skills and competencies.