Senior Manager, Manufacturing Operations

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Senior Manager, Manufacturing Leader is responsible for the end-to-end manufacturing of nutraceutical ingredients, including direct facility management and co-manufacturing partners, technical services, and process optimization. This role ensures that all products are in compliance with quality and regulatory standards while delivering on-schedule cost-effective production at both internal and external manufacturing sites. It leads efforts from product scale-up to commercial production, drives continuous improvement, and acts as a technical liaison across internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

On-Site Manufacturing Operations (Hadley, MA)

• Lead day-to-day operations in the manufacturing facility and on-site warehouse, ensuring safe, compliant, efficient production
• Directly supervise up to 3-6 production employees, to include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Develop the manufacturing plan to meet product demand requirements and establish procedures for maintaining high standards of manufacturing operations, to ensure that products conform to established customer and company quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory/FSMA statutes and reporting requirements and perform periodic audits to ensure compliance with industry regulations including environmental, quality and safety.
• Ensure compliance with current federal, state and local employment regulations, in accordance with company policy. Consults with the human resources department as appropriate.
• Drive optimal employee performance with the least amount of overhead and raw material costs, to meet annual budgetary plan.
• Oversee plant maintenance, safety, training and major projects (e.g., facility upgrades, equipment installation, etc.)
• Formulate and recommend manufacturing standard operating procedures and programs that guide the organization in maintaining and improving its competitive position and the profitability of the operation.
• Work closely with supply chain and timely acquisition of process components to facilitate the successful execution of production schedules.
• Identify, recommend and implement changes to improve productivity and reduce cost and scrap, monitor scrap and rework data.
• Direct and coordinate various programs essential to manufacturing procedures (e.g., training, safety, housekeeping, preventive/reactive maintenance, cost reduction, worker involvement, security, etc.).
• Keep current on information and technology affecting functional areas to increase innovation and ensure compliance.
• May occasionally be required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Technical Services & Process Development – Internal Manufacturing and with Contract Manufacturers

• Independently lead process development, tech transfers, process scale-up, validation and optimization efforts internally and with CMOs to establish robust, repeatable, and compliant manufacturing operations
• Responsible for process qualification, through all stages from pilot to commercial scale up and on-going process verification, ensuring relevant standards are maintained throughout
• Develop and maintain on requisite documentation from scale-up through process qualification
• Ensure manufacturing -internal and external – is maintained in validated state and in compliance with current cGMP, FSMA requirements, and company standards.
• Collaborate with Commercial, R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Quality to ensure continuity of compliant supply and efficient new product introductions.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison with CMOs to resolve production issues and support manufacturing continuity
• Investigate and resolve technical manufacturing challenges with a data-driven approach
• Oversee timely completion of technical documentation and validation protocols

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Projects

• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives which positively impact cycle time, productivity, process robustness, gross margin, and production capacity.
• Lead technical investigations, deviation management, CAPAs, and change control activities.
• Manage and execute capital projects including equipment installation and upgrades and facility changes.
• Assist company officers and senior staff members in the development and formulation of long and short-range planning, policies, programs and objectives.
• Drive a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence in manufacturing practices.

Department: Operations

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing experience in the dietary supplement, food, or pharmaceutical industry.
• At least 5 years in a technical operations or manufacturing leadership role
• Hands-on experience managing both internal sites and external manufacturers
• Experience with industrial-scale batch or continuous processing
• Distillation experience is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical and leadership capabilities in both manufacturing execution and process development.
• Works effectively and relates well with others. Exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others, working to maintain constructive working relationships.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and external manufacturing partners.
• Deep understanding of cGMP, HACCP, and regulatory standards (FDA, USDA, EU).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access); project management tools a plus.
• Excellent analytical, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to occasionally travel up to 15%.