As KENT® Corporation continues to experience growth, we have a BRAND NEW opportunity to join our thriving team as a Supply Manager - Third Party Manufacturing! This critical role will oversee the contract manufacturing relationships throughout all companies at KENT Corporation and be responsible for the transaction excellence and contractual compliance.

In addition, the Supply Manager will grow existing supplier competencies while seeking new manufacturers for new or novel capabilities, as well as institute KPI’s/Metrics for success at each contract manufacturer while driving improvements. Ready to join a four-time US Best Managed Company Award-Winner?!

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead team through set up of party relationships, manufacturing, and warehouse transactions.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with Quality and Product Development/Marketing to ensure that all contract manufactures commercialize products according to the company’s commercialization, quality, food safety, regulatory compliance requirements, and contractual commitments.
• Manage and direct the business relationship with contract manufacturers, navigating issues and negotiating solutions to ensure efficient and cost-effective production.
• Coordinate with Procurement, Quality, and other internal departments to cross-functionally resolve elevated issues.
• Identify and develop new contract manufacture partners supporting both additional capacity requirements, International and Innovation strategy.
• Project manage multiple projects simultaneously across all companies, negotiating to achieve win-win results for all parties involved.
• Define risk mitigating policies and practices for current market conditions.
• Lead internal project meetings, requirements definitions and document collection.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations or Supply Chain Management, Business, Economics, related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Master’s degree and/or certification in supply management or purchasing is preferred.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8 years of combined experience in operations, logistics, or sourcing and management of external production manufacturing relationships. Food and/or beverage experience preferred.
• Must have demonstrated experience with; contract negotiation, project management, policies and procedures, quality and ethics standards, risk management practices, Procure to Pay transactions and analytics.
• Must exhibit strong verbal and written communication with ability to communicate in various settings including one-on-one, group presentations and C-suite communications with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven independent decision making, planning and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook).

TRAVEL:

• 20-30% to start while assessing existing and developing new potential co-manufacturing suppliers