Contract Manufacturing Lead Manager

Business Unit Overview

Feeding the world is what we do – how we do it is unique. We are not your textbook consumer packaged goods company. While others may be slow to make change happen, Post continuously drives both inorganic and organic growth. Our history is evidence of that fact with over 100 years of heritage and growth from brands that transcend generations like Honey Bunches of Oats, Fruity Pebbles, Malt-O-Meal, Bob Evans, Kibbles 'n Bits, Egg Beaters, Peter Pan peanut butter and more. Our foodservice and ingredient businesses supply other products you love for brands, restaurants and stores.

We have more than 55 offices and manufacturing sites and approximately 13,000 employees. Over the past 13 years, Post has made 28 acquisitions and innovative financial transactions and reached $8.2 billion in net sales in fiscal 2025. During turbulent times of market uncertainty, the food industry has provided a level of stability unlike other industries

Post Holdings, Inc. is a Fortune 500® company headquartered in Brentwood, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Our casual professional atmosphere encourages team members to collaborate, innovate and support our operating companies. Our passion and drive advance the reputation of our operating companies and brands—together, we make a difference.

Responsibilities

The Contract Manufacturing Lead Manager will interact with and support Marketing & Sales as well as all other functional departments including Operations, Logistics, Demand Planning, Quality, Research & Development, Procurement, and Finance across multiple business units within Post Holdings with a specific focus on Wet Pet Food strategy. This person will manage external manufacturing relationships across multiple brands and facilities and play a key role in the development and implementation of key commercialization and innovation initiatives with a focus on volume and profit growth as well as cost reduction.

Candidates based in the St. Louis area will follow a hybrid work schedule, with in‑office days on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

KEY RESPONSIBLITIES

• Operational Oversight & Relationship Management
• Manage external relationships with co-manufacturers to ensure they provide unique capabilities, capacity, and competitive costs
• Oversee contract manufacturers, both domestic and international, across multiple brands and facilities, ensuring alignment with business goals and operational efficiency
• Foster long-term, productive relationships that drive continuous improvement, profitability, and capacity growth
• Lead the vendor selection process by developing criteria to evaluate new manufacturing partners and identifying the most suitable providers for the company’s needs
• Negotiate complex contracts with qualified contract manufacturers and co-packers that clearly convey cost expectations, service levels, quality standards, and promote long-term partnerships
• Ensure agreements include cost-saving mechanisms and establish clear accountability to foster strong relationships while reducing risk
• Conduct regular performance evaluations of co-manufacturing partners, reviewing metrics such as production output, cost efficiency, quality standards, and service levels
• Lead monthly business reviews with external manufacturers, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and driving performance improvements through data-driven insights
• Organize and lead annual site reviews to assess partner capabilities and align on future business plans, ensuring the continuous alignment of operational strategies with business growth
• Collaborate with Finance and Procurement to develop annual budgets for co-manufactured products, ensuring financial goals are clearly defined and met
• Review co-manufacturing P&Ls to validate cost variances versus standard, identify opportunities for improvement, and communicate findings to leadership
• Drive accountability on cost performance, ensuring the financial health of external manufacturing operations through regular tracking of operating profit targets
• Strategic Leadership & Improvement Initiatives
• Lead strategic discussions on make vs. buy decisions, assessing internal vs. external manufacturing options
• Prepare comprehensive business cases and recommendations based on cost, capacity, and long-term value
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure outsourcing decisions are aligned with broader supply chain and operational goals, optimizing production capacity and minimizing risks
• Lead major cross-functional projects that align with business objectives, such as sustainability initiatives or operational efficiency improvements
• Provide project management leadership by coordinating trials, start-ups, and quality audits at third-party manufacturing sites, ensuring alignment with launch timelines and objectives
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of site approvals and audits for new third-party manufacturers, ensuring compliance with all necessary regulations and internal standards
• Champion process improvement initiatives with co-manufacturers, identifying opportunities for automation, digital transformation, or supply chain enhancements that drive efficiency and reduce costs
• Work closely with co-manufacturers to promote continuous improvement in production processes, identifying areas to streamline operations and improve margins through lean methodologies
• Engage in joint business planning with key external manufacturers to drive innovation, cost reduction, and enhanced production capabilities, aligning operational goals with long-term business objectives
• Develop and implement contingency plans to mitigate risks from potential labor interruptions, fluctuations in product demand, or supply chain disruptions
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (e.g., Operations, Sales, R&D) to ensure business continuity during unforeseen circumstances by securing alternative manufacturing solutions
• Oversee the management of inventory control and the disposition of obsolete inventory at co-manufacturers, ensuring optimal inventory levels and minimizing financial waste
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field (Business, Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, etc)
• Minimum of 7-9 years of operational and plant manufacturing experience preferably in a CPG environment
• Minimum of 7-9 years of project management experience
• Strong knowledge of quality and food safety regulations and compliance requirements
• Proven experience with P&Ls, contract negotiation, and managing external co-manufacturing agreements
• Proficient in ERP systems such as Oracle, SAP, JDE, etc
• Strong cross-functional leadership and problem-solving abilities
• Demonstrated business acumen, with a proactive approach to driving operational success
• Travel Requirements: ~30% monthly
  
  

The pay range for this position is $89,506 - $132,468 per year.