Contract Manufacturing Manager

On-Site RoleMust be local to La Crosse, Wisconsin Role Overview:This position acts as the key liaison between a consumer food brand and its external manufacturing partners, owning performance across safety, quality, service, and cost. It’s a newly created role with a strong focus on supporting a high-volume production ramp at a partner facility, while also overseeing broader co-manufacturer relationships.Key Responsibilities:Serve as the on-site point of contact at a partner facility during a major production ramp, supporting scheduling, logistics, and day-to-day operational coordinationManage relationships with external manufacturing partners to ensure strong performance across safety, quality, service, and costAlign production planning with demand forecasts to support inventory and service levelsOversee quality and compliance standards, including regulatory adherence and issue resolutionTrack and improve partner performance through KPIsDrive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, waste reduction, and cost savingsSupport trials, production runs, and new product launches with external partnersProfile:~7+ years of experience in food or CPG manufacturingStrong dairy experience requiredExperience working with external manufacturing partners highly preferredProven ability to run projects, lead cross-functional meetings, and drive executionBackground in plant-level leadership or production managementAdditional Notes:Ideal candidates have operated in environments without full ownership/control of manufacturingOpen to both experienced plant leaders and strong up-and-coming production managersContinuous improvement experience (Lean/CI) is a plus