Director of Manufacturing & Commercialization

Director of Manufacturing & Commercialization at Feel Good Foods Director of Manufacturing & Commercialization at Feel Good Foods in Union City, New Jersey Posted in 6 days ago.

Type:

full-time

Job Description:

Position Overview The Director of Manufacturing & Commercialization is responsible for leading the successful launch and ongoing performance of products across a network of co-manufacturing partners. This role sits at the intersection of Product Development, Operations, and Supply Chain, driving commercialization, sourcing, and manufacturing strategy. This individual will act as a manufacturing expert and key technical resource, supporting scale-up and troubleshooting, while partnering closely with the Product Development Manager who owns formulation. The focus of this role is execution, co-manufacturer performance, and building a scalable manufacturing network. Key Responsibilities Commercialization & Launch Execution Lead end-to-end commercialization of new products from pilot through full-scale production Project manage all new item launches, ensuring timelines, costs, and deliverables are met Partner with the Product Development Manager to support scale-up and ensure manufacturability Coordinate plant trials, first productions, and post-launch optimization Co-Manufacturer Sourcing & Management Identify, evaluate, and onboard new co-manufacturing partners based on capability, capacity, and cost Build and manage strong relationships with co-mans to drive accountability and performance Serve as a key operational and technical partner during trials and production Support negotiations around pricing, capabilities, and production requirements Manufacturing Strategy Develop and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with growth, cost targets, and capacity needs Advise on equipment capabilities and potential investments to improve efficiency and scalability Evaluate trade-offs between co-man vs. internal capabilities where applicable Cost, Procurement & Efficiency Support procurement efforts across ingredients and packaging in partnership with Supply Chain Contribute to product costing, margin optimization, and pricing discussions with co-manufacturers Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities through process improvements and sourcing Technical Support & Troubleshooting Act as a manufacturing expert to support scale-up and ongoing production Troubleshoot issues related to yield, throughput, and product performance Partner with co-mans to implement practical, scalable solutions Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner closely with Product Development Manager to ensure smooth handoff to manufacturing Collaborate with Quality to ensure alignment on food safety and compliance standards Work with Supply Chain on production planning, capacity, and inventory strategy Serve as a central connector between internal teams and external manufacturing partners Qualifications 8-12+ years of experience in food manufacturing, commercialization, or co-manufacturer management Proven experience sourcing and managing co-manufacturers Strong track record of launching and scaling food products Solid understanding of food manufacturing processes (frying, baking, forming, freezing, etc.) Experience in frozen or refrigerated CPG strongly preferred Experience with cost modeling, pricing, and procurement support Strong project management and cross-functional skills Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, or related field preferred Additional Requirements Position is based out of the New York City office Travel required up to 50%