Manager, Co-Manufacturing

What’s it like to work at Kinder’s? Well, there’s a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there’s also plenty of hard work. Because we don’t just like flavor, we’re obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide, we’re now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We’re not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart-and-scrappy, flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If you’re looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work…
this is it! Every day, you’ll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

As Contract Manufacturing Manager, you will be responsible for managing key relationships with our co-manufacturing partners to support the production of Kinder’s premium products. You’ll serve as the daily liaison between Kinder’s and our co-manufacturers, ensuring quality production, reliable supply, and strong vendor performance. Working cross-functionally with teams across Quality, R&D, Supply Planning, and Commercialization, you’ll help optimize operations, resolve supply issues, and implement process improvements that support Kinder’s rapid growth.

• Manage co-manufacturing relationships to ensure daily performance on quality, supply, and cost is aligned to expectations.
• Lead regular performance reviews (monthly/quarterly) with vendors using scorecards and KPIs to drive accountability and results.
• Coordinate with internal teams (FSQA, Planning, Commercialization, and Finance) to evaluate production capabilities, identify risks, and propose adjustments for new and transitioning products.
• Support commercialization efforts by working with vendors to evaluate manufacturability of new products and propose improvements to optimize production.
• Monitor capacity constraints and production efficiency
  , using metrics such as OEE and throughput to support demand planning and identify overflow opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives
  , collaborating with partners to reduce cost, improve quality, and streamline operations.
• Conduct audits and maintain quality standards to ensure co-manufacturing facilities meet Kinder’s expectations and industry best practices.

You are passionate about operations and collaboration. You understand the nuance of co-manufacturing partnerships and take pride in building win-win relationships that are efficient, ethical, and results-driven. You're comfortable in the middle of cross-functional decision-making and take initiative to spot and solve operational gaps.

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in co-manufacturing
  , supply chain
  , or food manufacturing operations.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end CPG supply chain
  , including quality, procurement, and commercialization.
• Familiarity with manufacturing KPIs including OEE, throughput, MOQs, and production cost analysis.
• Proven ability to manage vendor relationships and resolve issues in dynamic environments.
• Ability to analyze data and use insights to drive decision-making and performance improvement.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and interpersonal skills.

• You’re a strong collaborator with high empathy, respect, and problem-solving agility.
• You are motivated by continuous improvement and thrive in fast-paced environments.
• You value teamwork
  , flexibility
  , and bring a solutions-oriented mindset to challenges.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and speaks their mind.
• Excited to be part of a fast-moving team with the ability to be a leader and a follower.
• Enjoy making decisions and finding ways to say ‘yes’ as often as possible to impactful and important priorities.

The position will be based out of our office in Walnut Creek, CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and…