Job Description

About the Company

Bachan’s is all about history and tradition, culture and family. Our Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce was created from a multi-generational family recipe. And, our mission is to Bring Family Together®.

We believe in a minimalistic and transparent approach to developing our products.

All of our sauces are cold-filled (not pasteurized), made without preservatives or flavorings, and we only use the highest quality non-GMO certified ingredients, because Our Ingredients Matter®.

We are a passionate and creative team of innovators and problem solvers. We obsess over the details, because like our ingredients, they matter.

About the Role

The Director of Contract Manufacturing will be responsible for overseeing demand-driven planning, scheduling, and materials management, ensuring seamless production processes across multiple third-party manufacturing partners in the United States and Canada. The Director will be the key liaison with our co-manufacturers, negotiating contracts, upholding Bachan’s quality standards, and fostering strong relationships to drive efficiency and innovation. We seek a seasoned professional with deep manufacturing expertise, excellent communication skills, technical and food safety knowledge, and strong problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Co-Manufacturer & Co-Packer Management: Oversee existing and new co-manufacturing relationships, ensuring production aligns with Bachan’s growth strategy and operational goals.
• Supply Chain Commercialization Leadership: Drive the successful commercialization of new products, ensuring seamless integration into the supply chain, collaborating with R&D, Marketing, Procurement, and Operations to optimize scalability.
• Strategic Planning: Prepare and present project proposals, capacity plans, and operational strategies for senior leadership.
• Contract Negotiation: Assess co-manufacturer capabilities, negotiate production agreements in collaboration with Procurement and establish mutually beneficial terms.
• Production Coordination: Work closely with production scheduling to optimize capacity across multiple facilities.
• Quality Assurance: Partner quality team to enforce food safety and quality control standards compliance.
• Supply Chain Management: Ensure timely receipt and movement of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods in coordination with logistics.
• Performance Metrics & Reporting: Develop KPIs, analyze performance data, and drive continuous improvement initiatives for manufacturing excellence.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build strong relationships across departments, including Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain Planning, R&D, Procurement, and Marketing.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency.
• Compliance & Ethical Standards: Represent Bachan’s with integrity, adhering to corporate policies and industry regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations / Supply Chain Management / Engineering / Business or related field
• 5+ years Direct hands-on experience managing contract manufacturer relationships
• 8+ years in food & beverage or packaging industries with increasing leadership responsibilities in production, operations, and commercialization.
• APICs affiliation and/or certification plus

Required Skills and Abilities

• Manufacturing Expertise: Strong background in production setup, line operations, and supply chain logistics.
• Supply Chain Commercialization Experience: Demonstrated experience leading product commercialization efforts, scaling production efficiently, and ensuring seamless market launches.
• Technical & Analytical Acumen: Deep understanding of weights & measures, conversion factors, freight logistics, and process optimization.
• Problem-Solving Abilities: Ability to assess challenges, identify solutions, and drive execution.
• Cross-functional leadership: Experience navigating and influencing within a matrixed organization.
• High-Growth Environment Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced company with evolving priorities.
• Supply Chain Complexity Experience: Familiarity with volatile supply chains, particularly agricultural commodities.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 40% travel

Pay range and compensation package

• $150,000-$200,000 annually DOE
• Performance Bonus
• Employee Health Benefit (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) Program
• Life Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, and Holidays

Bachan’s values a diverse workforce and is committed to the recruitment, training, compensation and promotion of our team regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

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