Director of Contract Manufacturing
Welch'sGrow with Welch's! Welch's is on a journey towards our bold ambition of being the global-leader of convenient, good for you fruit-based food and beverages. To turn this goal into a reality we need you and other exceptionally talented, agile, and innovative individuals who are eager to contribute to something extraordinary! At Welch's, we're not just offering a job; we're inviting you to be a part of a vibrant, authentic, and inclusive culture where you not only belong, but also have the opportunity to unleash the best, most authentic version of you. Grow with Welch's! Help shape how Welch's brings its next generation of fruit-based foods and beverages to market. As we grow, our external manufacturing partners will play an increasingly important role in expanding capacity, launching new products, and strengthening our manufacturing capabilities. We're looking for a leader who can build those partnerships and turn business priorities into reliable, scalable manufacturing solutions. Position Summary Reporting to the Head of Business Development, the Director of Contract Manufacturing will help shape and lead the execution of Welch's external manufacturing strategy. You will be accountable for the full partner lifecycle, from identifying and evaluating co-manufacturers to negotiating agreements, supporting commercialization, and managing ongoing performance. Working closely with Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Engineering, R&D, and Finance, you will connect Welch's growth plans with the capabilities and capacity needed to deliver them. You will also establish clear processes, performance expectations, and accountability across the external manufacturing network. This role requires direct experience leading external manufacturing partnerships across partner selection, onboarding, commercialization, and ongoing performance management. Where You'll Work This role is based at our headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts , with Monday through Wednesday in the office and Thursday and Friday working remotely . Approximately 25% travel is anticipated. What You'll Do Shape the external manufacturing strategy. Help determine where co-manufacturing partnerships can support growth, innovation, capacity needs, and business continuity alongside Welch's internal manufacturing capabilities. Select and onboard partners. Lead the identification, evaluation, and onboarding of co-manufacturers, working with cross-functional teams to assess technical capabilities, capacity, quality, cost, and operational readiness. Support successful product launches. Partner with R&D, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to move products into commercial production and resolve manufacturing challenges. Lead commercial negotiations. Structure and negotiate manufacturing agreements that establish clear expectations for cost, service, quality, capacity, and accountability. Own partner performance. Establish scorecards and regular business reviews, address performance gaps, and lead improvements in cost, quality, service, and reliability. Guide manufacturing decisions. Develop recommendations on internal versus external production, capacity investments, and network changes using financial and operational analysis. Strengthen supply continuity. Identify risks across the partner network and coordinate mitigation plans to protect product availability. Build a scalable operating model. Establish consistent processes, decision responsibilities, and ways of working across internal teams and external partners. Lead and develop the team. Set clear priorities, coach team members, and build accountability for results. Who You Are A strategic thinker who stays close to execution and follows through on commitments. A strong relationship builder who can influence partners and colleagues, address difficult issues directly, and align teams around decisions. A practical problem solver who uses data, sound judgment, and financial analysis to evaluate tradeoffs. A clear communicator wh…