Buyer/Planner Contract Manufacturing and NPI

Galvion•Portsmouth, NH

About The Position

The Contract Manufacturing and NPI Manager oversees all activities related to outsourced manufacturing operations and introduction of new product (NPI). This role manages relationships with third-party manufacturers (CM), ensuring that products are produced on time, meet quality standards, comply with regulations, and align with cost and service expectations. The manager acts as the primary liaison between the company and external manufacturing partners. This position also coordinates NPI activities across Galvion’s internal production teams and new or existing suppliers, ensuring the successful transfer of documentation, FAI production and approval, supply chain readiness, and production ramp-up.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field or 10-15 years relevant work experience.
5–10 years in manufacturing, supply chain, operations, or vendor management (industry-specific experience desirable).
Proven experience working with CMs or external suppliers.
Strong understanding of quality systems and regulatory requirements.
Excellent negotiation and relationship-management capabilities.
Strong analytical, data, and project management skills.
Ability to interpret technical documents and manufacturing processes.
Effective communication across cross-functional teams.
Problem-solving and decision-making abilities under pressure.

Responsibilities

Vendor & Relationship Management
Identify, qualify, and onboard contract manufacturing (CM).
Maintain strong working relationships with existing manufacturing partners.
Negotiate contracts, pricing, service levels, and capacity agreements.
Conduct regular business reviews to assess performance, risks, and improvement opportunities.
Production Planning & Execution
Coordinate production schedules with CM to meet demand forecasts.
Monitor manufacturing activities, batch status, timelines, and delivery plans.
Ensure alignment between internal supply chain, procurement, quality, and CM.
Lead coordination of NPI efforts between Engineering, internal manufacturing, and contract manufacturers.
Quality & Compliance Oversight
Ensure CM complies with regulatory and quality requirements (e.g., FDA, GMP, ISO, industry-specific standards).
Support audits, inspections, deviations, CAPAs, and change controls.
Review manufacturing documentation, batch records, specifications and FAI approval.
Cost Management
Track and optimize manufacturing costs, including materials, labor, and overhead charges.
Analyze variances and implement cost-reduction initiatives.
Work with finance teams to manage budgets and cost forecasts.
Technical & Operational Support
Support documentation transfer of new products to CM.
Troubleshoot manufacturing issues and coordinate root-cause investigations.
Drive continuous improvement in process performance, yields, and product quality.
Risk Management
Identify operational risks related to outsourced production (capacity shortages, quality issues, supply constraints).
Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans.