External Manufacturing Manager

ZwitterCo•Woburn, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

ZwitterCo is seeking a proactive and technically skilled and hands-on Manufacturing Technologist to support day-to-day manufacturing operations while driving process consistency, equipment ownership, and continuous improvement. This role is primarily focused on operating and optimizing key manufacturing processes, as well as ensuring process control, supporting quality outcomes, and troubleshooting issues on the floor. The Manufacturing Technologist serves as a process owner during production, helping to ensure equipment is running reliably and consistently across shifts. The ideal candidate is a strong operator who can run equipment independently, identify issues early, and help standardize processes. Is comfortable working cross-functionally with Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance, and take pride in owning both the performance and consistency of the process, not just executing the work. ZwitterCo has developed a breakthrough in materials science - a new class of zwitterionic membranes with unprecedented fouling resistance. Our membrane solutions perform beyond the limits of traditional filtration, making it practical to treat complex wastewater, purify water for reuse, and maximize efficiency in food processing applications. ZwitterCo serves customers in more than 20 countries across food and beverage, agricultural, and industrial sectors. We are rapidly investing in our technology, equipment, and global services platform to help our industrial customers achieve their most ambitious sustainability and growth targets. We are grateful to have been named as Fast Company’s Top Innovators of 2024 and featured on the 2025 & 2026 Global Cleantech 100.

Requirements

Experience supporting scale‑ups, or fast‑growth organizations
Experience with production ramp‑ups, transfers, or supplier transitions
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production operations
Strong operational and execution focus with a sense of urgency
Excellent communication and negotiation skills
Ability to balance collaboration with accountability
Flexibility to travel to supplier sites as needed
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Management, or related field with 10+ years of experience
7–10+ years of experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or operations roles
3+ years of direct experience managing contract manufacturers or outsourced production
Experience with supplier qualification, quality systems, and external audits
Expertise in bill of materials, routing processes, lead time determination, and capacity planning
Highly proficient in utilizing ERP/MRP systems and managing supply chain data

Nice To Haves

Experience in hardware, industrial, or manufacturing‑heavy startups
Background in regulated or quality‑critical industries (a plus)
Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for all contract manufacturers and key external suppliers
Lead supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding activities
Define and manage manufacturing scope, responsibilities, and expectations with partners
Build strong, collaborative relationships while holding suppliers accountable to performance targets
Coordinate production plans with contract manufacturers to meet demand, schedule, and cost requirements
Monitor build progress, material readiness, capacity, and delivery commitments
Identify risks and constraints early and drive mitigation plans
Support production ramp‑ups, transfers, and scale‑up activities
Ensure external manufacturing processes meet internal quality standards and customer requirements
Support development and enforcement of quality agreements, control plans, and inspection requirements
Partner with Quality and Engineering on nonconformance investigations, root cause analysis, and CAPAs
Support audits, supplier assessments, and corrective action follow‑up
Own supplier cost structures, quotations, and ongoing cost improvement initiatives
Track and analyze key supplier KPIs (on‑time delivery, yield, scrap, escapes, cost)
Drive continuous improvement in efficiency, throughput, and reliability
Support make/buy and cost‑reduction decision‑making
Partner with R&D, Engineering and Supply Chain to support new product introduction (NPI) at external manufacturers
Ensure design intent, specifications, and manufacturing requirements are clearly transferred
Support process development, validation, and production readiness
Manage engineering changes and configuration control at supplier sites
Help build scalable external manufacturing processes
Define standard workflows for forecasting, material readiness, build releases, and supplier communication
Support ERP/MRP integration and data accuracy related to external manufacturing
Document best practices and lessons learned