Manager, Contract Manufacturing

Simple Mills • Chicago, IL

5h • $105,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Simple Mills is on a mission to transform the way food is made—creating nourishing products with astounding ingredients and amazing taste. Founded in 2012 by Katlin Smith, our brand has redefined center-aisle grocery by delivering better-for-you products made with unique, nutrient-dense ingredients. Today, we’re a category leader and the #1 natural brand in multiple segments, with distribution in over 30,000 stores nationwide.
Now, as part of Flowers Foods, we’re entering an exciting new phase of growth—expanding our reach, accelerating innovation, and amplifying brand awareness, all while preserving the integrity of what makes Simple Mills special. Our commitment to using simple, high-quality ingredients ensures that every bite is both delicious and nutritious. Whether it’s watermelon seed flour in our cookies or butternut squash in our crackers, we craft our products with innovative, wholesome ingredients that deliver extraordinary taste.
Our work has been recognized by Fast Company as a Brand That Matters and a Most Innovative Company, and has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, Women’s Health, and NPR’s How I Built This. In 2024, Inc. named us one of its Best Workplaces, reflecting our dedication to fostering an inspiring and inclusive environment where passionate individuals can make a difference.
Join us as we shape the future of food. Learn more at www.simplemills.com.
The Manager, Contract Manufacturing will be a critical role in Simple Mills’ Manufacturing team, responsible for relationship management of existing contract manufacturers (co-mans) in the Crackers category, as well as finding solutions for new product innovation within network and externally. The position will report to the Director of Contract Manufacturing and responsibilities will include:

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years experience in Contract Manufacturing, Manufacturing, Operations and/or Supply Chain, preferably in a Food and Beverage CPG company
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Collaborative, with the ability to effectively work and build strong relationships internally and externally
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills. Ability to have supportive but candid conversations with leaders of all levels and the ability to communicate and build alignment across the organization.
• Self-directed and results focused. Bias toward action, able to synthesize information and act decisively. Strong sense of urgency and ownership of resolution. Ability to prioritize and manage deadlines.
• A personal connection to the Simple Mills mission and a fervent desire to improve the food system to help people and the planet thrive.

Responsibilities

• Manage business relationships with existing and new Crackers co-mans
• Work hands-on with co-mans, R&D, Quality Assurance, and broader Operations team to ensure day-to-day issues are solved or escalated
• Lead weekly cross-functional discussions with co-man and Operations teams to drive accountability, focus and continuous improvement
• Drive supplier performance through KPI tracking and lead co-man quarterly business reviews
• Negotiate one-off expenses with comans within contract terms
• Continuously develop and improve processes and best practices
• Write purchase orders for R&D trial expenses, capital projects; manage spend to annual budgets
• Support Simple Mills’ strategic initiatives to support growth and manage costs
• Support Innovation & Brand Renovation project teams and attend trials; up to 35% travel required
• Identify and lead manufacturing and continuous improvement projects, such as moving product lines between co-mans, to manage costs and capacity
• Support sourcing new co-mans to expand capacity and innovation platforms, aligned with Simple Mills’ growth strategy
• Partner with director, Ops and Legal teams to craft and negotiate contracts with new and existing co-mans that support and protect the business, as well as convey expectations, low costs, superior services, and promote strong relationships
• Perform other projects as assigned

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: This role offers a salary range of $105,000 to $120,000
• Annual Bonus Opportunity: Eligible for an annual bonus as part of our commitment to recognizing team contributions and company success.
• Holistic Benefits: A variety of health, financial, and wellness programs to help you feel your best and plan for the future.
• Time to Recharge: We believe your best work comes when you have space to rest, refocus, and show up fully—our time off approach is built with that in mind.
• Everyday Well-Being: From lifestyle perks to innovation shipments, we find meaningful ways to support you in living simply and feeling well.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager