Sr. Manager, External Manufacturing Operations (Hybrid - Brookings, SD)
About The Position
The Sr. Manager of External Manufacturing Operations owns the operational performance and strategic relationship of external manufacturing partners supporting Brookings. The role is directly accountable for continuity and availability of externally supplied materials and products needed for Brookings manufacturing, ensuring materials are available when needed, meet established specifications, and do not disrupt manufacturing. The position establishes expectations for contract manufacturing organization (CMO) performance across quality, delivery, capacity, cost, responsiveness, compliance, and supply continuity. It maintains visibility into supplier production plans, materials, inventory, logistics, capacity, and constraints, and leads rapid response and escalation when supplier issues threaten Brookings manufacturing. The role drives containment, recovery, root cause analysis, corrective action, and prevention, while fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across the CMO network. The role is hybrid eligible, with duties that allow some remote work but require travel to Brookings and other sites, including suppliers and other Solventum locations. Travel may include up to 70% domestic and international travel. Relocation assistance may be authorized.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher, completed and verified before starting.
- Twelve years of combined experience in manufacturing, operations, external manufacturing, supply chain, quality, engineering, planning, and/or procurement.
- Experience managing contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), contract manufacturers, and/or strategic manufacturing suppliers.
- Experience supporting medical device manufacturing in a regulated manufacturing environment.
- Experience managing supply continuity, CMO capacity, production planning, supplier quality, asset strategy, and/or operational risk.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status.
Nice To Haves
- Experience applying medical device quality systems and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Experience applying GMP, supplier quality, change control, specifications, CAPA, SCARs, Quality Agreements, and/or regulatory compliance requirements.
- Experience developing and executing CMO risk mitigation and business continuity strategies.
- Experience establishing supplier KPI dashboards, scorecards, and executive performance reviews.
- Experience supporting CMO contracts, Quality Agreements, commercial negotiations, and supplier performance management.
- Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, capital expenditure (CapEx) planning, and business case development.
- Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives involving Manufacturing, Engineering, Supplier Quality, Value Stream Management, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, and/or external partners.
- Experience communicating, negotiating, and presenting recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders and senior leaders.
Responsibilities
- Own operational performance and strategic relationships with external manufacturing partners supporting Brookings.
- Maintain direct accountability for continuity and availability of externally supplied materials and products needed for Brookings manufacturing.
- Ensure materials are available when needed, meet established specifications, and do not disrupt manufacturing.
- Establish clear expectations for CMO performance across quality, delivery, capacity, cost, responsiveness, compliance, and supply continuity.
- Maintain visibility into supplier production plans, materials, inventory, logistics, capacity, and constraints.
- Lead rapid response and escalation when supplier quality, capacity, production, logistics, technical, or operational issues threaten Brookings manufacturing.
- Drive containment, recovery, root cause analysis, corrective action, and prevention so issues are sustainably resolved.
- Establish a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across the CMO network.
- Comply with corporate policies, procedures, and security standards while performing assigned duties.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Health Savings Accounts
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Disability benefits
- Life insurance
- Voluntary benefits
- Paid absences
- Retirement benefits
- Relocation assistance may be authorized
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
