Manager Contract Manufacturing Procurement

Reporting to the Director, Contract Manufacturing, you will manage the identification and selection of contract manufacturing partners and negotiation of contracts to support needs including innovation, capacity, and network optimization. You will lead a regimented approach to contract negotiations using standardized processes and templates, ensure alignment across cross‑functional partners, and develop long‑term relationships with external manufacturers to drive growth, innovation, and productivity.

A Taste of Your Responsibilities

• Lead the sourcing and selection process for finished goods contract manufacturing partners to meet business, capacity, innovation, service, and quality needs.
• Complete total delivered cost analyses, including raw material procurement, operational costs, transportation, and warehousing, while balancing service and quality performance.
• Lead contract design and negotiations with existing and new contract manufacturing partners, including evaluation of alternative solutions, rigorous financial analysis, and alignment with Legal, key stakeholders, and the Vice President of Procurement for Contract Manufacturing.
• Benchmark the competitive landscape within the food industry for technology, innovation, available capacity, and productivity strategies using market data and cost modeling.
• Develop and maintain risk management plans for supplemental production options to mitigate service disruptions from internal or external manufacturing interruptions.
• Manage finished goods projects through commercialization, ensuring specifications are established prior to production and all parameters are achieved during product trials.
• Provide project management support for business growth, innovation, and productivity improvement initiatives.
• Establish and maintain effective communication across Brand, Marketing, Research and Development, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, Procurement, Logistics, and Product Supply teams.
• Partner with internal manufacturing and operations teams to align contract manufacturing strategies with broader company manufacturing and capacity strategies.
• Support the Procurement function in developing short‑ and long‑term manufacturing and capacity strategies aligned with current and future marketing plans.

Ingredients Required for Your Success

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Seven or more years of experience across plant operations, engineering, supply chain, distribution, or procurement.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional teams and managing complex projects.
• Proven experience in contract manufacturing development and negotiations.
• Customer and internal stakeholder focused approach.
• Broad operational and marketplace knowledge with experience in a relevant category.
• Willingness to travel approximately fifteen to twenty‑five percent, primarily within the United States.

Number of Days in Office: 3
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Compensation 

Pay Range:$107,000-$156,000

The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.

Our Benefits

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

• Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement

• Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan

• Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement

• Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities

Our Company

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.

Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.