Director of Contract Manufacturing

WHO ARE WE? We are the VMS Co-Op, a group of fast growing companies in the Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) space. The VMS Co-Op includes OLLY, SmartyPants and future acquisitions to come! This position's home company is OLLY.​ THE ROLE: DIRECTOR OF CONTRACT MANUFACTURING Our Director of Contract Manufacturing is a pro at building strategic relationships while ensuring our partners deliver excellence every day. This high-impact role requires an experienced leader who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to get the work done. Superior business, negotiation, and analytical/problem-solving skills are key, in addition to a demonstrated ability to implement new supply chain practices, continuous improvement programs, and hold our partners accountable for delivering on commitments. As VMS enters new categories, this leader will work with our internal cross-functional teams to find best-in-class partners that enable us to bring disruptive products to market and deliver on the requirements of our high-growth business. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic: Lead network design, supplier selection, capacity planning, and contingency planning initiatives. Develop and onboard manufacturing partners that strengthen supply chain resilience and support growth. Contract Management: Negotiate and manage contracts to secure optimal pricing, service, and business value. Partner with Legal and Procurement teams to ensure effective supplier governance. Supplier Performance: Own contract manufacturer relationships, establish KPIs, and drive performance, quality, and service improvements. Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for operational, service, or quality issues. Support initiatives focused on product quality, efficacy, sensory performance, and compliance. Financial Management: Manage pricing forecasts, budgets, and cost strategies to support business objectives. Support financial planning activities and assess the economic impact of strategic decisions. Identify and deliver cost savings and continuous improvement opportunities. Cross-Functional Partnerships: Build and maintain key relationships with Unilever and Wellbeing Collective stakeholders to align strategic priorities. Partner with Quality and R&D teams to ensure products consistently deliver exceptional consumer experiences. People Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team. Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration. Sustainability & B-Corp: Support environmental and social responsibility initiatives across the supply chain. THE CANDIDATE The ideal candidate is an accomplished supply chain leader with deep expertise in external manufacturing, supplier management, and strategic partnerships. You possess an ownership mindset, balancing strategic thinking with operational execution. You thrive in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments, are comfortable navigating ambiguity, and have a proven ability to influence stakeholders. You aren’t afraid of difficult conversations, nor do you shy away from seemingly impossible tasks. The team (both internal and external) relies on you to build bridges and find creative solutions to every problem, and you never fail to deliver. CAPABILITIES + SKILLS REQUIRED 8–12 years of progressive experience in supply chain management, strategic sourcing, and contract manufacturing within a consumer packaged goods (CPG) environment. Experience within a VMS manufacturing environment preferred. Proven experience managing large-scale contract manufacturing networks and strategic supplier relationships. Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, quality systems, and supply chain risk management. Demonstrated success negotiating and managing complex supplier contracts and commercial agreements. Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasts, and cost optimization initiatives. Experience leading, coaching, and developing high-performing teams. Exceptional communi…