External Manufacturing Manager

%HEADER_COMPANY_WEBSITE%%HEADER_EMPLOYEES%External Manufacturing ManagerWoburn, MA - %LABEL_POSITION_TYPE_REMOTE_WITHIN_ONE%%LABEL_POSITION_TYPE_FULL_TIME%Operations%BREADCRUMB_JOB_OPENINGS%External Manufacturing Manager%BUTTON_APPLY_TO_POSITION%%BUTTON_APPLY_USING_INDEED%%BUTTON_APPLY_USING_LINKED_IN%Overview of Role ZwitterCo is seeking a highly hands-on and proactive External Manufacturing Planning Manager to join our Operations Team. This hybrid role is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of outsourced manufacturing and material flow—from supplier selection and onboarding through production planning, execution, and continuous improvement. You will own the relationships with contract manufacturers while simultaneously balancing supply, demand, inventory, and capacity in a fast-paced startup environment. This role requires a blend of technical judgment and analytical rigor to build scalable systems during a period of rapid growth. About ZwitterCo 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. Key Responsibilities: External Manufacturing & Partner Management Serve as the primary point of contact for all contract manufacturers (CMs) and key external suppliersLead supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding activitiesDefine and manage manufacturing scope, responsibilities, and expectations with partnersBuild strong, collaborative relationships while holding suppliers accountable to performance targetsAct as a central point of coordination between Sales, Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Supply Chain Production Planning & Execution Develop and maintain short- and mid-term supply plans based on forecasts, sales orders, and production capacityTranslate demand signals into detailed material, purchasing, and production plansMonitor build progress, material readiness, and capacity to proactively identify risks or lead time constraintsAdjust plans quickly in response to changing priorities and conduct scenario planning for rapid growth or disruptionSupport production ramp-ups, transfers, and scale-up activities Inventory & Materials Management Manage inventory levels and set targets (safety stock, reorder points) to support production while minimizing obsolescenceAnalyze inventory health, turns, and usage trendsCoordinate material availability and manage expediting or de-expediting as neededSupport cycle counts, inventory accuracy, and reconciliation activities Quality, Cost & Compliance Management Ensure external manufacturing processes meet internal quality standards and customer requirementsPartner with Quality and Engineering on nonconformance investigations, root cause analysis, and CAPAsSupport the development and enforcement of quality agreements, control plans, and inspection requirementsOwn supplier cost structures, quotations, and make/buy decision-makingTrack and analyze supplier and planning KPIs, including on-time delivery, yield, scrap, and forecast accuracy Manufacture Engineering & NPI Support Partner with R&D and Engineering to support New Product Introduction (NPI) and scale-up at external manufacturersEnsure design intent, specifications, and manufacturing requirements are clearly transferred to partnersSupport process development, validation, and production readiness for ramp-ups...