Director of Manufacturing & Supply at RYZE Superfoods

About this role

COMPANY 🌱 RYZE was founded in 2019 by Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain, out of a parents' basement, with a mission to change daily health, starting with the morning routine: a nutrient-dense mushroom coffee delivering clean energy, mental clarity, and immune support. Built on a Direct-to-Consumer foundation with a performance marketing engine, RYZE achieved hockey-stick growth and a community of over 1 million active subscribers. DTC remains the foundation, but RYZE has expanded into mass retail, quickly becoming the #2 items in Target's overall coffee category and is now executing a multi-channel expansion, with a cross-category launch coming in early 2027. RYZE is uniquely positioned to redefine how people think about daily wellness. We’re a lean, fast-moving, mission-driven team who believe daily rituals create the foundation for living your greatest life, and we’re just getting started!
WHAT YOU'LL DO 🎯 The Director of Manufacturing & Supply is a critical leadership hire responsible for owning the full production value chain — from co-manufacturer management and production execution through raw material sourcing and supplier relationships. This role is the production and sourcing engine of RYZE’s Operations function. This role requires someone who will roll up their sleeves. RYZE is at a stage where the manufacturing function needs both strategic thinking and hands-on execution. The Director must be comfortable operating at the co-man floor level while simultaneously building the systems, processes, and team that will scale to $1B. will include: Co-Manufacturer Management
Own full accountability for all co-manufacturing partners, serving as the single point of ownership for output, quality, cost, and delivery
Lead onboarding and stabilization of new co-manufacturers, including recipe transfer, production validation, equipment installation, and ramp-up execution
Manage transitions away from legacy partners, ensuring zero disruption to supply continuity
Establish and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with each co-manufacturing partner in collaboration with Quality
Develop and implement performance scorecards tracking delivery, quality, cost, and responsiveness
Production Execution
Oversee production scheduling, capacity planning, and line allocation across all manufacturing sites in coordination with Supply Chain Planning
Ensure production commitments are met while proactively resolving constraints, bottlenecks, and line conflicts
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase yield, reduce waste, and optimize per-unit costs
Implement inventory buffer strategies for packaging and raw materials to stabilize operations and eliminate reactive supply issues
Sourcing & Procurement
Own sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management across all raw materials and inputs
Hire and lead sourcing leadership to manage day-to-day supplier relationships, negotiations, and vendor onboarding
Define and execute a supplier diversification strategy to mitigate single-source risk
Lead supplier negotiations, contract management, and cost optimization at scale
Manage critical raw material supply challenges and ensure continuity of supply for key inputs
Team Leadership
Lead and develop a team supporting production, supply, and sourcing operations
Provide coaching, performance management, and day-to-day leadership
Build and scale a high-performing, execution-focused team aligned to business growth
Cross-Functional Leadership
Supply Chain Planning: Align on demand forecasts, production priorities, and inventory targets while providing feedback on constraints and lead times
Quality: Partner on audits, inspections, batch release processes, and QBRs while maintaining a collaborative relationship within an independent governance structure
New Product Introduction (NPI): Support production readiness for new SKUs, including trials, validation, and ramp-up
R&D / Innovation: Collaborate on formulation feasibility, pilot runs, and scale-up of new products

WHAT WE OFFER 🌟 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, operations, or supply chain, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role
Proven experience managing co-manufacturing partners, with full accountability for output, quality, cost, and delivery
Demonstrated success onboarding new co-manufacturers, including recipe transfer, production validation, equipment installation, and ramp-up
Experience leading transitions between manufacturing partners with no disruption to supply continuity
Track record of owning sourcing, procurement, and supplier management across raw materials and packaging, including negotiations and contract management at scale
Experience building and leading teams across production, supply, and sourcing functions
Strong command of production scheduling, capacity planning, and line allocation across multiple sites
Proven ability to drive continuous improvement that increases yield, reduces waste, and lowers per-unit costs
Experience developing supplier diversification strategies and mitigating single-source risk
Ability to design inventory buffer strategies for raw materials and packaging that prevent reactive supply issues
Working knowledge of food safety and quality systems, including audits, inspections, and batch release (e.g., GMP, HACCP, SQF/BRC)
Strong financial acumen, including cost modeling, budgeting, and negotiation of commercial terms
Proficiency with ERP and supply chain planning systems and data-driven decision-making
Originally posted on Himalayas