Director, Contract Manufacturing Operations

Vital Farms
$150,000 - $180,000
parental leave, 401(k)
United States
Jul 10, 2025
Vital Farms - Finding the right place to grow your career isn't (over) easy, so we're here to help by sharing a few reasons why the grass is greener at Vital Farms. We think you'll appreciate our focus on Conscious Capitalism, which drives business decisions that benefit all our stakeholders (leading to even better business results). You might be drawn to our innovative approach and refusal to settle for the "way things have always been done." Or you could find it exciting to grow your skills while working for an industry-leading brand. Whether you're into our values, our brand, or our egg-cellent puns, we hope you'll join our Crew and help us change the world 108 square feet at a time! At Vital Farms, we're proud of the diverse communities we serve and the stakeholders who help bring our purpose to life. We're committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment where every crew member feels valued. We see this as one of our greatest strengths - and your role is key to helping us build on it. Your Role: The Director of Contract Manufacturing Operations will play a critical role in ensuring our third-party manufacturing partners uphold the same high standards for quality, transparency, and integrity that we do on our own farms. In this role, you'll lead the strategy and execution of all contract manufacturing operations-from selecting the right partners and negotiating contracts to making sure products are produced efficiently, cost-effectively, and with love (and compliance, of course). You'll work hand-in-hand with cross-functional partners and external suppliers to ensure we deliver on our promise to all stakeholders-crew, customers, farmers, animals, and the planet. What You'll Do: Lead with Strategy: Own and evolve our approach to contract manufacturing. You'll build partnerships that align with our long-term goals and ensure we deliver high-quality products on time and on budget. Bring Teams Together: Collaborate with Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Purchasing and Strategy to ensure contract manufacturing supports our business and brand priorities. Manage Key Relationships: Be the face of Vital Farms with our third-party manufacturers. Foster trust, performance, and accountability across the supply base. Keep Things Flowing: Oversee production schedules, lead times, and capacity to ensure we meet demand without overstocking or running short-partnering closely with our Supply Chain team. Champion Quality & Compliance: Ensure all partners meet or exceed our food safety and quality standards. You'll work closely with FSQA to keep us in line with USDA, FDA, GMP, HACCP, and Vital Farms' own high bar. Steward Our Spend: Collaborate with Finance to manage budgets and performance scorecards. You will strike the right balance between cost and quality-always with a Stakeholder Mindset. Drive Continuous Improvement: Identify ways to optimize manufacturing performance, reduce waste, and drive efficiency-not just in production, but across warehousing and logistics as well. Be the Problem Solver: Anticipate and resolve challenges before they impact our Crew or customers. You will manage risks, lead crisis response if needed, and always protect the brand. What You Bring to the Table: 10+ years of experience in food manufacturing or supply chain, 5+ years partnering with contract manufacturing relationships Deep knowledge of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory requirements Strong negotiation and relationship management skills-you know how to influence and inspire partners Ability to travel up to 50% both domestic and international to contract manufacturers, as well as travel for team meetings, onboarding trips and other business needs Proven success in leading cross-functional teams and navigating complexity with clarity Financial fluency: budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking are second nature to you A growth mindset, grit, and the ability to pivot in a dynamic, mission-driven business You're no hero - You know the power of teamwork and celebrate the work of others before your own. You give a sht - You believe in acting like an owner and making Vital Farms a place to be proud of. You raise the standards - You know growth can be hard, but you strive to improve yourself and others each day. You can walk in someone else's boots - You seek to understand other's viewpoints and think that you get to better answers by sitting on the same side of the table. You don't walk on eggshells - You're not afraid to leave the bullsht behind and have honest conversations. We recognize that talent comes in many forms. Even if you don't meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may have strengths we haven't yet considered! What We Bring to the Table: A fast-paced, energetic, remote environment with passionate people who are leading a movement to bring ethically produced food to the table. Competitive pay and benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Paid Parental Leave, just to name a few). Generous retirement contributions: 401(k) + 3% Contribution from Day 1. Free eggs and butter (yes, really!), along with friends and family discounts. Fun team SWAG that will make you the talk of the town. Professional development opportunities and an amazing team dedicated to your growth. At Vital Farms, compensation decisions are dependent upon a variety of factors, which may include, but are not limited to, skill level,experience, education, training, market demands, and business needs.A reasonable estimate of the current starting annual base salary for this position is $150,000 - $180,000. Please keep in mind that hiring at the maximum end of the range would not be typical in order to allow for potential continued future salary growth. Who We Are: Vital Farms, a Certified B Corporation, offers a range of ethically produced foods nationwide. Started on a single farm in Austin, Texas, in 2007, Vital Farms became a national consumer brand that works with 350 family farms and is the leading U.S. brand of pasture-raised eggs by retail dollar sales. Vital Farms' products, including shell eggs, butter, hard-boiled eggs, and liquid whole eggs, are sold in over 24,000 stores nationwide. Vital Farms' ethics are exemplified by its focus on the humane treatment of farm animals and sustainable farming practices. In addition, as a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation, Vital Farms prioritizes the long-term benefits of each of its stakeholders, including farmers and suppliers, customers and consumers, communities and the environment, crew members, and stockholders. In short, we exist to improve the lives of people, animals, and our planet through food. Commitment to Equal Opportunity To fulfill Vital Farms mission of bringing ethically produced food to the table, we're committed to building teams that reflect diverse perspectives and lived experiences. We believe that when all crew members feel valued and respected, they bring their best ideas forward - fueling innovation, belonging, and shared success. We strive to create a welcoming environment rooted in equal opportunity and encourage individuals from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. To that end, we make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business need. Vital Farms does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender and gender identity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, citizenship status, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Ready to Join Us? Together, we're cultivating an environment where every Crew member can thrive, grow, and know they're part of something bigger - improving lives through ethical food. If this role sounds like the right fit for you, we'd love to hear from you! Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply - you might be exactly what we need! Next Steps: Shortly after you complete your application, you'll receive a follow-up email elaborating on any potential next steps in our process. If you don't immediately receive said follow-up email, we would highly encourage you to check your spam filter! In order to fulfill Vital Farms mission to "bring ethically produced food to the table," we seek to build teams that leverage diverse perspectives to create a welcoming and innovative environment that is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunities. To that end, we make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business need. Vital Farms does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender and gender identity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, citizenship status, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. *Notification to Agencies:* **Vital Farms is not accepting unsolicited third-party recruitment agencies in the hiring process for this role. If you are a potential candidate interested in a role with Vital Farms, please submit an application directly. California Applicants: Please see our CaliforniaEmploymentCandidate Privacy Statement for more information about how we collect, use, retain, and disclose personal information as part of our recruitment and hiring process.