Co-Manufacturing Manager
good culture
La Crosse, WI, USA
Posted on Mar 26, 2026
Co-Manufacturing Manager
LOCATION: La Crosse, WI
REPORTS TO: Bruce Slack
DEPARTMENT: Operations
TRAVEL REQUIREMENT: 50%
JOB PURPOSE SUMMARY:
This role serves as the strategic operations liaison between Good Culture and its Contract Manufacturing (Co-Man) partners, with primary accountability for manufacturing Safety, Quality, and Performance. The position ensures operational excellence through strong collaboration with internal Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Commercialization teams while driving continuous improvement, cost reduction, and mission-aligned manufacturing practices.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Contract Manufacturing Leadership
- Act as the primary point of contact between Good Culture and Contract Manufacturing partners, ensuring best-in-class safety, quality, service, and cost performance.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with Co-Man leadership teams to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
Planning & Supply Chain Alignment
- Review demand forecasts and align with Co-Man production plans to ensure optimal inventory levels of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods.
- Partner with Supply Chain to mitigate risks related to capacity, materials, and service levels.
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure strict adherence to product specifications, food safety standards, and regulatory requirements (FDA).
- Collaborate closely with Quality Assurance to investigate deviations, lead root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Participate in and support audits, inspections, and quality system improvements.
Performance Management & Metrics
- Develop, maintain, and continuously improve Co-Man performance scorecards including KPIs for safety, quality, service, cost, and efficiency.
- Lead regular performance reviews with Co-Man partners to drive transparency and results.
Continuous Improvement & Cost Optimization
- Drive manufacturing performance improvements focused on waste reduction, COGS reduction, throughput, and labor efficiency.
- Apply Continuous Improvement (CI), Lean, and TPM methodologies to deliver sustainable results.
- Champion data-driven problem solving and standard work implementation.
Commercialization & Project Execution
- Partner with the Commercialization team to ensure smooth onboarding and execution of new products, processes, and packaging changes at Co-Man facilities.
- Ensure readiness for scale-up, validation, and launch timelines.
Mission, Sustainability & B Corp Leadership
- Integrate Good Culture’s mission, values, and B Corp principles into manufacturing and partner selection decisions.
- Lead or support initiatives related to B Corp certification, Path to Pasture, sustainability, and social impact.
- Use environmental and social impact as a key decision-making lens and help communicate Good Culture’s mission and impact to internal and external partners
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
- BS degree in Dairy Science/Food Science/Engineering or equivalent.
- Minimum seven (7) years of food manufacturing experience required, preferably in dairy manufacturing/supply chain. Cottage cheese manufacturing a plus.
- Understanding of dairy manufacturing / processing equipment and technology (pasteurization, separation, homogenization, blending, fillers, CIP, sanitation, etc.).
- Experience in leading, managing and developing direct reports.
- Manufacturing Leadership experience in positions of increasing responsibility demonstrating excellence in results delivery.
- Experience with manufacturing in an FDA environment; Preferred food and / or liquid processing manufacturing; high speed dairy and aseptic processing a plus.
- Experience working in corporate and plant level Continuous Improvement (CI) organization- preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Experience in the dairy (or food) industry with deep process knowledge in quality and manufacturing.
- Data driven approach to delivering innovative continuous improvement (CI) solutions to improve product quality, reduce manufacturing costs, produce product more efficiently, and improve relationships with our Co-Mans.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Advanced troubleshooting skills in a dairy manufacturing environment
- Intermediate level in Excel and data analysis (higher level preferred)
- Ability to build positive relationships with Co-Man leadership teams and Good Culture leadership teams.
- Proven ability to improve results & increase efficiency
- A continuous improvement (CI) and/or Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) background- preferred
ABOUT GOOD CULTURE:
We believe that if you eat good things, and surround yourself with good, you’ll feel good. Simple as that. That’s why we decided to create a food company that offers real organic ingredients from trusted sources, promotes good health and tastes great. Our mission is to reinvent the food system, from the (actual) ground up. We are a cultured dairy company that currently makes pasture-raised cottage cheese, rich probiotic sour cream, cream cheese and probiotic milk. We’re looking for some cultured healers!
Good Culture is an equal opportunity employer. At Good Culture we also believe a great culture fosters and values a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. We seek individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply for this position. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Good Culture is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.