External Manufacturing Leader– Polymer Products

Location: Plymouth, MN or Blair, NE (on site)
Travel: ~10–20% (primarily within North America)

Do you enjoy taking the lead to make complex projects run smoothly and efficiently? NatureWorks is seeking a driven, results-oriented External Manufacturing Leader to manage third-party production of commercial and experimental polymer materials that support our Growth team’s product pipeline.

In this role, you’ll take full ownership of external manufacturing—selecting toll partners, managing end-to-end logistics, driving production campaigns, and ensuring quality and delivery standards are met. You’ll collaborate closely with internal R&D, operations, and supply chain functions to help bring innovative materials from concept to scale.

Key Responsibilities:

Identify, qualify, and manage external manufacturing partners for experimental and commercial polymer products. Lead technology transfer processes and coordinate manufacturing campaigns. Negotiate pricing and production schedules with tollers. Oversee raw material shipments and final product logistics to and from North America and Europe. Ensure production activities are accurately tracked in SAP and meet quality and regulatory requirements. Support onsite audits and production campaigns at external manufacturers. Collaborate with Asia Pacific external manufacturing where needed. Align production plans with Sales & Operations Planning and the Growth Organization.

Required Qualifications:

B.S. in Chemistry, Engineering, or related field Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in twin-screw extrusion, including reactive extrusion 5+ years in manufacturing or supply chain operations 3+ years managing external manufacturing for polymer products

Preferred Qualifications:

Familiarity with PLA or other biopolymers Experience with polymer properties, processing, and analytical QA/QC techniques SAP proficiency

Compensation and Benefits:

Annual salary: $130,000–$150,000 13% target annual bonus Comprehensive benefits package including: Medical, dental, and vision insurance Paid sick leave, family sick time, holidays, and 160 hours of vacation Parental leave and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Retirement savings with 5.5% automatic company contribution plus 50% match on the first 6% of employee contributions