We’re CommonWealth Kitchen, an award-winning Boston-based nonprofit and social enterprise on a mission to stir up a more just, sustainable, and delicious food economy — one rooted in racial, social, and economic equity.
From our lively commercial kitchen space in Dorchester, to our co-manufacturing capabilities for emerging entrepreneurs, we bring bold ideas to life through four powerhouse programs:
Shared-Use Kitchen: Home to 50+ diverse food startups — from food trucks and caterers to bakers and custom product creators, — our kitchen has been the launchpad for culinary dreams for 15 years and counting!
Business Training & Support: We go beyond the kitchen with hands-on education, coaching, market access and technical support to help food entrepreneurs sharpen their skills and grow with confidence.
Market & Procurement Advocacy: We open doors and remove obstacles, helping our businesses grow sales and shifting the region’s food system toward local, sustainable, and equitable purchasing.
Small-Batch Co-Manufacturing: We help artisan food makers scale up their products and work with local farms to turn surplus and underutilized crops into delicious, value-added goods.
At CWK, we’re all about hustle, heart, and community. If you’re passionate about food, equity, and building a better future, you’ll fit right in.
Position Overview
CommonWealth Kitchen is seeking a highly organized and strategic Manufacturing Operations Manager to support our fast-growing co-manufacturing team. Reporting to the Chief Culinary Officer and working closely with the Food Safety Manager and Co-Manufacturing Team Lead, this role oversees day-to-day operations for a wide range of products made in partnership with diverse food businesses, regional farms, and for institutional food service. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, analytical, and thrives in managing complex logistics. You should be comfortable working independently and collaboratively across teams, with a strong ability to navigate relationships with diverse stakeholders.
CWK produces everything from soups, sauces, and condiments to farm-based value-added items (like pickles and pesto), as well as veggie burgers, cookies, and falafel — for both retail and food service settings.
Primary Responsibilities
Relationship Management: Maintain strong, proactive communication with key customers, clients, suppliers, and distributors to support long-term partnerships.
Account Management: Oversee all aspects of production logistics, including sourcing ingredients and packaging, tracking inventory, managing billing, documenting lot codes and yields, and maintaining compliance records. Serve as the primary point of contact for clients regarding yields, inventory, billing, storage, and related matters.
Production Management: Ensure all materials (ingredients, packaging, labels) are available for daily production. Coordinate with the Chief Culinary Officer and co-manufacturing team to align staffing with production goals. Collaborate with facilities to confirm equipment readiness and supply availability.
Project Costing: Support the development and review of costing models to verify pricing accuracy across product formats.
Pipeline Management: Manage prospective client inquiries, gather required information, and collaborate with the production team to ensure clear, timely, and consistent communication. Use CWK tools to determine production rates and cost structures, ensuring accurate and up-to-date data.
Key Areas of Oversight
Product Sales & Fulfillment:
•Maintain updated product and inventory lists for distribution partners.
•Use tools like purchase orders, dashboards, and trackers to monitor sales, profitability, and order fulfillment.
•Manage annual CWK product initiatives (e.g., themed gift boxes) through Shopify, including sale fulfillment, shipping and reporting.
Product Purchasing & Supply Chain Management:
•Oversee purchasing for co-manufacturing, including weekly inventory of raw materials and finished goods.
•Coordinate with the Chief Culinary Officer (CCO) to ensure timely ingredient/material availability and efficient, LEAN production scheduling aligned with shelf-life targets.
•Negotiate vendor contracts, onboard suppliers, and manage full product lifecycle (receipt, storage, FIFO rotation, and outbound tracking).
•Coordinate with Receiving, Food Safety, and Facilities teams to ensure compliance and smooth operations.
Logistics & Compliance:
•Manage all inbound and outbound logistics, ensuring proper documentation and food safety compliance.
•Serve as liaison between Culinary and other departments (Finance, Marketing, Business Development, Food Safety).
•Support grant reporting requirements and participate in leadership meetings as requested by the CCO.
Operational Systems & Team Management:
•Lead cross-functional project management using Gantt charts, trackers, and stage-gate tools to maintain timelines, documentation, and compliance.
•Manage culinary support staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, evaluations, and payroll tracking.
•Continuously assess and improve operational workflows to increase efficiency and compliance.
Farmer Value-Added Program:
•Build and manage relationships with local farms for value-added product development.
•Coordinate product updates, pricing, storage needs, and seasonal adjustments (e.g., labeling).
•Collect post-season data for grant reporting and program evaluation.
Cross-Departmental Support:
•Provide operational support across departments including Facilities, Food Safety, and Business Development.
•Collaborate with CCO on grant compliance, reporting, and strategic initiatives.
Qualifications
•5+ years of professional experience, ideally in operations; food industry experience preferred.
•Proven track record of operational excellence, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
•Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-directed, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
•Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Asana, Adobe, Salesforce (preferred), and virtual collaboration/meeting tools.
•Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a customer service background.
•Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus!
•Passion for and alignment with CWK’s mission of advancing a just and sustainable food economy.
Compensation & Benefits
•Competitive salary: $65,000 – $80,000, based on experience.
•Group health insurance plan.
•Paid holidays and vacation.
•Professional development opportunities, including certifications and continued education.
To Apply
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and any supporting materials to HR@CommonWealthKitchen.org. No phone calls, please. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
About CommonWealth Kitchen
CommonWealth Kitchen (CWK) is Boston’s only nonprofit food business incubator and contract manufacturing social enterprise. Our mission is to build a new food economy grounded in racial, social, and economic equity. We support 40–50 food businesses through shared kitchen space, technical assistance, and business support. Roughly 70% of these businesses are owned by women and/or people of color, collectively employing over 140 staff members. Since 2009, CWK has helped launch over 40 successful companies and created more than 450 jobs. In 2015, we launched our small-batch manufacturing social enterprise, helping our members grow sustainably while creating equitable employment opportunities.
CommonWealth Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer.
We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, especially those from communities historically underrepresented in the food industry. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US.
