Assistant Production Manager – Food Manufacturing

Aplin; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonuses

Leadership development

Hands-on leadership role

Non-Unionized environment

Job summary

Aplin is seeking an Assistant Production Manager for its Edmonton-based afternoon shift operations. The role focuses on developing Production Supervisors, supporting efficient production, and fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and food safety.

You will address challenges directly, drive improvements, and contribute practical ideas to enhance operations. Strong leadership and hands-on approach are essential in a non-unionized manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in food production/manufacturing.
• 2+ years supervisory/leadership experience with sizeable team.
• Hands-on experience with industrial mixers and large ovens.
• Strong understanding of food safety, risk assessment, BRC/HACCP.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; able to manage administrative tasks.

Responsibilities

• Coach and develop Production Supervisors and strengthen team performance.
• Oversee daily production activities and communicate start times; escalate issues as needed.
• Review labour efficiency, yields, scrap, and ingredient usage to identify improvements.
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Sanitation, and Shipping for readiness and staging.

Skills

5+ years food production

2+ years supervision

Mixer/oven troubleshooting

Food safety/BRC-HACCP

MS Office

Hands-on leadership

Time management/organization

English communication

Afternoon shift availability

Job description

Lead with confidence. Develop people. Drive production performance.

Aplin has partnered with an established and growing food manufacturing company in Edmonton to recruit an Assistant Production Manager for its afternoon shift operations.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced food manufacturing professional who combines strong technical knowledge with confident, hands‑on leadership. You will play an important role in developing Production Supervisors, supporting efficient production operations, and helping build a culture of accountability, teamwork, food safety, and continuous improvement.

We are looking for a proactive leader who can build credibility with an experienced workforce, communicate expectations clearly, address challenges directly, and contribute practical ideas to improve operational performance.

What’s in It for You?

• Competitive salary plus company benefits.
• Two company bonus payments per year.
• An opportunity to coach and develop Production Supervisors and strengthen leadership capability.
• A visible, hands‑on leadership role within an established, close-knit manufacturing environment.
• The opportunity to contribute to production performance, operational improvements, and a positive workplace culture (Non-Unionized)

Key Responsibilities

• Coach and develop Production Supervisors, providing leadership, guidance, and support to strengthen team performance.
• Oversee daily production activities, communicate production start times, and elevate operational issues as required.
• Review and analyze labour efficiency, production yields, scrap, and excess ingredient usage to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to support equipment readiness, Sanitation to maintain cleanliness standards, and Shipping to ensure ingredients are staged and available.
• Enforce company policies, workplace safety procedures, and applicable BRC/HACCP food safety requirements.
• Troubleshoot production equipment and adjust processes as needed to support efficient and consistent operations.

What You Bring

Must-Have Qualifications

• At least 5 years of food production or food manufacturing experience, with 8 or more years strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience, including experience leading a sizeable production team.
• Extensive hands‑on experience operating and troubleshooting industrial mixers and large commercial ovens.
• A strong understanding of food safety hazards, risk assessment, and BRC/HACCP standards.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, with the ability to independently manage administrative responsibilities and computer-based tasks.
• A confident, assertive, hands‑on leadership style, with the ability to address issues directly, navigate different personalities, and hold team members accountable constructively.
• Strong time management, organizational, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• The ability to speak, read, and understand English.
• Availability to work the afternoon shift and occasional overtime as operational needs require.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Commercial baking experience, including knowledge of ingredient functionality, baking processes, production flow, and troubleshooting.
• Formal training in the Science of Baking or a Journeyman Baker credential.
• Formal leadership development or occupational health and safety training.
• Experience with inventory management software.
• Exposure to varied production equipment, including older machinery, automated lines, and freezing systems.

The Leadership Style We’re Looking For
You are a practical, visible leader who is comfortable working directly with production teams and supervisors. You know how to balance supporting employees with setting clear expectations and addressing issues when they arise.

You communicate confidently, build trust through your knowledge and actions, and are comfortable challenging ideas constructively when improvements are needed. You can work effectively with direct personalities, make sound decisions under pressure, and help create a workplace culture where accountability, safety, quality, and teamwork matter.

Food manufacturing experience is essential, and commercial baking experience is highly preferred.
Schedule & Working Conditions

• Location: Edmonton, Alberta.
• Shift: Afternoon shift, approximately 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Regular schedule: Monday to Thursday, with longer workdays; approximately 9–10 hours per day, as operationally scheduled.
• Occasional overtime and Friday or weekend work may be required.
• The role involves walking and standing on the production floor for most of the workday.
• Company uniforms are provided, along with a safety footwear replacement program.

Important Eligibility Requirements

• Candidates must currently be located in Canada and be legally authorized to work in Canada without employer sponsorship.
• Out-of-province candidates with food manufacturing experience are welcome, particularly those already planning to relocate to Edmonton.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you are an experienced food manufacturing leader who enjoys developing people, improving production performance, and making a tangible impact on a team, we would love to hear from you.

Food manufacturing experience is essential, and commercial baking experience is highly preferred.

We believe diverse teams build stronger companies, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

To be considered, applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, including holding any required permits.

Accommodation is available upon request throughout all stages of the recruitment process.