Assistant Production Manager

Vickerstock; Cookstown; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing food manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Assistant Production Manager to enhance operations in Co. Antrim. This role offers a chance to lead production teams, ensure quality targets are met, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess at least 2 years of supervisory experience in manufacturing and a relevant degree in Food Technology or related fields.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' supervisory or management experience within a food or production environment.
• Experience in driving accountability within cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with SCADA systems or similar automation tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day production operations and ensure quality compliance.
• Lead, mentor, and develop production operators and leaders.
• Prepare performance updates, reporting on KPIs and improvement areas.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication

GMP Practices

Education

Relevant degree in Food Technology or related field

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Assistant Production Manager - Food Manufacturing
Co. Antrim
Salary: Competitive + Benefits

An established and well-invested food manufacturing business in Co. Antrim is currently recruiting for an Assistant Production Manager to support operations across their production departments. This is a key role within the production leadership team, offering exposure to a complex, high-performing site with strong development opportunities.

Why apply?
This role offers an excellent opportunity for a driven and capable production professional to take the next step in their leadership career within a dynamic food manufacturing environment. It is suited to someone who thrives on the factory floor, enjoys mentoring teams, and is passionate about delivering high-quality results

Insight into your day to day:
You will work closely with the Production Manager to ensure daily output, quality, compliance, and team performance targets are consistently met - with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and operational excellence.

• Support the day-to-day running of Cheese or Whey production, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.
• Maintain a strong safety culture on site, ensuring adherence to health & safety and environmental compliance.
• Drive product quality and process consistency through effective GMP practices and team supervision.
• Play a hands-on role in leading, mentoring, and developing production operators and team leaders.
• Support performance management, attendance, training, and communication across your team.
• Ensure SOPs are understood, trained, and consistently followed across shifts.
• Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, and Planning to optimise production performance.
• Prepare daily/weekly performance updates, reporting on KPIs, trends, and improvement areas.
• Contribute to key site projects, including process improvement, lean initiatives, and capital investments.

Your essential ingredients
Essential:

• A relevant degree (preferably in Food Technology or a related science-based field).
• Minimum 2 years' supervisory or management experience within a food, manufacturing, or production environment.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced setting.
• Confident communicator, capable of engaging with cross-functional teams and driving accountability.
• Comfortable using MS Office and digital production tools for reporting and analysis.

Desirable:

• Background in FMCG, dairy, or pharmaceutical production.
• Familiar with SCADA systems or similar plant automation tools.
• Exposure to lean manufacturing methodologies and continuous improvement tools such as RCA, 5 Whys, or Standard Work.

What to do next:
To apply or for a confidential discussion, contact Paul Muir on 02890 313720 or apply via the link.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A FULL LIST OF OUR CURRENT VACANCIES.