Assistant Production Manager

Help lead daily production and packaging operations so that safe, high-quality food is made on time and at the right cost. Working alongside the Operations Manager, you lead the shift teams, improve OEE through structured loss elimination and build a strong Autonomous Maintenance culture on the shop floor. A Taste of What You’ll be doing: Production & Operations Deliver the daily, weekly and monthly production plans in line with safety, quality, delivery and cost targets. Lead production and packaging operations through visible, hands-on shop-floor leadership. Ensure effective shift handovers and disciplined execution of operational standards. Identify production constraints, operational risks and recurring losses, and put lasting corrective actions in place. Keep the area fully compliant with food safety, GMP, hygiene and EHS standards, and audit-ready at all times. Work with Quality, Planning and R&D to close deviations and launch new products. Reduce energy, water and material waste on the lines to support site sustainability targets. Deputise for the Operations Manager when needed. OEE & Performance Own OEE improvement through systematic loss elimination. Analyse downtime, speed, quality, waste and yield losses to find improvement opportunities. Track daily, weekly and monthly KPIs and set action plans to close performance gaps. Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and structured problem solving using Lean and continuous-improvement methods. Share performance results and improvement priorities with relevant stakeholders. Autonomous Maintenance (AM) Lead the implementation, sustainability and maturity progression of AM across production areas. Ensure CIL (Clean, Inspect, Lubricate), center lining, defect management and tagging are carried out consistently. Build operator ownership of equipment through clear standards and skills development. Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability and process stability, and eliminate chronic losses. Leading the Team Coach and develop team leaders and operators through regular feedback and clear development plans. Plan shifts, skills and training so that every role is covered by qualified people. Build a safe, inclusive and engaged team where people speak up, share ideas and own results. Key Interfaces Quality & Food Safety, Maintenance, EHS, Planning, Warehouse, R&D, HR and Finance; external contractors and auditors where relevant. Your Recipe for Success: Degree in Food, Chemical, Industrial or Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. 5+ years of manufacturing experience, ideally in food or FMCG, including leading shifts or teams. Solid knowledge of food safety, GMP and HACCP. Hands-on experience with OEE loss analysis, Lean and structured problem solving. Practical experience with Autonomous Maintenance is strongly preferred. SAP or similar ERP experience is an advantage. Good English and local language skills.