Assistant Production Manager
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk
Salary: £30,000 – £40,000

Our client is a leading manufacturer of innovative machinery, supplying customers across the globe. We are seeking a motivated and hands on Assistant Production Manager to support our growing operations. This is an exciting opportunity for a mechanically minded professional to join a forward thinking business, working closely with the Director and progressing towards a Production Manager role.

About the Role

As an Assistant Production Manager, you will play a key role in the successful planning, coordination, and delivery of machinery build projects. You will be responsible for managing day to day production activities, supporting and motivating teams, and ensuring that all builds are completed on time, to budget, and to the highest quality standards. This is a people focused, proactive position where you will be expected to “walk the floor” and lead from the front rather than remain behind a desk.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Production Director in managing production operations across multiple projects up to 20 project builds at one time.
• Lead and motivate production teams, providing clear direction, tackling non-activity, and ensuring productivity.
• Plan, coordinate, and monitor workflow throughout the factory in a low-volume, high-value manufacturing environment.
• Work closely with the procurement team to ensure parts and materials are delivered on schedule to avoid delays.
• Track progress against project timelines, budgets, and quality requirements, taking corrective actions where necessary.
• Maintain accurate production data, schedules, and reports using spreadsheets and workflow systems.
• Engage directly with clients when required, supporting technical discussions and production updates.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across production processes and team performance.
• Act as second in command to the Production Director, with a clear pathway to stepping into the Production Manager role in the future.

About You

To succeed in this role, you should bring strong technical knowledge, proven leadership skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast paced manufacturing environment.

Essential Requirements:

• Mechanical engineering background, ideally with experience in machinery build/assembly.
• Strong people management skills with the ability to lead, motivate, and challenge teams effectively.
• Hands on approach, visible on the shop floor, directing and problem solving in real time.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Good IT skills, with working knowledge of spreadsheets (Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, both internally and externally.
• Client facing confidence when required.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in a leadership or supervisory role within manufacturing/production.
• Knowledge of workflow planning systems in low-volume, high-value production environments.
• Experience working in a machinery, engineering, or related technical industry.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (dependent on experience).
• Clear career development path towards Production Manager.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge machinery projects sold worldwide.
• Supportive team environment within a growing, innovative company.