Assistant Production Manager

Manufacturing – Commercial & Industrial Boilers | Schenectady, NY

Employment Type: Full-Time, On-Site
Location: Schenectady, New York

Position Overview

We are seeking a motivated, hands-on Assistant Production Manager to join our manufacturing team at our Schenectady, NY facility. We manufacture commercial and industrial boilers in accordance with applicable ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code requirements and are committed to producing high-quality, reliable equipment through safe, efficient, and disciplined manufacturing processes.

This position offers a significant opportunity for career advancement. The successful candidate will work closely with the current production leadership team to learn our operations, develop a thorough understanding of our manufacturing processes, and progressively assume greater responsibility, with the goal of transitioning into the full Production Manager role within approximately 12 months.

The ideal candidate is an organized, decisive, and practical manufacturing leader who can balance production schedules, employee development, quality requirements, safety, and operational efficiency. This person must be comfortable working on the manufacturing floor, solving problems in real time, and holding teams accountable for performance.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management & Leadership

• Assist in      managing daily manufacturing operations to meet production schedules,      delivery commitments, and quality objectives.
• Coordinate      labor, equipment, materials, and workflow to maximize productivity and      minimize downtime.
• Multitasking!
• Monitor      production progress, identify bottlenecks, and implement corrective      actions.
• Work with      supervisors, team leaders, and manufacturing personnel to establish      priorities and maintain a productive shop-floor environment.
• Develop a      thorough understanding of all major production processes, from material      preparation and fabrication through welding, assembly, inspection,      testing, and final shipment, as applicable to our operations.
• Progressively      assume responsibility for production planning, scheduling, staffing, and      overall manufacturing performance.
• Support      continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, cost control,      lead times, and operational consistency.

Quality, Safety & ASME Code Compliance

• Help ensure      manufacturing activities comply with applicable ASME Boiler and Pressure      Vessel Code requirements, approved drawings, specifications, and      established quality procedures.
• Work closely      with Quality Assurance, Engineering, and Inspection personnel to address      quality issues and maintain required documentation and traceability.
• Promote a      strong culture of workplace safety, accountability, and adherence to      established procedures.
• Identify      process deficiencies, investigate recurring problems, and support      corrective and preventive actions.
• Reinforce the      importance of workmanship, weld quality, inspection readiness, and product      integrity in pressure-retaining equipment manufacturing.

People & Resource Management

• Provide      day-to-day leadership, direction, and support to production employees and      supervisors.
• Help establish      clear expectations for performance, attendance, productivity, quality, and      safety.
• Assist with      workforce planning, training, employee development, and performance      management.
• Foster a      collaborative environment between Production, Engineering, Quality,      Purchasing, and other supporting departments.
• Address      operational issues promptly and communicate priorities and expectations      clearly.

Operational Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Track and      report key production performance indicators, including schedule      attainment, labor efficiency, rework, scrap, and on-time delivery, as      applicable.
• Identify      opportunities to improve manufacturing methods, material flow, resource      utilization, and production capacity.
• Participate in      production meetings and communicate progress, risks, and resource needs to      management.
• Support      accurate production reporting, cost awareness, and effective use of labor      and equipment.
• Help develop      and implement standardized work practices and procedures.

First-Year Development Plan: The successful candidate will follow a structured transition toward full Production Manager responsibility.

Months 1–2: Learn and Assess

• Learn the      company's products, processes, production systems, quality requirements,      and safety practices.
• Build      relationships with production personnel and supporting departments.
• Develop an      understanding of production schedules, resource requirements, and current      operational challenges.

Months 3–6: Lead Daily Operations

• Take increasing      ownership of daily production coordination and schedule execution.
• Lead production      meetings, resolve routine shop-floor issues, and monitor performance.
• Demonstrate      effective communication, sound judgment, and consistent follow-through.

Months 7–8: Assume Broader Management Responsibility

• Take ownership      of defined production areas or functions.
• Lead      improvement initiatives and participate in workforce planning, capacity      planning, and performance management.
• Demonstrate the      ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining quality and      safety standards.

Months 9–12: Transition to Production Manager

• Demonstrate      readiness to oversee overall production operations.
• Assume      responsibility for production performance, staffing coordination, schedule      attainment, continuous improvement, and cross-functional communication.
• Transition into      the full Production Manager role, subject to demonstrated performance and      business needs.

Qualifications

• Experience in a      manufacturing environment, preferably in metal fabrication, industrial      equipment, pressure vessels, boilers, or other engineered products.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in      Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Technology, Heat      transfer, Operations Management, or a related field preferred, or      equivalent manufacturing experience
• 3–5 years of manufacturing or      fabrication experience, with previous supervisory or team lead experience      preferred. 
• Experience in boiler, pressure      vessel, welding, heavy fabrication, or industrial equipment manufacturing      is highly desirable. 
• Ability to read engineering drawings      and manufacturing documentation. 
• Strong organizational,      communication, and leadership skills. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office      and ERP/MRP systems is preferred. 
• Willingness to learn ASME code      requirements and manufacturing best practices
• Prior      experience leading production employees, coordinating manufacturing      activities, or supervising shop-floor operations.
• Working      knowledge of manufacturing processes, production planning, scheduling, and      quality control.
• Ability to      interpret manufacturing drawings, work instructions, and technical      specifications.
• Strong      organizational, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated      ability to prioritize work, manage changing production demands, and hold      teams accountable.
• Commitment to      workplace safety, product quality, and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency      with common business software and manufacturing or ERP systems, or the      ability to learn them quickly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in      ASME Code manufacturing, boiler manufacturing, pressure vessel      fabrication, or related industries.
• Familiarity      with welding operations, material traceability, inspection requirements,      and manufacturing quality systems.
• Experience      working with Quality Assurance, Engineering, and production planning      teams.
• Experience      using lean manufacturing, root-cause analysis, or other continuous      improvement methods.
• Experience      managing labor, production costs, and manufacturing performance metrics.

What We Offer

• A full-time,      on-site position at our Schenectady, NY manufacturing facility.
• A defined      career path toward assuming full Production Manager responsibilities      within approximately 12 months.
• The opportunity      to develop into a key leadership role within a specialized industrial      manufacturing operation.
• Direct      involvement in the production of commercial and industrial boiler systems.
• An opportunity      to make a measurable impact on production performance, product quality,      and operational efficiency.

Benefits

• Competitive      salary: Range is +100K based on experience and industry knowledge 
• Health, dental,      and vision insurance 
• 401(k) with      company match 
• Paid vacation      and holidays 
• Ongoing      training and professional development 
• Performance-based      bonus opportunity 
• Clear career      advancement path into Production Management

We are looking for an experienced hands-on leader who is ready to learn our business, earn the trust of our production team, and grow into full responsibility for manufacturing operations. Our retiring PM spent 20+ years here. This is an opportunity that does not present itself often and is a super opportunity for the right motivated professional.