Assistant Factory Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Assistant Factory Manager - Project Delivery

Posting Start Date: 18/11/2025

Job Id: 1881

School/Department: Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

Work Arrangement: Full Time (On site)

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Salary per annum (£): 38, 784 - £47,389

Closing Date: 08/12/2025

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

As Assistant Factory Manager, you will assist the Factory Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of the facility, to enable the project teams to deliver a research project safely and efficiently.

You will report directly to the Factory Manager. You will develop and maintain a close working relationship with AMRC groups who are using this facility specifically AMRC Castings and AMRC Machining Group and others as required. You will aid and advise in the creation, definition and maintenance of safety and operational procedures. Subsequently, you will be responsible for ensuring the adherence to procedures of all users of this facility. You, along with the factory management team, will provide a functioning factory environment enabling project teams to perform to their best abilities, to create a successful technical outcome.

Your responsibilities will include receiving deliveries and stores management within the new facility, act as part of the Radiation protection supervisor team and help manage the maintenance and calibration of equipment such that it is available for use on projects. An important part of the role in ensuring the incoming and outgoing material is accounted for and controlled very strictly.

Please be aware that there is a requirement for the successful applicant to obtain Security Check Clearance (SC) as this role is within the Defence sector. Please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for the check and that you are a British citizen with no dual nationality when you are applying for this post.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Work with the central Health and Safety Manager and act as H+S focal point for factory to ensure operations are conducted in accordance with the AMRC's Health and Safety policies (OHSAS18001:2007).

• Assist the Factory Management team in the running the facility, including access and flow of movement for approved staff, opening and closing of Factory.

• Act as part of the radiation protection team and be willing to qualify as a radiation protection supervisor (RPS)

• Manage material accountancy for incoming deliveries, whilst on site and movement of hazardous material to precise levels.

• Prepare and control of the waste stream provision.

• Regularly check the provision and stock control of materials and PPE. Additionally, be a champion of PPE process for gaining access on to the factory floor.

• Manage operational facilities security, consumable management and calibration & maintenance management of equipment.

• Contribute to the development of storage and tool data management systems identifying and maintaining equipment condition is appropriate for use.

• Assist the Factory Manager for risk assessments and factory processes implementation.

• Organise transport for despatch including waste material.

• Create a successful work environment, ensuring project teams are enabled to perform to the best of their abilities.

• Develop and maintain a creative and efficient work environment and escalating issues to the Factory Manager when necessary.

• Work alongside the Factory Manager and the Project Manager to ensure project management practices and systems are adhered to, supported and audited.

• Understand and develop an ethos of supporting project teams with best practice relating to manufacturing methods to ensure consistent approaches are followed across the group and efficiency opportunities are not missed.

• Work with the Factory Management team to support quality assurance and environmental authority audits. Ensure all operations are conducted in accordance with the AMRC's Quality Management Systems (AS9100, ISO 13485, and ISO

• Work with the central Health and Safety Manager to ensure operations are conducted in accordance with the AMRC's Health and Safety policies (OHSAS18001:2007).

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Sufficient experience working within an engineering or manufacturing environment

Essential

Application/interview

Hold qualification or experience as RPS or be willing to gain RPS qualification

Essential

Application/interview

A good understanding of health, safety, quality and environmental policies, standards and compliance, and willing to learn specifics in the field of hazardous materials

Essential

Application/interview

Can demonstrate a logical and analytical approach to solving complex problems and issues.

Essential

Application/interview

Experience in written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate to staff at all levels of the organisation.

Essential

Application/interview

Hold DGSA accreditation or willing to attain it

Essential

Application/interview

Have licenses or previously held licenses for B1 Forklift truck (minimum) and overhead cranes or willing to attain the licenses. The ability to drive or ride on manual handling equipment/ lifting aids inc. Forklifts, pallet stackers, mobile manipulators, and barrel grabs. That will be used factory wide for tasks that include, loading and unloading vans for receiving and dispatching, maintenance task and material movement.

Essential

Application/interview

Experience in operational facilities security, consumable management, waste stream provision, provision and maintenance of PPE, calibration and maintenance management.

Desirable

Application/interview

Experience of working in an environment with hazardous materials

Desirable

Application/interview

Comfortable maintaining all types of equipment including external associated plant

Essential

Application/interview

Carry out project and maintenance specific manual handling tasks. Inc. changing of filters that could be at high or difficult access areas, movement of waste and material containers within the factory in to or around

Essential

Application/interview

Comfortable undertaking opening and closing the facility, securely with adherence to specific process.

Essential

Application/interview

Further Information

Grade

G7

Salary

£38, 784 - £47,389 per annum

Work arrangement

Full-time on-site working (35 hours, Mon-Fri)

Duration

Fixed Term for 36 months

Line manager

Factory Manager

Our website

For informal enquiries about this job contact Ryan Jones, Factory Manager: on or on

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 1st December. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 15th December. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: ().

What we offer

• A minimum of 41days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• support for those going through the menopause
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Baseline personnel security standard

This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

Please be aware that there is a requirement for the successful applicant to obtain the relevant Security Check clearance as this role is in the Defence sector. Please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for the check when you are applying for this post. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: (opens in a new window).

Closing Date : 08/12/2025

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.