Graduate Assistant Manager - Production & Product Development

Graduate Assistant Manager - Production & Product Development *This is a 2 Year Grad Start Program*Location Smithfield, Dublin, IrelandDepartment Production / OperationsRole Level Graduate Starter Programme, Assistant Manager levelReports to Production Manager for day-to-day production activitiesDirect Mentor Operations ManagerType Full-time, in-person production kitchen roleLanguage Requirement Full professional fluency in English, written and spokenPay 30’000 € / annumHours Mon- Fri (No evenings), 36-38 hours / week Contract 2 yearsStart date 14.09.2026***Please send your application including CV and "why you fit this role" to hello@ruafood.com***About the RoleThe Graduate Assistant Production & Product Development Manager will support RUA Food’s production kitchen while contributing to the company’s growth through product development, process development, lab testing coordination and operational improvement.This is a hands-on 2-year Grad Start role designed to build both technical production understanding and first leadership experience. The role sits hierarchically below the Production Manager, while the Operations Manager acts as the direct mentor throughout the graduate programme.The position is intended for a graduate or early-career candidate who is interested in food production, product innovation, quality, process improvement and future leadership within a growing food business.About RUAFeral treat Limited t/a RUA is a Dublin-based confectionery business dedicated to creating high-quality, handcrafted food products for cafés, retailers, and individual customers across Ireland. We specialise in thoughtfully made gluten-free treats and baked goods. Our approach centres on careful ingredient sourcing and mainly plant-based products, currently producing for over 80 B2B partners and a fast-growing B2C segment. From concept to delivery, we manage our operations in-house to ensure efficiency, reliability, and exceptional standards at every stage. At RUA, we are passionate about producing delicious, well-crafted products while fostering a modern, collaborative and professional kitchen environment.Position in the TeamThe role sits at Assistant Manager level below the Production Manager. The Production Manager remains responsible for daily kitchen operations, production schedules, team leadership, food safety, quality control, inventory and production efficiency.The graduate will support these areas while taking ownership of selected development tasks, process improvement projects and testing coordination. The Operations Manager will act as the graduate’s direct mentor, supporting development, prioritisation, leadership skills and wider business understanding.Key ResponsibilitiesHands-on Production & Operational SupportProduct DevelopmentProcess DevelopmentLab Testing & Quality CoordinationFirst Leadership ExperienceRequired Skills & AttributesFull professional fluency in English, written and spoken.Strong interest in food production, product development and process improvement.Excellent attention to detail, especially around recipes, testing, documentation and quality standards.Strong organisational and communication skills.Ability and willingness to work hands-on in a production kitchen environment.Curious, practical and improvement-focused mindset.Ability to take initiative while working under guidance.Interest in developing first leadership and people coordination skills.Comfortable coordinating with external partners such as laboratories, suppliers or service providers.Preferred BackgroundGraduate or early-career candidate with a qualification in food science, culinary arts, food business, food innovation, product development, hospitality or food production.Previous experience in a kitchen, bakery, food production environment or small food business would be beneficial but is not essential.Food safety or HACCP training required.Graduate Programme Development FocusProduction understandingThe graduate will learn how RUA’s products are made, how the kitchen operates and how quality, consistency and food safety are maintained.Development capabilityThe graduate will support new product development, lab testing, recipe trials, process documentation and quality-related coordination.Leadership growthThe graduate will build first assistant manager-level experience through communication, coordination, project ownership and practical team support.Business contributionThe graduate will contribute to RUA’s growth by helping strengthen processes, improve production clarity and support product innovation.Overall Outcome: By the end of the graduate starter programme, the candidate should have gained a strong practical understanding of RUA Food’s production operation and be able to contribute meaningfully to product development, process improvement, lab testing coordination and future operational growth in food manufacturing.Still contemplating whether you are right for the role?If you read all the way through here, you might be just the perfect fit. 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