How to hire an associate production manager

How to hire an associate production manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate production manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate production manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate production manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an associate production manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The associate production manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an associate production manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an associate production manager that fits the bill.

   This list presents associate production manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Associate Production Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Production Manager		$21-62
   Lead Operator	Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations... Show more	$25-68
   Lead Person	A lead person or lead worker is an employee who provides leadership and instructions to others in a group to complete tasks quickly and effectively. Lead workers plan and organize meetings with supervisors and the management to discuss a particular project's progress and development... Show more	$30-82

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Quality Standards
   • Purchase Orders
   • Product Development
   • PLM
   • Quality Issues
   • Status Reports
   • WIP
   • On-Time Delivery
   • Booking
   • R
   • Production Schedules
   • Product Lifecycle
   • Cost Negotiations
   • Direct Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage operations of a high-precision machining facility consisting of state-of-the-art CNC machine tools.
   • Monitor weekly WIP reports from factories/vendors to ensure on time delivery.
   • Review weekly WIP reports send by agents and follow up on any discrepancies.
   • Monitor control plans, troubleshoot workmanship problems and supervise production activities to ensure manufacture products meet or exceed establish quality requirements.
   • Analyze planning documentation from the MRP system to purchase for production requirements.
   • Resolve inventory or material shortages issues through review of MRP system and transaction.

   More associate production manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate production manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An associate production manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, associate production managers' average salary in montana is 44% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate production managers earn 66% less than senior-level associate production managers.
   • Certifications. An associate production manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an associate production manager's salary.

   Average associate production manager salary

   $76,256yearly

   $36.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate production manager salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average associate production manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$91,372	$44
   2	Connecticut	$88,648	$43
   3	New York	$82,578	$40
   4	Texas	$81,133	$39
   5	Maryland	$78,327	$38
   6	Nevada	$75,895	$36
   7	Washington	$72,613	$35
   8	Arizona	$70,085	$34
   9	Oklahoma	$61,399	$30
   10	Florida	$60,638	$29
   11	Indiana	$60,529	$29
   12	Georgia	$60,500	$29
   13	Colorado	$58,684	$28
   14	Illinois	$56,729	$27

   Average associate production manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Walt Disney Company	$103,810	$49.91	27
   2	Tesla	$101,090	$48.60	57
   3	LinkedIn	$86,380	$41.53
   4	Lucky Brand	$84,696	$40.72
   5	Opus Agency	$83,529	$40.16
   6	Forever 21	$74,731	$35.93
   7	Gap Inc.	$74,614	$35.87
   8	Sony Pictures	$73,066	$35.13	14
   9	Nestlé	$69,286	$33.31	44
   10	Ball Arena	$67,978	$32.68
   11	Arrow Electronics	$66,489	$31.97	1
   12	BrightView Landscape Development Inc	$62,798	$30.19	2
   13	Scanline VFX	$62,217	$29.91
   14	Ascena Retail Group	$61,209	$29.43
   15	Blue Sky Studios	$58,286	$28.02
   16	Olympus	$54,615	$26.26	2
   17	BrightView	$51,338	$24.68	1
   18	Custom Ink	$48,979	$23.55
   19	Johns Hopkins University	$44,182	$21.24	1
   20	American Conservatory Theater	$26,659	$12.82

4. Writing an associate production manager job description

   A job description for an associate production manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an associate production manager job description:

   Associate production manager job description example

   Looking for an opportunity where success comes naturally? Then you may have found your crew. We're looking for an Associate Production Manager to join our team.
   Here's what you'd do:
   
   The Associate Production Manager (APM) schedules and directs personnel and resources towards providing quality, cost-effective services to our clients. APMs also support the Senior Production Manager in executing day-to-day goals and objectives.
   
   You'd be responsible for:
   
   * Understanding client needs via regular communication with the Account Manager or Senior Production Manager
   * Ensuring that job site quality and appearance meet client and BrightView's standards
   * Managing all landscape/tree care services, including the coordination of all materials, people, equipment, and subcontractors required to produce quality work
   * Inspecting properties prior to scheduled services and prepare specific action plans for service, adjusting service schedules as needed
   * Monitoring irrigation systems, identifying problems or necessary repairs, and communicating recommendations to the appropriate party
   * Monitoring all aspects of the landscape/tree care and identifying insect or disease problems
   * As necessary, performing hands-on work with crews to meet work and scheduling demands
   * Implementing and enforcing BrightView policies and procedures related to the proper upkeep and maintenance, storage, use, and training required for branch equipment
   * Working with the Account Manager to identify staffing needs, hire new crew employees, and prepare daily crew schedules
   * Hands-on training and support of crew employees, including proper operation of equipment, pruning techniques, safety, and quality standards
   * Implementing methods to improve safe workplace practices and monitoring safety records
   * Maintaining and managing all required administrative systems, including time sheets and service schedules
   * Coordinating with the Branch Administrator to ensure branch databases are consistently updated with current client information
   * Ordering materials as needed and monitor costs and deliveries
   * Requesting purchase orders and use in accordance with company guidelines
   
   You might be a good fit if you have:
   
   * A minimum of 2 years of prior working experience in the landscaping or tree care industry or local marketplace or equivalent educational experience
   * A minimum of a 2-year degree in a landscape-related field or certification by a landscape or tree care association preferred
   
   Here's what to know about working here:
   
   At BrightView, we're a tight-knit crew who are as passionate about caring for our clients as we are about each other. Though we're the nation's leading landscape company, we maintain a small company feel and supportive environment that makes our team members feel at home.
   
   If you're looking to join a crew of talented go-getters who tackle big vision projects other companies could only dream of, you might just have found your match. With our range of services, including landscape design, development, maintenance and enhancements, there's no limit to what we can do, and what you can achieve.
   
   In addition to industry-leading development opportunities, you'll also have benefits and perks like:
   
   * Competitive salary
   * Paid time off
   * Medical, dental, and vision insurance
   
   Think you've found your crew?
   
   BrightView is an Equal Employment Opportunity and E-Verify Employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find associate production managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any associate production managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level associate production managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate production manager job on Zippia to find and recruit associate production manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit associate production managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate production manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the associate production manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new associate production manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an associate production manager?