Job Description
Job Description
We are working with a long-standing and innovative natural baking company in the Northeast. They are looking for a Head of Bakery to oversee all aspects of daily bakery production and wholesale operations to ensure high-quality, consistent products that reflect the brand’s values. This person will lead the creative vision for the bakery, driving quality standards. This company is 100% employee owned and offers generous benefits!
Location: Central Vermont
Job Responsibilities:
- Oversee daily Bakery production, scheduling, and workflow to ensure efficiency and consistency. Establish and monitor production standards, formulas portioning and presentation. Ensure food and occupational safety standards compliance.
- Lead and manage Wholesale business and develop effective programs and menus that respond to and serve local customers.
- Lead and develop the creative vision for the Bakery. Evaluate existing programs and create a culture of innovation and new product development. Establish menu change timelines that align with seasonality and company initiatives. Ensure products align with brand values and customer expectations.
- Support Bakery Leads to recruit, train and mentor artisan bread bakers and pastry chefs. Develop staff through coaching, performance management, and succession planning. Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance work culture.
- Partner closely with leadership to ensure collaborative and positive team culture, with a special focus on par setting, menu development, and attractive food merchandising.
- Partner with Director to set sales and profitability goals via annual budget planning process. Manage Bakery budget, labor costs, COGs, and inventory to achieve financial targets. Identify opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce costs and drive profitability.
- Work cross-functionally with business partners to drive continuous improvement and recognition of the Bakery as a unique and differentiating business unit in the company.
- Provide hands-on support in bakery production when necessary to maintain operational continuity, model best practices, and reinforce a collaborative team environment.
Required Skills/Qualifications:
- 5+ years of progressive bakery leadership with experience in high volume retail café and wholesale production.
- Formal education in baking/pastry arts or culinary management preferred.
- Strong technical knowledge of artisan breads and pastries.
- Proven track record of successfully leading teams and achieving operational goals.
- Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Proficient with Microsoft Office suite.
- Ability to communicate expectations, feedback, and ideas across cross-functional teams.
- Strong leadership skills, including the ability to set clear, measurable performance goals, coach, mentor, and inspire a team to reach their full potential.
- Ability to set goals and objectives that support performance, build comprehensive team roadmaps and plans that drive results, allocate resources, and identify and mitigate risks.