Job description
Join a premier artisan bakery in the heart of Portland as Head Baker & Pastry Lead. We craft rustic loaves, laminated pastries, and seasonal desserts with a focus on quality, consistency, and sustainable sourcing. You will lead a small team of bakers, shape our daily offerings, and drive recipe innovation while upholding the highest standards of food safety and kitchen efficiency.
What you'll do is combine artistry with leadership: inspire your team, optimize production, and ensure every product meets our brand's standards for flavor, texture, and presentation. We offer a collaborative environment, competitive compensation, and opportunities for growth within a growing bakery.
Responsibility
- Lead daily production of artisan breads, pastries, and seasonal specials with consistent quality.
- Develop and refine recipes, and oversee temperature, timing, and texture control.
- Manage shift schedules, train bakers, and ensure food safety and sanitation compliance.
- Monitor inventory, place ingredient orders, and manage waste while optimizing cost.
- Maintain strict quality control, record bake data, and troubleshoot issues in real time.
- Collaborate with the pastry lead on menu planning and cross-discipline projects.
- Maintain equipment hygiene and coordinate preventive maintenance with staff.
- Mentor junior bakers, foster a positive team culture, and uphold brand standards.
Qualification
- 5+ years of professional baking experience in an artisan or boutique bakery.
- Expertise in sourdough, laminated doughs, danishes, croissants, and pastries.
- Strong leadership and team management skills with a track record of staff development.
- Solid knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergen controls, and sanitation.
- Ability to work early mornings and long shifts; physical stamina and precision.
- Proficiency in recipe scaling, costing, inventory management, and data recording.
- Excellent palate, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities.
- Creative mindset with collaborative spirit and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.