Job description
Aurora Bakehouse is seeking a Head Pastry Chef to lead our pastry program in Portland. We craft modern, seasonal pastries using the finest local ingredients. This role blends culinary artistry with leadership, mentorship, and business-minded decisions to elevate daily production and guest experiences.
As the Head Pastry Chef, you will own the pastry program, from recipe development and production planning to quality control and team coaching. You will collaborate with the bakery and cafe teams to ensure exceptional product quality and consistent service across all outlets.
Responsibility
- Lead daily pastry production, planning, and quality control to ensure consistent product excellence.
- Manage and mentor a team of bakers, assign duties, schedule shifts, and provide ongoing coaching.
- Develop seasonal menus and signature pastries, testing recipes and presenting new items for tasting.
- Maintain rigorous HACCP, food safety, and sanitation standards across all pastry workstations.
- Monitor inventory, order ingredients, manage waste, and optimize costs without compromising quality.
- Collaborate with cafe and operations teams to ensure timely production and on time service during peak hours.
- Oversee equipment maintenance, calibration, and facility cleanliness; lead safety trainings.
Qualification
- 5+ years of professional pastry experience; 2+ years in a leadership or head role.
- Culinary degree or equivalent pastry certification.
- Proven ability to lead, train, and develop pastry teams.
- Expertise in laminated doughs, croissants, tarts, desserts; strong palate and appetite for creativity.
- Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety, and sanitation.
- Excellent organization, communication, and time management skills.
- Availability for early mornings, weekends, and holidays as needed.