Bakery Lead - Pastry

Meet Us: King Arthur Baking Company is an award-winning, audience-leading baking company with a strategic vision to be the resource for baking education and inspiration. Through traditional and new media, in-person and virtual education, we strive to be a leader in helping novice and expert bakers alike. We're not going anywhere - we've been part of the family since 1790. We work to build stronger communities and increase access and the connection to real foods. We take pride in our responsible sourcing and our "never bleached" guarantee. And we work closely with farmers, millers, and suppliers in a continued commitment toward sustainability. Our wheat flour is grown and milled right here in the United States. Flour this good uses only the purest ingredients, free from GMOs. As a founding B Corporation, we are committed to using the power of business as a force for social and environmental good. We believe every employee's contributions make our company what it is: vibrant, successful, and committed to spreading the joy of baking. We are a welcoming and inclusive 100% employee-owned company.

The Position: The Bakery Lead - Pastry is responsible for the successful daily operation of the pastry bakery. The individual in this role supports the Head of Bakery in product selection, development, and production. The Bakery Lead – Pastry ensures the highest level of pastry product quality by inspiring their team, effectively delegating workload and offering feedback for development. This position is responsible for supporting and motivating the pastry team to meet the daily demands of production for wholesale accounts and special events.

The Benefits: Yes, we have the regular "stuff" - medical, dental, vision, company paid short- and long-term disability, life insurance, paid time off to rest, paid holidays to have fun, a 401(K) with a company match. But here's what makes us different: 40 paid volunteer hours a year, profit sharing*, participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)* and knowing that those working with you are dedicated and engaged co-employee owners that believe in you and your extraordinary abilities to move us all forward.

Reports to: Head of Bakery

Location: Norwich, VT (Onsite)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Workforce Management

• Oversees timely and effective team staffing and training in support of the variable needs of the business.
• Fosters the growth, development, and success of employees. Provides ongoing performance management through regular meetings and annual performance reviews.
• Delivers their team updates on a regular cadence, in support of the company’s open book management and employee ownership culture
• Identifies strengths and development needs of team. Works alongside bakers to evaluate each baker and train as necessary to meet a consistent skill level.
• Facilitates and supports a team environment in which people are encouraged to learn from mistakes.
• Manages staff and payroll in conjunction with the established sales targets. Submits payroll processing.

Operations and Planning

• Stays current with national and international baking trends.
• Functions as the Pastry Bakery liaison within the Camelot team

Product Development and Planning

• Schedules quarterly meetings of product offerings; to include full scope review of trends and customer feedback.
• Oversees development and maintenance of operational systems, such as daily retail reports, café team ordering, wholesale accounts, ingredient and dry goods inventories, bakery files, etc.
• Models and leads adherence in all quality, safety, and sanitation procedures and certifications.
• Researches, evaluates, and proposes new process ideas to improve sales, service, efficiencies, safety, quality, and ergonomics

Team Management/Leadership

• Inspires employees so that each person contributes to the productivity of the bakery.
• Maintains staff levels that allow for the best possible customer experience, staying within budgeted guidelines
• Delegates workload appropriately and effectively.
• Writes performance evaluations and goal assessments.
• Openly communicates team and individual expectations and concerns.
• Is readily accessible, willing to listen and seeking to understand.
• Engages their team: motivating, directing, inspiring, and involving them in decisions.
• Nurtures growth in others by supporting their passions, strengths, and work styles
• Maintains employee attitude and morale by recognizing outstanding performance and managing performance issues.

Minimum job requirements

• Passion for baking and has the dedication and drive to consistently produce superlative baked goods
• 5 years related experience
• Adept in formula development and bakers’ percentages for breads and yeasted pastry
• Thorough understanding of lamination and enriched dough
• Foundation and general competence in sweet pastries including cakes, cookies, tarts, and desserts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong decision making and problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively address employee issues, service customers, balance priorities, and support a lean organization.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, Food Safety and Supervisor Training a plus
• Ability to be trained in KAB’s bakery software, Global Bake
• Ability to recognize areas of opportunity & concern and provide effective solutions

Success factors/competencies for this role

• Open to change, recommends actions for continuous improvement
• Thinks and acts strategically, understands how role contributes to larger outcome
• Provides exemplary customer service to both internal and external customers
• Sets high standards for oneself, meets or exceeds deadlines on a consistent basis
• Learns from mistakes and is receptive to feedback
• Effective communicator listens and respects others’ points of view
• Participates in team problem solving and decision making
• Maintains a positive attitude
• Community minded – gets involved, volunteers

Physical requirements/work environment

• Physical requirements

• Ability to follow directions and ask questions for clarification if needed
• Ability to work in a fast-paced kitchen environment
• Ability to reach, bend, stoop and frequently push, pull, move and/or lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to work in a standing position for long periods of time (up to 8 hours)

• Work environment

• Ability to work in hot, wet, humid and loud environment for long periods of time

Safety

• Understand that safety is everyone’s responsibility, including mine
• Responsible for providing a safe and ergonomically sound work environment, identifying unsafe conditions and correcting these conditions immediately
• Engaged in safety and compliance training programs and encourage 100% team participation in same

Environment

• Adhere to company-wide green norms, look for ways to reduce, reuse, recycle
• Educate oneself on KAB environmental campaigns
• Strive to continually improve and implement new processes to reduce our environmental impact

Uniform

• Footwear must be closed-toed, non-slip shoes
• Socks must be worn
• Long pants required (provided)
• Clean T-shirt (provided)
• Clean White apron (provided)
• Facial hair covering must be worn (hair/beard net provided)
• Jewelry is not permitted, exception: plain wedding band

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers and vendors.

There's room at our table for you! Apply today.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors protected by law. King Arthur Flour provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to participate in both the application process and during employment. Such individuals are encouraged to seek accommodations to allow them to apply for a position, participate in the application process, and meet the essential functions and requirements of the position.

• Amounts vary based achievement of financial targets. Participation based on hire date and program entry date.