Head of Pastry - Bakery in City of London

Salary: £40,000–£42,000 per year

Location: South London

Hours: Permanent | Full-time

This is an incredible opportunity to join an exciting, family-run bakery manufacturing business that has grown from a single location into six thriving cafés in just six years. Alongside its growing café estate, the business operates a busy, fully operational bakery manufacturing unit supplying its own locations and lots of wholesale customers across London seven days a week. Built around exceptional food, creativity, craftsmanship and consistently high standards, the business has developed a fantastic reputation across London. Its products are central to its continued success, with quality ingredients, skilled production and fresh ideas helping set the bakery apart. With ambitious plans for further growth, they’re now looking to appoint an experienced Head of Pastry to lead and develop this key area of production.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate lamination specialist who enjoys working hands-on, developing people and producing outstanding bakery products within a fast-paced environment.

The Opportunity

You’ll take ownership of the day-to-day lamination operation, ensuring production is completed safely, efficiently and to the highest standards of quality. This is a highly hands-on leadership role. You’ll work alongside the team to achieve production deadlines, troubleshoot process and equipment issues and ensure products consistently meet customer expectations. You’ll also have the opportunity to improve processes, develop standard operating procedures and support new product development, combining operational leadership with creativity and a real passion for laminated products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all day-to-day lamination operations across the production unit.
• Ensure production schedules and customer delivery commitments are achieved.
• Work hands-on alongside the team to meet production deadlines.
• Maintain exceptional standards of product quality, consistency and presentation.
• Plan production activity and organise resources effectively.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures for lamination processes.
• Monitor machinery performance, productivity and waste.
• Troubleshoot process and equipment issues to minimise production interruptions.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and productivity.
• Support cost control and waste-reduction initiatives.
• Lead, coach, train and develop the lamination team.
• Create a positive, organised and supportive working environment.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental and company standards.
• Analyse production performance across output, quality, efficiency and cost.
• Support new product development and bring creative ideas to the products being produced.

About You

You’ll be an experienced lamination or bakery production professional with a strong understanding of laminated dough products and the confidence to lead from the front. You’ll bring:

• Around three to four years’ experience within lamination, bakery or manufacturing operations.
• Strong technical knowledge of lamination processes and laminated dough products.
• A genuine passion for bakery products, flavour, quality and craftsmanship.
• A creative flair and enthusiasm for supporting new product development.
• Experience planning production and working to demanding schedules.
• Strong leadership, coaching and people-development skills.
• Strong organisational, analytical and decision-making skills.
• An understanding of cost control, productivity and operational efficiency.
• A hands-on, positive and collaborative leadership style.
• The right to live and work in the UK.
• Experience producing products such as croissants, pain au chocolat, Danish pastries or other laminated dough products within a commercial bakery would be particularly beneficial.

What’s on Offer

• A salary of £40,000–£42,000, depending on experience.
• A permanent, full-time position.
• 28 days of paid annual leave | Additional paid day off for your birthday.
• Private pension.
• Free on-site parking.
• Discounted or free bakery products.
• The opportunity to lead a key department within a busy production unit.
• Lots of scope for professional development and career progression.
• The opportunity to support new product development and influence future ranges.

This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced lamination specialist who wants greater ownership, real progression and the chance to lead a skilled team producing exceptional bakery products.