Assistant Head Baker

Assistant Head Baker

The Assistant Head Baker serves as the right hand to the Bakery Manager, able to deputise in their absence. They will help to oversee all aspects of bakery operations, including team leadership, production planning, training, and quality assurance. This is a strategic role focused on maintaining excellence across all product lines and ensuring operational consistency at the highest standards.

Directly reports into (Line Manager): Bakery Manager

Key Responsibilities:

·       Collaborate with the Bakery Manager and wider Food Team on menu development and product launches.

·       Lead and mentor the bakery team to maintain quality and develop talent.

·       Solve production issues and optimize workflow and labour usage.

·       Manage bakery production across multiple shifts and departments.

·       Monitor ingredient inventory, coordinating efficient and accurate stock management.

·       Keep working equipment safe and good order whilst ensuring any maintenance followed up through correct channels.

·       Drive food safety compliance to ensure the bakery and all processes remain held to highest standards of cleanliness and traceability.

·       Enforce adherence to recipes, product standards, and portion control.

Key to this role:

·       Genuine passion for food and desire to deliver best in class products to our Houses.

·       Strong leadership abilities, with a positive can-do attitude and a proven track record with management-level responsibilities.

·       Experience in staff development.

·       Strong experience in lamination, Viennoiserie, enriched doughs and patisserie. Able to troubleshoot and offer solutions to complex production issues.

·       Previous experience leading a team in a high-volume production bakery - with the ability to deliver effective feedback and hold their team to account.

·       Knowledge of professional bakery equipment, production scaling and workflow optimisation.

·       Familiarity with food costing, inventory management systems, and scheduling.

·       Level 3 Food Hygiene or successful completion of by end of probation, knowledge of HACCP and ability to implement and manage food safety practices to remain compliant.

·       Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

·       Formal culinary training preferred.

Working at WatchHouse 

At WatchHouse, we are a people first business. We treat everyone with respect. We pride ourselves in creating an environment where diversity is celebrated, equality is insisted, and inclusion expected.  

A company where we believe in having the right person in the role; and personality, individuality and uniqueness top the list of what we are looking for in applications and throughout our hiring process.   

We also know that everyone is different, and we value and respect diversity, standing up for equality and standing against any form of discrimination.                                                                                      

Decisions about and the treatment of people at work should be based on the individual’s abilities, skills, performance, and behavior- these should be assessed against the WatchHouse job description requirements for each individual role. 

We are always patient and considerate towards others. Encouraging, approachable and communicate brilliantly. We strive to be the best we can be, by giving and receiving regular and honest feedback in a professional manner.   

We plan, prioritize and are mindful and respect the time of others. We complete every task to the best of our ability. Always happy to ask for help, work in cohesion with other people/departments and share successes. 

We work to make WatchHouse an environment of trust and comradery, where others are inspired to play their part in working effectively together. Building strong relationships with others and demonstrating positive energy. We recognize and value the contribution of others across the business, working together to deliver the Modern Coffee experience to each and every person touched by our business.