Head Baker – Central Production Unit
Location: London
Salary: £50,000 - £55,000
Working Pattern: Five days from seven, including weekends
Shift Pattern: Rotating production shifts across days and nights, typically between 14:30 and 02:30
Long-Term Opportunity: Progression into a predominantly day-shift leadership role as the operation continues to evolve
The Opportunity
We're partnering with a growing London bakery business that supplies premium bakery products to hospitality, café and their own retail customers across the capital.
As the business continues to invest in its people, processes and production capabilities, they are now looking to appoint a Head Baker to take ownership of their Central Production Unit and lead the bakery through its next phase of growth.
You'll play a key role in shaping standards, developing people, improving processes and helping create a bakery operation that is built for long-term success.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the bakery production team across daily operations
- Take ownership of bakery output, quality, consistency and performance
- Maintain exceptional standards across bread, sourdough and wider bakery ranges
- Coach, mentor and develop bakers at all levels
- Drive improvements in communication, shift handovers and daily organisation
- Support workforce planning, rotas and holiday cover arrangements
- Help implement stronger operational processes and production controls
- Monitor dough development, fermentation, proving and baking standards
- Oversee ingredient management, ordering, stock control and storage standards
- Ensure food safety, hygiene and housekeeping standards are consistently maintained
- Work closely with senior leadership to strengthen operational performance and production reliability
What We're Looking For Essential
- Strong bakery production experience
- Previous leadership or supervisory experience within a bakery environment
- Excellent technical knowledge of bread and bakery production
- Strong understanding of sourdough, fermentation and dough handling
- Experience working to production plans, quality standards and output targets
- Ability to introduce structure, consistency and improved ways of working
- Comfortable working rotating shifts, including nights and weekends
Backgrounds Considered
- Central Production Units
- Artisan Bakeries with meaningful production scale
- Food Manufacturing Bakery Operations
- High-Volume Bakery Production Environments
What's In It For You?
- A senior leadership position within a growing London bakery business
- The opportunity to shape the future direction of the bakery operation
- Significant influence over standards, structure and team development
- Real autonomy to implement improvements and drive positive change
- Long-term progression into a predominantly day-shift leadership role
You'll be trusted to lead from the front, develop a talented team, protect product quality and play a major role in building a bakery operation capable of supporting future growth.
If you're a passionate bakery leader looking for a role where you can genuinely make an impact, we'd love to hear from you.