Head Baker/Kitchen Manager

Join our team as Kitchen Manager / Head Baker leading the daily kitchen operations of high-volume baking production at our main baking facility. You will be balancing hands-on craft with commercial acumen, this role ensures exceptional product quality, optimised production, team leadership and regulatory compliance.

Millers' Local Bakehouse is located in Wollongong on the NSW South Coast which offers great opportunities, close to beaches, the Illawarra Escarpment and national parks. Enjoy a balanced lifestyle on the coast, only an hour south of Sydney. The food scene in the Illawarra is fast growing and Millers' has established its self right at the heart of it. We have built a reputation for premium quality baked goods, recognised as a product worth travelling for we retail across 3 store locations and a growing wholesale market. Our focus is on sustainable food ethics and taking responsibility for our role in the local food system, hosting crop swaps, tackling issues on food waste and regularly collaborating with other like-minded local businesses.

It's hands on so you will have some part in preparing and baking a range of menu items whilst providing exceptional attention to detail. While you have some experience in pastry, you would use your extensive experience in bread production to add depth to our baking section.

• Using your previous experience to oversee high volume kitchen production processes, suggesting improvements that will provide efficiencies, whilst maintaining consistent product quality. 
• Ensuring costing and portioning are within budget and maintained throughout production.
• Managing kitchen inventory and establishing a system for scheduled ordering and storage.
• Working with Managers to develop menus and recipes that reflect the values of the bakery and general approach to the food system. We work to use and support local producers whenever we can, adding resilience to our food-system.
• Supervising and train apprentices in a supportive and constructive way.
• Maintaining high kitchen hygiene standards and overseeing cleaning schedules to ensure full compliance with Council and Food Authority regulations.
• Using your prior experience meeting wage and food cost budgets for the kitchen.
• Working with the retail and wholesale departments, ensuring happy customers!
• Managing the weekly kitchen staff rosters 
• Adhering to our product quality and brand standards, making sure the bakery remains the local favourite that it's worked so hard to become!
• Contributing to ensuring a safe, welcoming, open and enjoyable work environment where support is provided to colleagues.

• You are organised and able to lead others in a clear and calm manner with your great communications skills.
• You have strong planning skills with the ability to manage competing production priorities whilst meeting deadlines.
• You have a big-picture mindset, thinking beyond daily tasks to overarching team and business goals. Great for heading up the kitchen of a bakery that is looking to grow!
• You are focused on continuous improvement with excellent problem-solving skills and a strong attention to detail.
• You've got a passion for quality craftsmanship while understanding the demands of commercial production. We produce a hand-made, all natural product which is of primary importance.
• You are able to learn quickly and respond well to guidance whilst using your initiative.
• You are a great communicator, conversing openly and effectively 

You must be experienced in these areas and be:

• Previously experienced in Food Manufacturing in a medium to large bakery
• Willing to work week day and weekend shifts
• Hands-on with an enthusiastic and positive attitude
• Experienced with HACCP and WHS and hold a current FSS Certificate
• Able to use Excel and Deputy
• Able to work with full work rights in Australia
• Able to show 3 - 5 years Baking Experience