Bakery Assistant Department Manager

Hy-Vee, Inc.; Coralville (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Hy-Vee Bakery in Coralville, IA seeks a Bakery Assistant Department Manager to lead daily production, supervise the bakery team, and ensure cases are stocked with fresh product.

You will train staff, assign tasks, review schedules, and maintain department standards for cleanliness, customer service, and sanitation. This is a fast-paced leadership role with a strong focus on team and customer outcomes.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Over 1 year up to 3 years related experience preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 100 pounds and operate material-handling equipment where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver outstanding customer service by greeting customers and resolving concerns.
• Set up production schedule and assign tasks to bakers and department employees.
• Review daily production list and manage production flow.
• Rotate display case products and ensure freshness.
• Train new employees and supervise bakery team.
• Assume management duties in the Department Manager's absence.
• Follow sanitation procedures and maintain a clean, safe workspace.
• Answer phone and take product orders.

Skills

Customer service leadership

Team leadership

Problem solving

Math skills

Organization

Communication

Confidentiality

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Job Title: Bakery Assistant Department Manager.

Department: Bakery.

FLSA: Hourly.

Revision Date: 07/2026.

About Hy-Vee:

At Hy-Vee, we believe the shortest distance between two people is a smile. We’re seeking people with a passion for customer service, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to being part of a team that strives to make our customers’ lives easier, healthier and happier.

The Role and Why It’s Important:

At Hy-Vee, our bakery department is built on freshness, quality, and the kind of product that keeps customers coming back, and the Bakery Assistant Department Manager helps make sure that standards are met every single day.

In this role, you’ll partner with the Bakery Department Manager to oversee daily production, lead and develop the team, and ensure the cases are always stocked with the best product possible. From assigning tasks and reviewing production schedules to training new employees and stepping in to lead when needed, your contributions have a real impact on both the team and the customer. If you are an experienced bakery professional with strong leadership skills and a drive for results, we’d love to have you on board.

What You’ll Do:

No two shifts are exactly the same, but here’s what you can expect:

• Deliver outstanding customer service by greeting every customer warmly, assisting with their needs, and handling and resolving customer concerns promptly and professionally.
• Check orders for the day, set up a timeline and production schedule, and assign tasks to bakers and department employees upon arrival.
• Review the daily production list with the team, organize production flow, and create a second schedule for additional product needs as required.
• Review product for freshness and pull by stale date; ensure display case product is rotated and replenished throughout the day.
• Review day of week for gross potential and plan ahead for upcoming sales weeks, events, and production needs.
• Create the closing list for the evening crew and assign duties to part-time staff as needed.
• Ensure department standards are consistently met across production, cleanliness, and customer service.
• Train new employees and support the ongoing development of the bakery team.
• Instruct, assign, and review the work of others; coordinate activities and allocate personnel as needed.
• Assume management responsibilities and order product and supplies in the absence of the Department Manager.
• Fill in for absent employees during the production day as needed.
• Practice proper sanitation procedures and keep the work area clean, neat, and safe at all times.
• Answer the phone promptly and provide friendly, helpful service to customers who call, including taking product orders.
• Follow Hy-Vee’s dress code, hygiene standards, and all department and company guidelines.
• Pitch in with other tasks or special projects as they come up.

Your Skills:

To be successful in this role, you’ll need to be able to:

• Bring commitment to Hy-Vee’s mission and a genuine passion for delivering an outstanding customer and team experience.
• Lead, train, and support a bakery team in a fast-paced production environment.
• Solve practical problems and make sound decisions with a variety of variables and limited standardization.
• Apply math skills including fractions, decimals, and percentages in day-to-day tasks.
• Stay organized and manage multiple production schedules and priorities simultaneously.
• Communicate clearly with customers, team members, and vendors and provide basic direction and guidance.
• Handle confidential information including ads, gross profit percentages, wages, sales, pricing, and employee information with discretion.

Reporting Relationships:

Accountable and Reports to:

District Store Director; Store Manager; Assistant Managers of Perishables, Store Operations, Health Wellness Home; Bakery Department Manager.

Direct Reports:

Bakers, Cake Designers, Fryers, Clerks, Bakery Wrappers.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent experience.
• Over one year up to three years of similar or related experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to frequently lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing 100 pounds or more, with or without mechanical assistance.
• Continuously stand and walk on hard surfaces for extended periods.
• Where applicable to the role: ability to operate pallet jacks, forklifts, or similar material-handling equipment (required operator certification must be completed prior to independent use).
• Work in cooler or freezer environments for extended periods.
• Where applicable to the role: ability to safely use sharp knives and blades to cut, trim, or grind product.
• Where applicable to the role, and in accordance with applicable age and legal requirements: operate a cardboard baler or compactor.
• Where applicable to the role: perform repetitive motions associated with dough mixing, scaling, and proofing.
• Ability to unload, lift, stock, and rotate incoming truck freight and merchandise.

Working Environment:

This is a fast-moving role with significant pressure to meet production deadlines throughout your shift. You’ll work in the bakery department and can expect daily exposure to noise, temperature extremes, dampness, vibrations, equipment movement hazards, and cleaning chemicals and solvents, as well as weekly exposure to dirt and occasional exposure to electrical equipment. Safety is always a priority, and training is provided to help ensure a safe and supportive work environment.