Bakery Assistant Department Manager

Hy-Vee Inc; Papillion (NE); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Hy-Vee Inc. in Papillion, Nebraska, is seeking a Bakery Assistant Department Manager to partner with the Bakery Department Manager to oversee daily production, supervise the bakery team, and ensure cases are stocked with fresh products.

You'll train new employees, allocate tasks, maintain department standards for cleanliness and safety, and respond to customer needs with a friendly, helpful approach in a fast-paced bakery environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Over one year up to three years bakery experience preferred
• Experience leading a team in a fast-paced environment
• Strong customer service orientation

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily bakery production and schedule
• Lead and develop bakery team
• Ensure cases are stocked with fresh product
• Train new employees and assign tasks
• Maintain department standards for cleanliness and safety
• Handle customer concerns professionally

Skills

Bakery leadership

Staff training

Customer service

Production planning

Communication

Math skills

Team management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

1–3 years related experience preferred

Job description

Additional Considerations (if any): Must be 18+ - At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other.

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

• 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

• 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.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.