Bakery Lead - Bread

King Arthur Baking Company; Norwich (VT); On-site; USD 50,900 - 69,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Volunteer hours

Profit sharing

ESOP

Job summary

King Arthur Baking Company in Norwich, VT is seeking an experienced Bread Lead to oversee daily production, product development, and menu planning. You will manage bakery administration, orders, wholesale communications, and inventory, and supervise the bread team reporting to the Head of Bakery.

The role emphasizes leadership, quality, and collaboration within a mission-driven team and offers comprehensive benefits and a strong ESOP culture in a 100% employee-owned company.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years baking experience in a professional bakery.
• Experience leading teams.
• Proven ability to produce exceptional baked products.
• Proficiency with mixing dough, shaping, and baking bread.
• Strong leadership and ability to coach and mentor staff.
• Ability to set clear, measurable performance goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily bread production and oversee product development and menu planning.
• Manage bakery administration, including product ordering and inventory.
• Collaborate with Head of Bakery to set sales and budget goals.
• Participate in monthly financial reviews and action plans.
• Hire, train, and mentor bakery staff and interns.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with other departments.
• Coordinate with Wholesale/Catering on product selection.
• Drive bakery improvements and innovation.

Skills

Bread baking

Team leadership

Quality control

Communication

Job description

Meet Us:

King Arthur Baking Company has been sharing the joy of baking since 1790. Headquartered in Norwich, Vermont, we’re the ultimate baking resource – providing education, inspiration, and the highest quality products, all while fostering connections and community through baking. Our superior flours and mixes are available in supermarkets nationwide, and our direct-to-consumer business – website and retail stores – offers an even wider selection of specialty baking ingredients, mixes, gluten‑free products, baking tools, and more. We bring baking education to millions of bakers through our cookbooks, podcast, recipe app, website, and baking school. We’re proud to be 100% employee‑owned, which means everyone who works here has a real voice and a shared stake in what we do. This creates a strong sense of community built on trust, teamwork, and love of baking. As a benefit corporation, we’re committed to the best interests of all our stakeholders – employees, our local communities, our broader community of bakers, and our planet. Join us and help spread the joy of baking. King Arthur – where, as an employee‑owner, your passion and ideas can truly make a difference.

The Position:

The Bread Lead, leads and oversees the bread team's daily production, managing bread operations encompassing product development, menu planning, and fosters innovation. Additionally, they handle bakery administration tasks such as product ordering, communication with wholesale accounts, and inventory management. They supervise the bread team and report to the Head of Bakery.

The Benefits:

Yes, we have the standard "stuff" – medical, dental, vision, company paid short- and long-term disability, life insurance, paid parental leave, paid time off to rest, paid holidays to have fun, a 401(k) with a company match. 40 paid volunteer hours a year, profit sharing*, participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)* and knowing that those working with you are dedicated and engaged co‑employee owners that believe in you and your extraordinary abilities to move us all forward.

The Location:

Norwich, VT; onsite daily.

The Pay:

$50,900 to $69,300 annual salary; commensurate with experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads and manages the bread team with daily production and leads the bread operations including product development and menu planning, innovation


• Completes bakery administration tasks as necessary, which may include product ordering, communicating with wholesale accounts, and assisting in monitoring inventory.


• Works with the Head of Bakery to set sales and profit goals, and ensure operating budgets are met or exceeded


• Participates in monthly financial reviews and develops corrective action plans as necessary


• Hire, train, and mentor employees who will thrive in the bakery and in our mission-driven culture. Manages bakery intern program, including hiring and reviewing


• Works cross functionally with departments in the facility and company wide


• Collaborates with Wholesale/Catering Coordinator on product selection and how it fits into bread production


• Leads suggestions for improvement and in the development of the bakery.

Education and experiences

• Minimum 6 years baking experience, in a professional baking environment


• Experience in leading teams


• Experience with consistently produce exceptional baked products


• Demonstrated ability in proficiency and accuracy with mixing dough, shaping, and baking bread


• We value those who can demonstrate capability and articulate how prior experiences will help them transition into this role


• Leadership Skills: Strong leadership skills, including the ability to set clear, measurable performance goals, coach, mentor, inspire, team to reach their full potential, lead through change, and model desired behaviors, values, and culture of KAB.


• Highly organized, motivated, and detail oriented: Diligent and meticulous in making and receiving orders. Able to follow formulas and instructions accurately. Possesses a sense of planning and preparation for the day ahead. Keeping tasks on point and on time. You must be able to study formulas, choose exact ingredients, and scale correctly.


• Multitasking: Demonstrated ability to multitask and effectively share space, ingredients, and equipment with coworkers during production. Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize without sacrificing quality. Ask for help when needed.


• Communication and collaboration: Ability to inform others of what is happening in the bakery, effectively listens and respects others’ point of view, and is receptive to feedback. Openly communicates expectations and concerns with their team, offering suggestions for improvement. Participates in team problem solving and decision making. Effectively works with coworkers to achieve common goals. Ability to demonstrate and communicate processes effectively.


• Reliability: Punctuality and consistency in attendance. Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays.

Physical requirements/work environment

Physical requirements

• Ability to work in a standing position for extended periods of time


• Used hands to handle, control, feel objects, tools and controls


• This is a physically demanding role, requiring standing, walking, and frequently lifting up to 10 hours a day


• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds


• Must be able to operate commercial bakery equipment


• Repeat the same movements


• Ability to regularly work in a kitchen environment where allergens may be present


• Ability to regularly touch and taste food products which may contain allergens

Work environment

• Fast‑paced bakery environment


• Exposed to hot temperatures and loud environment

Safety

• Understands that safety is the responsibility of everyone at the organization


• Is responsible for providing a safe and ergonomically sound work environment, identifying unsafe conditions and correcting these conditions immediately


• Engages in safety and compliance training programs and encourage 100% team participation in same

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Travel

N/A

• Adheres to company-wide green norms, looks for ways to reduce, reuse, recycle


• Strives to continually improve and implement new processes to reduce our environmental impact

Uniform

• Footwear must be closed toed, non‑slip shoes (shoe voucher provided)


• Socks must be worn


• Long pants, skirt or shorts required.


• Clean King Arthur Baking T‑shirt (provided)


• Clean white apron (provided)


• Hair and facial hair covering must be worn (hair/beard net) (provided)


• Jewelry is not permitted, unless it is a permanent piercing or a plain wedding band


• Gloves when handling baked goods post bake

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co‑workers, customers, and vendors.

There's room at our table for you! Apply today.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors protected by law. King Arthur Baking provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to participate in both the application process and during employment. Such individuals are encouraged to seek accommodations to allow them to apply for a position, participate in the application process, and meet the essential functions and requirements of the position.

*Amounts vary based on achievement of financial targets. Participation based on hire date and program entry date.