Bakery Manager

Palermo's Pizza; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20 free pizzas per month

Opportunity for training and careerAdv

Paid Time Off and Floating Holiday of 

401(k) & Roth with company match andim

Fantastic benefit offering starting on

Job summary

Palermo’s Bakery in West Milwaukee is seeking an experienced Bakery Manager to lead a three-shift operation, develop bakery leaders, and partner with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Warehouse to run a safe, efficient plant. You’ll drive safety, quality, and productivity while coaching teams, managing staffing, and identifying cost-saving improvements.

This exempt leadership role demands hands-on involvement from the floor and strong people leadership, with GMP and regulatory compliance as

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of bakery manufacturing management experience required.
• Strong knowledge of bakery ingredients and processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead bakery operations across three shifts to achieve safety, quality, productivity, cost, and continuous improvement goals.
• Coach and develop Bakery Leads to build a culture of accountability, respect, and teamwork.
• Ensure sanitation, GMP, 5S, and regulatory requirements are met consistently.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to monitor equipment and support reliable operations.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels and drive employee training and development.

Skills

Bakery management

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

MS Office

ERP basics

Job description

Are you an experienced bakery manufacturing leader who knows how to build strong teams and deliver consistent results?

Do you thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where safety, quality, productivity, and people leadership all matter?

Palermo’s is looking for a Bakery Manager to lead our bakery operations at our West Milwaukee facility. In this role, you’ll oversee a three-shift, multi-platform bakery operation, develop and support bakery leaders, and partner closely with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, and other teams to keep the operation running safely and efficiently.

What you’ll do…

• Lead bakery operations across three shifts to achieve goals for safety, quality, productivity, cost, and continuous improvement.
• Lead, coach, and develop Bakery Leads while creating a culture of accountability, respect, and teamwork.
• Ensure consistent product quality by understanding bakery processes, ingredients, equipment, and environmental factors that impact production.
• Establish performance expectations and hold the team accountable for key operational metrics.
• Ensure sanitation, food safety, GMP, 5S, and regulatory requirements are consistently followed.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to monitor equipment condition, address repairs, and support reliable bakery operations.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels and support employee training, performance management, recognition, and development.
• Identify and lead cost-saving and process-improvement opportunities.
• Monitor inventory levels and help prevent excessive usage, waste, and obsolescence.
• Conduct regular work-area reviews to reinforce safe work practices and proper use of personal protective equipment.
• Investigate workplace accidents and injuries and ensure required reporting is completed.
• Collaborate across operations to solve problems and keep production moving.

What you’ll bring…

• 3–5+ years of bakery manufacturing management experience required.
• Strong functional knowledge of bakery ingredients and bakery manufacturing processes.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions in a fast-paced operation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to quality and accuracy.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Basic understanding of ERP systems.
• AIB training is a plus.
• Bilingual skills are a plus.

Why you'll succeed…

• Lead from the floor and enjoy being actively involved in the operation.
• Know how to balance people leadership with production demands.
• Hold yourself and others accountable while treating employees with respect.
• Stay composed and solutions-focused when priorities change or challenges arise.
• Enjoy coaching employees and helping leaders develop their skills.
• Look for opportunities to improve processes, reduce costs, and make the operation better.
• Communicate effectively across shifts, departments, and levels of the organization.

Who you’ll work for…

While most companies that sell pizza have no real connection to Italy, Palermo’s passion for food and family reaches all the way back to the country where pizza was born. “Papa Palermo” carried the cherished recipes to America from Sicily!

Innovation is at the heart of who we are. We use an entrepreneurial, forward-thinking approach resulting in high-quality products that are consistently recognized by both the industry and consumers.

Our commitment to quality has made Palermo’s a leader in private-label frozen pizza and contract manufacturing!

Where you’ll work…

This position is based at our West Milwaukee facility, home to Palermo’s growing bakery operations. You’ll work in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment where our bakery teams produce the crusts that become the foundation for the pizzas our customers and consumers love.

As Bakery Manager, you’ll have visibility across our three-shift operation and work closely with bakery leadership and cross-functional partners to support safe, efficient, and consistent production.

When you’ll work…

This is a salaried, exempt leadership position supporting a three-shift bakery operation. Your schedule will primarily align with business and operational needs, with flexibility required to provide leadership and visibility across shifts.

Perks…

• 20 free pizzas per month
• Opportunity for training and career advancement
• Paid Time Off and Floating Holiday of your choice
• 401(k) & Roth with company match and immediate vesting
• Fantastic benefit offering starting on the 1st of the month after hire