Decorator/Central Bake Shop

MSU Careers Recent Jobs; East Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

MSU Bakers in East Lansing is seeking a skilled Decorator/Baker for high-volume production. You will prepare desserts and custom decorated sweets for campus units and external customers, balancing scale with artisan precision.

The role includes leading and training support staff, maintaining safety, and meeting daily production timelines in a FDA-inspected facility. Two years decorating experience and ability to lift 26–75 pounds are required.

Qualifications

• Two years decorating and/or producing gourmet pastries in high-volume operation.
• Working knowledge of baking and decorating methods, processes, and materials.
• Standards of personal hygiene in sanitation rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Artisan Decorating: icing and decorating cakes, cookies, brownies, and specialty sweets for visual presentation.
• Oven & Production Management: monitor baking timelines to meet daily volume and freshness.
• Quality & Consistency: measure ingredients, ensure uniform size, taste, and quality; demonstrate decorating skills.
• Quality Control: taste test products and collaborate with supervisors for corrections.
• Leadership & Instruction: train assigned staff in decorating methods and kitchen safety.

Skills

Decorating pastries

Baking methods

Leadership & training

Tools

Industrial mixers

Pastry tubes/tips

Rack ovens

Job description

Working/Functional Title

Decorator/Central Bake Shop

Position Summary

Are you a skilled baker who thrives in a fast-paced environment? Do you love the artistry of pastry decoration but also enjoy the challenge of large-scale production?

The MSU Bakers is seeking a talented, detail-oriented, high-volume production Decorator/Baker. In this role, you will prepare high-quality desserts, gourmet pastries, and custom decorated sweets for distribution across our campus units and external bakery customers. You will balance commercial-scale baking with artisan decorating precision, while helping lead and instruct support staff to maintain our high standards of excellence.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Artisan Decorating: Perform bakery make-up duties, including icing and decorating cakes, cookies, brownies, and specialty sweets to deliver creative, eye-catching visual presentation.
• Oven & Production Management: Load and remove bakery items from commercial ovens, pans, and molds. Carefully monitor baking and production timelines to ensure maximum freshness and meet daily volume requirements.

Quality & Consistency:

• Measure ingredients accurately and scale products precisely to guarantee absolute uniformity in item size, taste, and quality. Will be expected to be able to demonstrate decorating baked goods similar to what is found on the MSU Bakers website: www.msubakers.com

Quality Control:

• Taste test products regularly to maintain flavor and texture standards, proactively identifying deficiencies and collaborating with supervisors for corrections.
• Leadership & Instruction: Guide, train, and instruct assigned support employees in decorating methods, pastry processes, and kitchen safety.
• Kitchen Operations: Safely operate, clean, and maintain commercial preparation, baking, decorating, and storage equipment (including industrial mixers, pastry tubes/tips, and rack ovens).
• Logistics & Waste Reduction: Assist in adjusting daily production schedules. Correctly store food items to optimize handling, eliminate waste, and prevent spoilage. Maintain clean utensils and work areas according to strict sanitary standards.

Safety: This is an FDA inspected facility and will require strict adherence to all FDA guidelines including production and tracking forms.

All positions in RHS are designated as critical status. In the event of a university closure, modification, or suspension of operations due to snow or other emergency condition, persons in this position are expected to make all reasonable attempts to report to work as scheduled for the duration of the closure/suspension. If a person has an approved remote work agreement to work a portion of their normally scheduled work hours remotely, they may be called upon to work on-site to serve the MSU community.

Minimum Requirements

• Two years experience decorating and/or creating gourmet pastries in a high volume commercial or retail baking operation or an equivalent combination of technical training and experience.
• Working knowledge of baking and decorating methods, processes, and materials.
• Standards of personal hygiene consistent with sanitation rules and regulations.
• Occasional lifting of 26 to 75 pounds.

Desired Qualifications

One year of production decorating experience.

Employees are expected to follow all food safety, sanitation, personal protective equi pment, and workplace safety requirements while maintaining accuracy and productivity in a high-volume production setting. A high degree of customer satisfaction is a must. This position will also learn other production lines within the production facility as needed.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume

Special Instructions

Work Hours

Days: Typically Sunday-Thursday or Monday-Friday; various days off. Shift Times: Various start times anywhere between 2:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Building Location

FOOD STORES

Website

Careers.msu.edu

Bidding eligibility ends September 8, 2026 at 11:55 P.M.

Advertised: Sep 2, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Sep 8, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time