Executive Pastry Chef

Drunken Cookies; San Juan (PR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top-Tier compensation

Job summary

Drunken Cookies in San Juan, Puerto Rico seeks a dynamic leader to own the flagship kitchen and drive R&D to scale a local bakery item into a national product. You will oversee production, ensure quality and safety, and collaborate with teams to optimize flavor and process efficiency.

You will recruit and mentor staff, implement SOPs for scale, and manage supplier relationships to navigate island-based supply challenges while maintaining cost discipline.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional pastry experience in high-volume production.
• Strong understanding of food science concepts (water activity, invert sugars, fat ratios).
• Hands-on ability to operate and troubleshoot commercial food manufacturing equipment.
• Proven track record of managing food costs, labor budgets, and vendor relationships.
• English fluency required; Spanish not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead flagship kitchen operation and drive R&D to scale a local bakery item nationally.
• Scale recipes from small batches to industrial lines and write SOPs for consistency.
• Troubleshoot mechanical issues to keep production flowing.
• Recruit, train, and mentor kitchen staff; foster audit-ready cleanliness and efficiency.
• Manage sourcing and inventory to avoid island-based supply bottlenecks.

Skills

English fluency

Mechanical aptitude

Leadership

Cost management

Supply chain management

Job description

Compensation: $70,000.00 – $100,000.00 per year, depending on experience

About Us

The Role: Culinary Art, Food Science & Mechanics

This is a dual-focus leadership role. You will own the flagship kitchen operation while driving the R&D required to transition a highly sought-after local bakery item into a scalable national product without relying on co-packers.

• Flavor Innovation: Create complex, over-the-top flavor profiles that disrupt a crowded market and define our brand identity.

2. High-Volume Production & Mechanical Aptitude

• Scale Up: Transition recipes from small-batch mixers to automated industrial encapsulation and packaging lines, creating the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that guarantee consistency at scale.
• The \"Mechanic\" Mindset: We need a leader who is inherently comfortable with heavy machinery. You should be the type of person who prefers to fix their own car rather than take it to the shop. If a depositor jams, a conveyor belt misaligns, or a sensor trips, you step in to troubleshoot the mechanics immediately to keep production flowing.

3. Operational Leadership

• Team Building: Recruit, train, and mentor a high-performing kitchen staff, instilling a culture of \"Audit-Ready\" cleanliness, precision, and speed.
• Supply Chain Command: Navigate the unique logistics of operating in Old San Juan. Secure reliable sourcing for premium ingredients and actively manage inventory to prevent island-based supply bottlenecks.

Qualifications

• Experience: 4+ years of professional pastry experience, with a mandatory background in high-volume commercial production, manufacturing, or commissary kitchens.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep, practical understanding of food science (e.g., water activity, invert sugars, fat ratios) to manipulate dough behavior for longevity and shipping.
• Mechanical Comfort: Hands-on ability to operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot commercial food manufacturing equipment.
• Business Acumen: Proven track record of managing food costs, labor budgets, and vendor relationships.
• Language: Fluency in English is required. (Our current team is fully bilingual, so Spanish is not a requirement for this position).

Why This Role?

• Top-Tier Compensation: We are offering a salary significantly above the local market rate because we aren't just hiring a Head Baker; we are looking for a strategic partner in our national expansion.
• The Challenge: You will have the rare opportunity to take an established Puerto Rican brand and scale its manufacturing in-house for the national stage.
• The Lifestyle: Lead a fast-paced, high-level culinary operation right in the vibrant cultural hub of Old San Juan.