Lebanon Lead Cake & Cupcake Decorator

Lancaster Cupcake; Lebanon (Lebanon County); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancaster Cupcake is seeking a Lead Decorator to drive the visual perfection of our mini cupcakes and naked layer cakes. You will lead a decorating team, balancing high-volume output with artisanal quality for daily retail and large events.

You should bring 2–4 years of decorating experience in a fast-paced bakery, strong buttercream handling and signature piping techniques, and proven leadership and teamwork abilities to inspire the decorating squad to exceed standards.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of professional decorating experience in a high-volume bakery
• Mastery of buttercream handling and piping techniques
• Experience with naked/semi-naked cake finishes
• Ability to lead and train decorating staff
• Strong teamwork and communication with baking and front-of-house teams

Responsibilities

• Drive daily production of baked goods with emphasis on thousands of mini cupcakes and naked layer cakes
• Lead decoration of seasonal specials, custom designs, and large events
• Supervise and mentor decorating team to meet speed and quality benchmarks
• Maintain inventory of decorating supplies and ensure sanitary workstation
• Manage decorating schedule to balance retail and wholesale/event orders

Job description

As the Lead Decorator at Lancaster Cupcake, you are the driving force behind the visual perfection of our signature products. You will lead the decorating team in balancing high-volume production with impeccable artisanal quality. A major focus of this role is ensuring the consistent, flawless execution of our famous mini cupcakes and trendy naked layer cakes for both daily retail and large-scale events. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, possesses a meticulous eye for detail, and can inspire a team to meet Lancaster Cupcake’s high standards of excellence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• High-Volume Production & Design: Drive the daily production of baked goods, specifically responsible for maintaining the perfect balance of quantity and quality for thousands of mini cupcakes and pristine naked layer cakes. Execute Lancaster Cupcake’s signature piping techniques (including the perfect swirl) with speed, consistency, and precision across all cupcake sizes. Assemble, fill, and frost custom layer cakes, specializing in naked and semi-naked finishes, ensuring structural integrity and aesthetic perfection for weddings and special events. Lead the decoration of seasonal specials, custom design work, and specialty event orders.
• Leadership & Quality Control: Supervise, train, and mentor the decorating team on signature techniques, ensuring every team member meets production speed and quality benchmarks. Perform continuous quality control, instantly correcting aesthetic or structural issues before products hit the retail floor or leave for delivery. Manage the daily decorating schedule, prioritizing tasks to ensure both the retail cases are fully stocked and wholesale/event orders are completed on time.
• Operations & Inventory: Manage inventory for all decorating supplies (buttercream, sprinkles, piping bags, tips, structural supports, boxes) and communicate ordering needs to management. Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary workstation, strictly adhering to all food safety and health department protocols. Minimize product waste through careful portioning, frosting management, and efficient production planning.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

• Experience: 2–4 years of professional decorating experience in a high-volume bakery, with specific expertise in cupcake piping and layer cake assembly.
• Technical Expertise: Mastery of buttercream handling, signature piping techniques, and naked/semi-naked cake construction.
• Pace & Precision: Proven ability to work rapidly without sacrificing the aesthetic quality required by a premium bakery brand.
• Leadership: Experience training junior staff and managing daily kitchen flow.
• Communication: Strong teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with the baking and front-of-house teams.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to stand on your feet for an entire 8+ hour shift.
• Excellent manual dexterity and steady hands for repetitive piping and intricate detail work.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs (e.g., bulk frosting buckets, large tiered wedding cakes).
• Ability to work in a commercial kitchen environment with fluctuating temperatures.