Pastry Chef

Saltwater Bakeshop; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Paid time off

Referral program

Vision insurance

Job summary

Saltwater Bakeshop is seeking an experienced Pastry Chef to lead our production kitchen while remaining hands-on in daily baking operations. This is a salaried management role for a passionate baker who loves both creating exceptional products and developing a strong, collaborative team.

We produce croissants, laminated pastries, and artisan breads and you will oversee schedules, training, inventory, and systems to support growth.

Qualifications

• Must have professional experience leading a bakery or pastry production team.
• Experience with both viennoiserie and sourdough bread.
• Strong knowledge of fermentation, dough development, lamination, and pastry production.
• Proven ability to train, motivate, and manage a team.
• Experience with scheduling, inventory management, ordering, and production planning.

Responsibilities

• Work hands-on in daily bakery production, including mixing, laminating, shaping, proofing, and baking croissants, viennoiserie, and naturally leavened breads.
• Lead and manage the production team, creating a positive, organized, and efficient kitchen environment.
• Hire, train, mentor, and develop bakers to maintain high standards and consistency.
• Create and manage production schedules to ensure all products are completed accurately and on time.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations, including workflow, organization, cleanliness, and quality control.
• Manage ingredient ordering, inventory, vendor relationships, and product availability.
• Monitor food costs, minimize waste, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Ensure recipes, production methods, fermentation, lamination, and baking processes are executed consistently.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and health department compliance.
• Support menu development and seasonal product innovation alongside ownership.

Skills

Bakery management

Viennoiserie

Sourdough fermentation

Team training

Production scheduling

Inventory management

Food safety

Menu development

Job description

Lead and grow an artisan bakery specializing in croissants and naturally leavened sourdough.

Saltwater Bakeshop is seeking an experienced Pastry Chef to lead our production kitchen while remaining hands-on in daily baking operations. This is a salaried management position for a passionate baker who loves both creating exceptional products and developing a strong, collaborative team.

Our ideal candidate has advanced experience with both viennoiserie and naturally leavened sourdough breads and is excited to take ownership of our kitchen operations. You will work alongside the team every day producing high-quality croissants, laminated pastries, and artisan breads while managing production schedules, training bakers, overseeing inventory, and building efficient systems for a growing bakery.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a hands-on environment, enjoys mentoring others, and takes pride in both the craft of baking and the leadership required to run a successful production kitchen.

Responsibilities

• Work hands-on in daily bakery production, including mixing, laminating, shaping, proofing, and baking croissants, viennoiserie, and naturally leavened breads.
• Lead and manage the production team, creating a positive, organized, and efficient kitchen environment.
• Hire, train, mentor, and develop bakers to maintain high standards and consistency.
• Create and manage production schedules to ensure all products are completed accurately and on time.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations, including workflow, organization, cleanliness, and quality control.
• Manage ingredient ordering, inventory, vendor relationships, and product availability.
• Monitor food costs, minimize waste, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Ensure recipes, production methods, fermentation, lamination, and baking processes are executed consistently.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and health department compliance.
• Support menu development and seasonal product innovation alongside ownership.

Qualifications

• Professional experience with both artisan sourdough bread and viennoiserie is required.
• 2+ years of experience managing or leading a bakery, pastry, or production kitchen team.
• Strong technical knowledge of fermentation, sourdough, dough development, lamination, and pastry production.
• Proven ability to train, motivate, and manage a team.
• Experience with scheduling, inventory management, ordering, and production planning.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance hands-on production and leadership responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain consistency and quality in a high-volume bakery environment.
• Knowledge of food safety practices and sanitation standards.
• Passion for craftsmanship, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Why Saltwater Bakeshop?

Saltwater Bakeshop is a growing artisan bakery focused on thoughtful, handcrafted products made with quality ingredients and traditional techniques. We believe great baking comes from a combination of skill, precision, creativity, and teamwork.

As our Pastry Chef, you will have the opportunity to lead a talented team, shape our kitchen culture, improve systems, and continue developing exceptional croissants and sourdough breads every day.

If you're an experienced baker and leader who wants to be deeply involved in both the craft and the growth of a bakery, we'd love to hear from you.

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s)

• Must be willing to relocate
• Must be legal to work in the United States