Pastry Cook (Part-time)

Proper Hospitality; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Proper Hospitality is seeking a Pastry Cook to prepare a wide range of pastries, desserts, and baked goods to the highest standards. You will work under the Executive Sous Chef to ensure quality, presentation, and timely delivery of items.

You will also assist in inventory management, maintain a clean workstation, and adhere to health and safety regulations, while collaborating with the pastry team to train junior staff and support service.

Qualifications

• Culinary Arts degree or equivalent formal training with a focus on pastry preferred.
• Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in a pastry kitchen or similar baking environment.
• Experience with a variety of pastry techniques, ingredients, and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, bake, and decorate a variety of pastries, desserts, and baked goods.
• Follow recipes precisely to meet quality and presentation standards.
• Maintain consistency in production and assist in creating new pastry items.
• Assist with inventory control and proper storage of ingredients.
• Keep workstation clean, organized, and sanitary; report malfunctions.
• Ensure pastries are beautifully presented and ready for service.

Skills

Pastry techniques

Decoration & plating

Recipe adaptation

Food safety

Team collaboration

Education

Culinary Arts degree or equivalent

Tools

Pastry ovens

Mixers & prep tools

Job description

The Pastry Cook is responsible for preparing and baking a variety of pastries, desserts, and baked goods in accordance with hotel or restaurant standards. You will work under the direction of the Executive Sous Chef to ensure that all pastries are prepared to the highest quality, presented beautifully, and delivered on time. The Pastry Cook will also assist in inventory management, ensuring proper storage of ingredients, and maintaining a clean and organized work area while adhering to health and safety regulations.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Pastry Preparation & Baking:
  • Prepare, bake, and decorate a variety of pastries, desserts, and baked goods, including cakes, cookies, tarts, pies, breads, and other specialty items.
  • Follow recipes precisely, ensuring that all pastries meet quality and presentation standards.
  • Maintain consistency in the production of all baked goods, adjusting recipes or techniques when necessary to meet quality expectations.
  • Assist in creating new pastry menu items, experimenting with new flavors, textures, and presentation styles.
• Inventory & Ingredient Management:
  • Assist with inventory control, ensuring that all ingredients are properly stocked and stored in accordance with safety guidelines.
  • Help order and receive pastry ingredients, ensuring that items are fresh, high-quality, and available for use.
  • Monitor ingredient usage to minimize waste and ensure proper stock rotation (FIFO - First In, First Out).
• Workstation Maintenance & Cleanliness:
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary work area, including proper cleaning of equipment, utensils, and surfaces after use.
  • Ensure all equipment is properly maintained and report any malfunctions to the Pastry Chef or management.
  • Follow all health and safety guidelines, including food storage, handling, and sanitation protocols to ensure a safe kitchen environment.
• Presentation & Quality Control:
  • Ensure all pastries are beautifully presented and meet the hotel or restaurant’s visual standards.
  • Monitor the quality of finished products, ensuring that all baked goods meet taste, texture, and consistency requirements before being served.
  • Collaborate with other kitchen staff to ensure pastries are ready and presented on time for service.
• Work closely with the Pastry Chef and other team members to coordinate pastry production and support other sections of the kitchen as needed.
• Assist in the training and development of junior pastry staff, providing guidance on techniques, presentation, and safe practices.
• Communicate effectively with kitchen team members to ensure a smooth workflow and timely service.
• Health & Safety Compliance:
  • Follow food safety and sanitation practices at all times, including the proper handling of ingredients, food storage, and cleaning procedures.
  • Ensure that all pastries are prepared in accordance with dietary restrictions, allergies, and health guidelines when necessary.
  • Adhere to local health and safety regulations, including temperature controls for perishables and safe equipment usage.

Education and/or Experience

• Culinary Arts degree or equivalent formal training with a focus on pastry preferred.
• Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in a pastry kitchen or similar baking environment.
• Experience working with a variety of pastry techniques, ingredients, and equipment.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and safe food handling practices.

Skills/Specialized Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of pastry techniques, including mixing, proofing, baking, and decorating.
• Ability to follow recipes and adjust methods to ensure consistent product quality.
• Creativity and an eye for detail, particularly in the decoration and presentation of pastries and desserts.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-pressure kitchen environment.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to maintain a clean and efficient workspace.

Physical Demands

• Ability to stand for long periods of time, including working over hot surfaces such as ovens and stoves.
• Ability to lift and carry heavy baking equipment or containers, up to 25–30 pounds.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks such as mixing, kneading, and decorating.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the needs of the kitchen.

Why Join Proper Hospitality

At Proper, we build experiences that move people — and that begins with the team behind them. As a best-in-class employer, we’re committed to creating one of the Best Places to Work in hospitality by nurturing a culture where creativity, excellence, and humanity thrive together.

Everything we do is grounded in the belief that hospitality is more than a profession - it’s an opportunity to care for others and make lives better. Guided by the Pillars of Proper, we show up with warmth and authenticity (Care Proper), strive for excellence in everything we do (Achieve Proper), think creatively and resourcefully (Imagine Proper), and take pride in the style and culture that make us who we are (Present Proper).

We believe our people are our greatest strength, and we invest deeply in their wellbeing, growth, and sense of belonging. From comprehensive benefits to meaningful development programs, Proper is designed to help you build a career, and a life, that feels as inspiring as the experiences we create for our guests.

Our Commitment: Building the Best Place to Work

Our Best Place to Work initiative is a living commitment — a continuous investment in our people, our culture, and our purpose. We listen, learn, and evolve together to create an environment where everyone feels empowered to imagine boldly, achieve confidently, care deeply, and present themselves authentically.

At Proper, joining the team means more than finding a job — it means joining a community that believes in building beautiful experiences together, for our guests and for one another.

Proper Hospitality is an equal-opportunity employer. We provide employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other federally or state-protected category.

We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with local Fair Chance Hiring Ordinances.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.