Head Baker

Job Overview

Job Description

Job Title: Head Baker / Senior Baker / Lead Baker
Location: Stroud, Gloucestershire (commutable from Oxfordshire and the South West)
Salary: 45,000 50,000 depending on experience
Hours: 40 hours per week 5 days per week Some weekend working required
Salary Paid: Monthly

We’re recruiting an experienced Head Baker for a well-established artisan bakery in Stroud, Gloucestershire, offering a salary of 45,000 50,000 for a 40-hour working week.

This is a senior, hands-on Head Baker role, taking responsibility for the day-to-day running of the bakery while leading a team of approximately 20 bakery staff. The successful candidate will combine strong technical baking expertise with confident people management and a genuine ability to lead, develop and motivate a team.

The Role

Working closely with the business owner and Operations and People Manager, you’ll take the lead on day-to-day bakery production, team performance and maintaining consistently high standards across the operation.

This is a production-led, hands-on position in a busy artisan bakery specialising in sourdough breads and pastries. You’ll be visible on the bakery floor, setting standards, supporting and developing the team and ensuring consistent quality across all output.

The business has an Operations and People Manager responsible for areas including health and safety, risk assessments and implementing people-management processes, allowing the Head Baker to focus on leading the bakery team, production and the day-to-day running of the bakery.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the day-to-day running of bakery production
Oversee production of sourdough breads and pastries
Maintain high standards of product quality and consistency
Support production planning, workflow and scheduling
Lead, manage, motivate, train and develop a team of approximately 20 bakery staff
Build a positive, respectful and high-performing team culture
Promote teamwork, accountability and clear communication
Address people-related issues professionally and constructively
Work closely with the Operations and People Manager on wider operational and people-management matters
Ensure food safety and hygiene standards are consistently maintained
Drive continuous improvement across production processes and team performance

The Person

This role will suit an experienced Head Baker, Senior Baker or Lead Baker who is ready to take ownership of a bakery operation while remaining close to the craft.

You will have:

Strong, hands-on baking experience, ideally within an artisan or sourdough-focused bakery
Excellent technical knowledge of sourdough fermentation and pastry production
Demonstrable experience managing and leading teams
The ability to train, develop and motivate bakery staff
Experience handling people issues and supporting team development
A track record of contributing to a positive and high-performing workplace culture
A hands-on, proactive approach with high standards and excellent attention to detail
A calm, resilient and solutions-focused approach in a fast-paced production environment

Working Pattern

40 hours per week
5 days per week
Some weekend working required
Salary paid monthly

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a respected artisan bakery in Gloucestershire, with a salary of 45,000 50,000, a 40-hour working week and a supportive management structure.

For an experienced bakery professional, the position offers the opportunity to take genuine ownership of the day-to-day bakery operation, lead and develop an established team and have real influence over product quality, team culture and performance.