Bakery Manager

JOB PURPOSE

The Bakery Manager – Catering is responsible for leading all bakery and pastry production within a high-volume catering operation, ensuring consistent product quality, food safety compliance, cost control, and timely delivery across client sites and events. The role combines hands-on culinary leadership with production planning, team management, and vendor coordination to support the wider catering business in the UAE.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, schedule, and oversee daily bakery and pastry production to meet catering menus, banquet orders, and event volumes across multiple sites.
• Develop and standardize recipes, portion sizes, and production yields; maintain recipe costing to support gross margin targets.
• Ensure all bakery items meet quality, taste, and presentation standards consistent with client and brand expectations.
• Lead, train, and supervise bakery chefs, pastry cooks, and assistants; manage rosters, performance, and skills development.
• Maintain strict compliance with UAE food safety and hygiene standards (HACCP, Dubai Municipality / Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority requirements), including temperature control, allergen labeling, and traceability.
• Manage raw material ordering, stock levels, and supplier coordination to minimize wastage and avoid production shortfalls.
• Monitor equipment maintenance and kitchen hygiene (ovens, proofers, mixers, blast chillers) and report faults promptly.
• Coordinate with the culinary and operations teams on new menu development, seasonal items, and client-specific requests.
• Conduct regular audits of bakery production areas to ensure compliance with health, safety, and internal quality protocols.
• Prepare production reports, cost analyses, and wastage records for management review.
• Support large-scale event and banquet requirements, including off-site delivery coordination when required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Diploma or degree in Culinary Arts, Bakery & Pastry, Hospitality Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive bakery/pastry experience, including at least 2–3 years in a managerial or supervisory role.
• Prior experience in a high-volume catering, hospitality, or contract catering environment is strongly preferred.
• UAE / GCC experience preferred; familiarity with local food safety regulations is required.
• Valid UAE Food Safety / HACCP certification (or willingness to obtain upon joining).

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Strong technical knowledge of bread, pastry, and cake production at scale.
• Proven people management, scheduling, and team leadership skills.
• Solid understanding of food costing, portion control, and inventory management.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple production lines and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong communication skills in English; Arabic or Hindi/Urdu is an advantage given the multinational kitchen workforce.
• Ability to work under pressure during peak event and banquet periods, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This role is based in a commercial kitchen/bakery production environment and may require travel between catering sites within the UAE. Shift flexibility is required to accommodate event schedules, including early starts, evenings, and weekends.