Bakery Innovation Lead Chef

As an experienced Bakery Chef with over 6 years of professional expertise in artisan baking, pastry creation, and large-scale bakery operations, your role will involve a strong balance of culinary innovation, technical proficiency, leadership, and process management. You will be responsible for leading our Bakeries across India. - **Production & Quality Control:** - Oversee daily production of bread, cakes, pastries, desserts, and other baked goods. - Maintain consistent quality, taste, texture, and presentation standards. - Develop and refine recipes to meet customer expectations and brand positioning. - Ensure food safety, hygiene, and FSSAI/ISO/HACCP compliance in all bakery operations. - **Menu Development & Innovation:** - Create new bakery and dessert items in line with seasonal trends and customer preferences. - Introduce cost-effective, scalable recipes without compromising quality. - Collaborate with the NPD (New Product Development) team for launches. - **Leadership & Team Management:** - Lead, train, and mentor a team of bakers, pastry chefs, and assistants. - Schedule staff efficiently to balance workload and productivity. - Conduct regular skill development sessions for junior team members. - **Inventory & Cost Management:** - Manage procurement of raw materials, ensuring best quality at optimal cost. - Track and control wastage, portioning, and yield. - Maintain accurate records of production costs and contribute to pricing strategies. - **Operations & Process Excellence:** - Standardize recipes and establish SOPs for production. - Monitor equipment maintenance and ensure smooth functioning of bakery machinery. - Work closely with management on order forecasting, bulk production, and special events. Your expertise in artisanal breads, viennoiserie, cakes, pastries, and modern plated desserts will be crucial for this role. Additionally, your strong knowledge of bakery science, ingredient functionality, and fermentation will be invaluable. You should also possess strong leadership, delegation, and team training skills, along with creativity in flavor development and product presentation. Knowledge of food safety regulations and kitchen hygiene practices is essential. **Qualifications & Experience:** - Diploma/Degree in Bakery & Pastry Arts, Culinary Arts, or related field. - Minimum 6 years of progressive bakery experience, including at least 2-3 years in a supervisory or senior chef role. - Proven track record of developing bakery menus and leading successful bakery operations.,