Lead Baker & Pastry Chef Location:

Nicholasville, KY Employment Type:

Full-Time Position Summary A new, independent, locally owned cafe is seeking an experienced and creative Baker/Pastry Chef to help build and lead our bakery program from the ground up. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who is passionate about artisan baking, recipe development, and creating an exceptional guest experience. The ideal candidate has extensive experience producing high-quality breakfast pastries and baked goods, understands commercial bakery operations, and is excited about helping shape a growing menu. Beyond daily production, this individual will play a key role in designing bakery workflows, recommending equipment purchases, developing recipes and standards, hiring future team members, and training staff as the program expands. Highly creative with an interest in travel and experimentation is strongly preferred. Creating unique pastries or new spins on a classic pastry is something we place a lot of value on. Bonuses based on milestone achievement, performance based raises and eventual transition to a salaried position are to be expected. Required Experience Candidates must demonstrate experience producing many of the following: Croissants and laminated dough pastries Cruffins/Kouign-amann Quiche Muffins and quick breads Cookies and bars Breakfast sandwiches Quickbreads Hand pies and turnovers Seasonal pastries and specialty baked goods Scratch-made fillings, custards, and pastry creams Key Responsibilities Prepare fresh pastries, breads, and baked goods daily. Develop and refine recipes for a growing pastry and bakery menu. Establish production schedules and quality standards. Maintain consistency, food safety, and cleanliness standards. Manage ingredient ordering and inventory levels. Assist ownership in selecting and specifying bakery equipment. Create systems and procedures that support future growth. Train and mentor bakery staff. Participate in interviewing and hiring future bakery team members. Continuously innovate with seasonal and specialty offerings. Qualifications Minimum 2 years of professional baking or pastry experience preferred. Strong understanding of laminated dough production. Experience working in a high-volume bakery, café, or restaurant environment. Ability to work independently and manage production timelines. Strong organizational and leadership skills. Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards. Passion for craftsmanship, consistency, and continuous improvement. Interview Requirement There will be 2 rounds of interviews, at the second round, candidates must bring samples of their work to the interview. Samples should showcase technical ability and range, and should include items such as: Croissant Muffin Bread product Hand pies or other specialty pastries Something creative of your own Photos of previous work and a portfolio of products are encouraged. Please also have a plan to scale up your samples to a large volume production. What Success Looks Like Within the first year, this individual will help establish this location as the premier destination in the area for fresh pastries and baked goods, create a signature bakery menu, implement efficient production systems, and build a talented bakery team capable of supporting continued growth. If you are excited by the opportunity to build something from the ground up and leave your mark on a growing coffee shop and bakery, we would love to meet you.

Pay:

$21.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person