Sourdough Bakery Manager

Company: Proof Bread, LLC

Job Title: Bakehouse Manager

Location: Mesa Bakery [125 W Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201]

Position Type: Full-time

Compensation: $55,000 starting salary; eligible for incentive pay after 1 year of successful leadership

Benefits: Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance; Voluntary Life and Accident Insurance; PTO and Sick Time

Job Summary

Proof Bread, an artisanal bakery specializing in sourdough, seeks a Bakehouse Manager for our Downtown Mesa location. This role focuses on baking, sales, organizing classes and events, and fostering community relationships. Our ideal candidate brings years of experienced success in leadership to inspire a team of bakers, customer service staff, and apprentices to ensure a high-quality daily bake while driving retail excellence and customer engagement. This position reports to Senior Leadership (particularly the Operations Director and Customer Experience Director).

Key Responsibilities

1. Team Leadership

·       Recruit, train, and motivate a team of baking and customer service staff.

·       Set and communicate clear expectations, providing ongoing feedback and coaching.

·       Conduct routine one-on-ones and foster open communication and professional growth.

·       Promote a positive, collaborative, and growth-minded work culture in accordance with our company values.

·       Attend Bakery Manager meetings and participate in stand-ups or touchpoints as set by Senior Leadership.

2. Bake-Off, Product Finishing, Quality Control, & Continuous Improvement

·       Oversee daily baking and finishing of bread and pastries (items delivered or prepped from other facilities).

·       Ensure products meet company standards for flavor, texture, and appearance prior to sale.

·       Manage baking schedules to balance customer demand, minimize waste, and maintain product availability throughout the day.

·       Promptly communicate any anomalies to Senior Leadership.

·       Uphold quality and consistency standards, monitoring finished products daily.

·       Communicate effectively with Senior Leadership if adjustments, improvements, or promotions are required.

·       Gather feedback from customers and staff to identify areas for process improvements or menu refinements.

3. Retail Sales & Customer Experience

·       Train front-of-house staff on product knowledge, customer interaction, merchandising, and opening/closing procedures.

·       Interact with customers, address inquiries, and coordinate special orders or sales in line with company policies.

·       Maintain a welcoming, customer-focused atmosphere in the bakehouse and retail area.

·       Act as the on-site point person for resolving escalated customer service matters.

4. Community Engagement, Classes, & Event Coordination

·       Forge strong relationships with local businesses, community groups, and city stakeholders to drive foot traffic and brand awareness.

·       Represent Proof Bread at select community functions, fostering goodwill and building brand recognition.

·       Develop collaborative initiatives (e.g., cross-promotions, local partnerships) to enhance visibility and community ties.

·       Organize, schedule, and host classes and events on-site (e.g., bread baking demos, community gatherings, chef collaborations).

·       Collaborate with staff and Senior Leadership on class content and logistics.

·       Handle event marketing in coordination with the Customer Experience or Marketing teams.

·       Ensure smooth operations during after-hours events, balancing staff schedules with operational needs and budgets.

5. Facility & Equipment Management

·       Conduct routine checks to ensure baking equipment (ovens, proofers, slicers) is maintained, coordinating repairs as needed.

·       Keep the bakehouse and retail areas clean, safe, and organized, adhering to health and safety standards.

·       Oversee inventory management of packaging, retail supplies, and any on-site ingredients.

·       Maintain accurate daily, weekly, and monthly logs (e.g. temperature checks, cleaning schedules).

6. Inventory & Waste Management

·       Track retail-focused inventory items (packaged breads, pastries, and any on-site beverages/retail products).

·       Work closely with receiving teams or other facilities to ensure timely deliveries of products to be baked or sold.

·       Minimize waste by coordinating sales strategies, donations, or creative promotions.

7. Budgeting & Sales Goals

·       Collaborate with Senior Leadership to meet store sales targets and maintain budget parameters.

·       Manage daily cash procedures, including bank deposits, point-of-sale transactions, and financial reporting accuracy.

·       Provide input on sales forecasts based on community trends, local events, and seasonal factors.

Qualifications

·       Previous management or supervisory experience in a bakery, cafe, or similar retail environment.

·       Familiarity with sourdough baking or artisan bread concepts helpful but not required (mixing/production done elsewhere).

·       Outstanding leadership, delegation, customer service and communication skills.

·       Ability to organize and host classes or community events, working collaboratively with team members.

·       Customer-focused mindset, with proven success driving retail sales and brand experiences.

·       Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced setting.

·       Knowledge of food safety regulations and sanitation protocols.

·       Basic financial and budgeting competence; experience with POS systems is a plus.

·       ServSafe Certification required (or willingness to independently obtain prior to employment).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) / Bonuses

·       Team Leadership: Staff sentiment, low turnover, completion of regular one-on-ones, participation in leadership meetings.

·       Bake-Off & Product Quality: Adherence to par levels, minimal waste, high-quality final products, senior management audits.

·       Retail Sales & Customer Experience: Meeting/exceeding sales goals, positive customer reviews, successful in-store merchandising.

·       Classes & Events: Frequency, attendance, and customer feedback for on-site classes/workshops.

·       Community Engagement: Partnerships formed, community feedback, local press mentions.

·       Facility & Equipment Maintenance: Cleanliness scores, equipment logs, health inspection reports.

·       Inventory & Waste Management: Effective collaboration in forecasting, minimal outages or surplus, completed inventory reports.

·       Budgeting & Sales Goals: Meeting or exceeding established sales floors, accurate daily deposits, budget adherence.

·       Labor Management: Adherence to assigned labor budgets, minimal overtime, and scheduling accuracy in line with store needs.

If you’re passionate about leading a dedicated bakehouse, connecting with the local community, and driving an excellent customer experience, we invite you to apply for the Bakehouse Manager [Mesa] position at Proof Bread. Join our team and help shape an inviting, educational, and vibrant bakery space that our community loves.

Salary : $55,000