Sr. Cake Decorator & Traveling Trainer

Job Purpose

Provide expert-level technical support within bakery including baking and cake decorating training, as well as marketing, merchandising, and sales strategies that promote assigned customer accounts.

Essential Functions

• Provide expert training to in-store bakery associates on cake decorating and baking techniques and procedures for various products including frozen batters and mixes, icings, and thaw & sell products; carefully follow recipes and training procedures based on customer guidelines
• Develop customer-specific training material
• Prepare and present meeting material for customer presentations
• Develop and implement marketing and sales strategies for company product portfolio
• Develop and present new ideas and programs to assigned customer accounts including core and seasonal product concepts and ideas
• Provide guidance and assistance to sales group and R&D with custom-formulated product from concept to finished product
• Partner with sales group on product launches
• Serve as technical liaison between management, production department, sales department, and customers with newly developed techniques or products especially for execution of field-testing including written feedback as needed
• Initiate and provide feedback on routine product cuttings against Rise products
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure best-in-class service and tools are provided to customers
• Investigate and report customer complaints, partnering with QA as needed
• Accurately convey information to colleagues and management in a timely manner including, but not limited to, account changes, product changes, white space opportunities, and competitor information
• Comply with all food and safety requirements, training guidelines, policies, and procedures set forth by the company and customer
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications (Education, Experience, Competencies)

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 5 years of cake decorating and baking experience; grocery store bakery experience preferred
• Expert knowledge of icing, piping, borders, flowers, color mixing, splitting, filling, writing, fondant, and sculpting
• Expert knowledge of handling and troubleshooting various types of products (cookies, muffins, laminated doughs, batters, donut icing, glazes)
• Expert knowledge of the technical features and benefits of company products
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and solve problems pertaining to products in different work environments
• Ability to challenge a strategy or direction if it does not fit the needs of the customer
• Excellent verbal/written communication and presentation skills
• Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Strong photo-taking and editing skills
• Ability to work in a bakery environment (kitchen) and operate baking and decorating equipment and other machinery
• Self-starter with superior organization, time management, and multi-tasking skills
• Highly motivated and goal oriented with the ability to adapt in an ever-changing environment
• Ability to work all shifts required by the customer (1st, 2nd, or 3rd)