Job Title: Sourdough Bakery Manager [Mesa] 

Company: Proof Bread, LLC 

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

Position Type: Full-time 

Compensation: $50,000/year salary bonuses 

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

Job Summary: 

Proof Bread, a renowned artisanal bakery specializing in sourdough bread, is seeking a dedicated and experienced Sourdough Bakery Manager to oversee daily operations, manage a team of bakers and customer service staff, and ensure the production of high-quality sourdough products. The ideal candidate will have a passion for our brand, excellence in leadership, deep understanding of sourdough processes, strong people skills, and a commitment to maintaining the bakery's reputation for excellence. This position reports to the Operations Director. 

Key Responsibilities, include but are not limited to: 

Team Leadership 

• Recruit, train, and motivate a team of bakers, customer service, and kitchen staff. 
• Set clear expectations, provide guidance, and supervise the team to achieve production goals.
• Perform routine one on one conversations to foster open communication and employee development. 
• Foster a professional, positive, collaborative, inspirational, and growth-minded work environment.
• Attend Bakery Managers meetings and participate in Daily Stand-Ups as set by Operations Director. 

Production Management 

• Supervise and coordinate sourdough bread production activities, including mixing, shaping, proofing, and baking for optimal results. 
• Ensure the production process adheres to established recipes, set pars, and quality standards. 
• Maintain accurate production schedules and manage OT to encourage employee work/life balance and organizational budgeting goals. 
• Ensure all daily, weekly, and monthly records are properly maintained.

Quality Control 

• Uphold the highest quality and consistency standards for Proof Bread sourdough products. 
• Conduct regular quality checks, noting flavor, texture, and appearance of the bread. 
• Address any quality issues, implement improvements and/or promotions, and/or coordinate training and resources as necessary. 

Customer Relations 

• Develop and train FOH staff on proper product handling, opening/closing procedures, customer service and sales tactics.
• Interact with customers and address inquiries, feedback, and coordinate special orders and sales in accordance with company policy. 
• Maintain a welcoming and friendly customer-focused atmosphere in the bakery. 

Equipment and Facility Maintenance 

• Ensure all baking equipment is in good working order via regular maintenance checks. 
• Oversee routine maintenance and repairs, coordinating with external vendors as needed. 
• Maintain a clean and organized bakery facility with adherence to health and safety standards. 

Inventory Management 

• Monitor ingredient inventory and order supplies as necessary using established channels to meet production needs. 
• Coordinate receiving of ingredients, inventory storage and rotation, and facility transfers. 
• Minimize waste to ensure efficient use of resources through effective sales, creativity, and par management strategy. 

Safety and Sanitation 

• Enforce strict adherence to health and safety guidelines in the workplace. 
• Implement and maintain sanitation protocols for equipment and workspaces. 
• Train staff on proper food handling and safety procedures. 

Sales, Marketing, & Budgeting 

• Capture and share behind-the-scenes photography and videos to encourage team via marketing, customer interaction and excitement. 
• Act as a representative of Proof Bread brand in the local community. 
• Meet store sales goals, manage store budget, and perform secure bank deposits. 
• Collaborate with the Bakery Owners and Creative Team to develop new sourdough bread varieties and seasonal offerings. 

Qualifications: 

• Proven experience as a baker, with a strong focus on sourdough bread production. 
• Previous management or supervisory experience in a bakery setting a plus. 
• Knowledge of sourdough bread making techniques, fermentation, and handling starter cultures. 
• Excellent leadership, delegation, interpersonal, and conflict-management skills.
• Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills. 
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation regulations. 
• Basic understanding of financial management and budgeting. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and physically demanding environment. 
• Flexibility to work early mornings, weekends, holidays, and stay until issues resolved as required. 
• ServSafe Certification required. 

KPIs: bonuses awarded upon meeting KPIs 

• Team Leadership: team sentiment polls, one-on-ones, participation in manager meetings and stand-ups 
• Production Management: maintaining staffing/OT budget, completion of daily production reports and adherence to set pars 
• Quality Control: periodic senior management audits, customer reviews re: product quality 
• Customer Relations: customer reviews re: customer service, customer polls 
• Equipment and Facility Maintenance: status of equipment, completion of maintenance reports, senior management cleanliness audits 
• Inventory Management: completion of weekly inventory reports, outages per week 
• Safety and Sanitation: completion of health inspection reports, senior management audits, safety incidents 
• Sales, Marketing, Budgets: meeting of established sales floors, meeting of average ticket goals, delivery of social media content, budget reviews 

If you are passionate about sourdough bread and have the skills to lead a dedicated team, we encourage you to apply for the position of Sourdough Bakery Manager at Proof Bread. Join our team and contribute to the creation of exceptional artisanal sourdough products that our customers love.