General Manager- Bakery Production

Title: General Manager- Bakery Production
Company Description: Gourmet Fast Casual Bakery and Cafe
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Salary: $100,000-$145,000
*Salary is commensurate with experience and is an estimated range provided by JPSearch*

Responsibilities:

• Oversee all bakery production and distribution to ensure consistent, on-time delivery to retail and wholesale channels
• Manage a 24/7, high-volume operation with approximately 150 employees and multiple shifts
• Develop and optimize labor planning, production schedules, and throughput efficiency
• Ensure seamless shift transitions and operational continuity across all hours
• Maintain facilities, equipment, and fleet to ensure optimal performance and compliance
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and improve productivity
• Provide hands-on leadership in artisan bread and laminated dough production
• Ensure consistency, quality, and craftsmanship across high-volume output
• Partner with culinary and innovation teams to execute recipes with precision at scale
• Implement and maintain Total Quality Management (TQM), Lean, and/or Six Sigma practices
• Establish quality assurance systems including audits, scorecards, and sensory evaluations
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, FDA, EPA, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Proactively identify and resolve product quality or shelf-life issues
• Oversee end-to-end production-to-delivery operations
• Manage routing, fleet operations, and temperature-controlled logistics
• Ensure effective inventory management, shelf-life accuracy, and replenishment cycles
• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team of hourly and salaried employees, including 4–6 direct reports
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and craftsmanship
• Partner with HR to recruit, onboard, and develop talent for long-term growth
• Provide regular feedback, recognition, and development opportunities
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing work environment
• Own and manage operational KPIs including yield, labor efficiency, and cost of goods
• Partner with senior leadership on P&L management and strategic planning
• Identify opportunities to improve margins while maintaining product quality
• Plan for capacity and scalability to support business growth
• Ensure a safe working environment and adherence to all regulatory requirements
• Lead incident response and corrective action processes
• Maintain best practices in sanitation, workplace safety, and environmental standards

Requirements:

• 8–10+ years of experience leading a high-volume bakery or food manufacturing operation
• Demonstrated expertise in artisan bread and viennoiserie production at scale
• Proven experience managing large teams in a 24/7 environment
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or Total Quality Management methodologies
• Experience with production planning, inventory systems, and logistics operations
• Solid understanding of OSHA, FDA, EPA, and GMP standards
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Culinary or pastry background preferred
• Experience in multi-unit food production or distribution environments
• Exposure to confectionery, chocolate, or specialty food production
• Bilingual or multilingual (Spanish and/or French preferred)
• Ability to stand for extended periods (up to 10 hours) and lift up to 50 lbs
• Flexibility to work early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed
• Availability to support overnight production operations on occasion