Head of Pastry - Bakery
Maternity Cover 12 month Fixed Term Contract, commencing September 2026
Docker Bakery in Folkestone
Docker Bakery is seeking an experienced Head of Pastry to lead our Pastry operation on a 12 month maternity cover contract. This is an exceptional opportunity to step into a senior leadership role in an busy independent sourdough bakery specialising in plant based pastry and bread.
The role:
As Head of Pastry, you will lead a team of approximately 4 pastry bakers, responsible for delivering all pastry across four Docker sites and multiple wholesale customers.
Reporting to the General Manager & Directors, you will work closely with the Bakery Director and other department heads across the group to ensure all pastry offerings align with the brand standards and customer expectations.
You will balance operational excellence with consistency, and people leadership, ensuring a calm, organised, and high performing pastry team throughout the contract period.
What you will do:
- Lead and manage the pastry team, ensuring consistent quality, presentation, and standards across all outlets
- Oversee the creation and execution of pastries, viennoiserie, and all sweet offerings
- Collaborate closely with senior managers to develop pastry ideas
- Maintain strong organisation of production, ordering, staffing, and quality control
- Ensure all food safety, hygiene, and health and safety standards are met and upheld
- Support training, development, and performance management of the pastry team
- Manage food cost control, waste reduction, and stock management within pastry
What we are looking for
- Proven experience as a Pastry Baker or Senior Pastry Chef within a wholesale or retail bakery setting or high end restaurant setting
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, organise, and develop a team
- Excellent technical pastry knowledge across bakery, and viennoiserie
- Experience working with high volume operations
- Calm, structured, and professional approach to leadership
- Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene, and operational controls
- Ability to step confidently into a fixed term leadership role and deliver continuity and stability
Contract details
- 12 month fixed term maternity cover
- Full time position
- Competitive salary and benefits package
What we offer
At Docker, we provide a supportive environment where bakery leaders can work with autonomy and follow their vision
- Competitive Salary (Depending on experience)
- As much free bread, pastry & coffee you like
- Cycle to work scheme
- Seasonal staff parties & team events
Time off and wellbeing
- Holiday entitlement
- Company Sick Pay
Career development
- Strong internal progression opportunities as our organisation grows
We look forward to receiving your application
Work Location: In person
