Baking School Manager, Alexandria

About the role

The Baking School Manager oversees all aspects of the King Arthur Baking School in Alexandria, VA, including operations, curriculum, and staff management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of instructors, assistant instructors, and guest instructors, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management.
• Foster a positive work environment that promotes teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead and supervise all aspects of Baking School operations, including purchasing and expense control.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiency.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels based on class offering schedules.
• Plan for and anticipate future staffing needs.
• Write accurate schedules to support the business.
• Instruct and assist classes with progressive mastery of full range of curriculum.
• Partner with General Manager, Alexandria to set annual priorities for the Alexandria team, monitor business performance, and consistently deliver performance feedback.
• Promote and ensure excellent customer service is provided by all team members.
• Ensure consistent execution of the Baking School curriculum.
• Handle complaints or issues in a timely manner and ensure a positive experience for all visitors.
• Cultivate a welcoming and inclusive learning environment.
• Collaborate with teams and company to reinforce a supportive and accessible educational culture.
• Analyze and track student progress, satisfaction, and feedback.
• Proactively address trends to enhance the overall student experience.
• Ensure adherence to all food safety and sanitary policies, procedures and regulations.
• Maintain and promote a safe environment for the team and customers.
• Work cross-functionally with KAB business partners to promote, support and improve the Baking School.

Requirements

• 3-5 years’ experience leading and managing a team in an educational, hospitality or Bakery/Restaurant environment.
• Professional baking experience is required.
• Experience leading a team through a new business opening is a plus.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership skills, including ability to set clear measurable goals and communicate effectively with internal business partners and staff.
• Clear and effective communication is essential for liaising with external business partners, coordinating with staff, and responding to customer inquiries.
• Ability to handle difficult situations with professionalism and tact.
• Proficient in managing multiple tasks simultaneously, particularly during school hours.
• Efficient organization and coordination of various aspects of the Baking School operations, including scheduling, training, conflict resolution, daily task management, purchasing and inventory control.
• High standards of hygiene and safety.
• Efficient inventory and cost control while minimizing waste.
• Quick thinking and resourcefulness to address unexpected challenges.
• Comfort with making effective decisions under pressure.
• Customer service skills to uphold a customer-centric approach, respond to customer feedback, and resolve issues.
• Strategic problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Skills

• Leadership
• Communication
• Time Management
• Attention to Detail
• Operations Management
• Problem-Solving
• Customer Service

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, company-paid short- and long-term disability, life insurance, paid parental leave, paid time off to rest, paid holidays to have fun, a 401(k) with a company match.
• 40 paid volunteer hours a year.
• Profit sharing.
• Participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Pay

$60,400 to $81,600 annual salary; commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Onsite daily.

Location

Alexandria, VA.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Must be able to work for extended periods of time while standing.
• Must be physically able to stoop, move quickly, and lift weights up to 50 lbs.
• Use hands to handle, control, feel objects, tools, and controls.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to operate commercial kitchen equipment.
• Ability to regularly work in a kitchen environment where allergens may be present.
• Ability to regularly touch and taste food products which may contain allergens.
• Work environment: Ability to work in a fast-paced classroom environment where temperatures can vary, work around knives and equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be loud dependent on specific work sites and/or equipment operation as well as customer traffic in adjacent areas.

Safety

• Understand that safety is the responsibility of everyone at the organization.
• Responsible for providing a safe and ergonomically sound work environment, identifying unsafe conditions, and correcting these conditions immediately.
• Engage in safety and compliance training programs and encourage 100% team participation.

Other Duties

• Uniform Chef coat, chef pants, hat, and tee shirt (provided).
• Closed Toe Footwear (stipend provided).
• Travel: N/A.