Cake Decorator - Full Time

About the Role

As a Bakery Decorator, you'll be responsible for creating and decorating cakes, tarts, pastries, and special-order items. You'll use your artistic talents to build and finish all specialty bakery goods, ensuring every detail meets our quality standards. This role plays a critical part in upholding our differentiators by providing outstanding service and delicious treats to customers while adhering to all Food Safety and compliance duties.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, fill, and finish/decorate cakes, tarts, select pastries, and special-order bakery items.
• Build, ice, and decorate cakes and other bakery items following standard procedures to meet business demand.
• Complete production and spoilage records, adjusting production sheets to maintain sufficient product.
• Prioritize production lists and recommend adjustments as needed.
• Merchandise and showcase products in the sales display case to satisfy and delight customers.
• Monitor product quality for freshness and ensure proper product rotation within the display case.
• Provide guidance and support for Bakery Decorator Apprentices and other team members.
• Create special-order cake designs based on customer preferences.
• Provide excellent customer service, addressing customers' needs in a timely and effective manner, including suggestive selling techniques, answering phones, and responding to pages courteously.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary working and shopping environment; ensure equipment meets cleanliness and safety standards.
• Perform opening, mid, and closing duties as assigned, ensuring accuracy of signage and pricing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

• Efficient cake and pastry decorating skills, including intermediate piping techniques and the ability to create decorative flowers and borders.
• Understanding of color theory for blending buttercream colors and coordinating complementing palettes.
• Ability to apply proper techniques when using all icings, including Swiss Buttercream, American Buttercream, Ganache, Cream Cheese Icing, Whipped Cream, Chantilly, German Chocolate Icing, Fudge Icing, and all varieties of Meringue.
• Ability to follow recipes, directions, and procedures; effective time management and organization skills.
• Advanced knife handling, tool, and equipment safety.
• Basic math skills for recipe conversions and modifications.
• Strong communication skills and willingness to work as part of a team.
• Ability to deliver information clearly and respectfully to team members, customers, and vendors.
• Ability to meet customer service expectations and standards in all interactions.
• Strong work ethic and ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6-12 months of retail or restaurant experience.
• Completion of the Bakery Decorator Apprentice training program or equivalent experience.
• Prior experience within a professional bakery or grocery retail is preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• In an 8-hour workday: standing/walking 6-8 hours.
• Hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing, and pulling.
• Work requires bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching.
• Exposure to FDA-approved cleaning chemicals.
• Exposure to temperatures: <32°F (freezing), 32-40°F (refrigerators), >90°F.
• Ability to work in wet and dry conditions.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Ability to use tools and equipment, including knives, box cutters, electric pallet jacks, and other heavy machinery.
• May require the use of ladders.

Pay

The wage range for this position is $18.00–$30.20 per hour.

Benefits

Whole Foods Market offers "Whole Benefits," which include:

• Eligibility for a store discount.
• Paid time off.
• Financial wellness programs.
• Health and wellness support programs.
• Access to other team member perks.

Eligibility for Whole Benefits is determined by the terms of the applicable plan at the date of hire and may vary based on work location, length of service, and job type (such as regular or seasonal).