Lead Our Pastry & Bakery Production Team
F2F Foods is looking for an experienced and passionate Pastry Chef – Team Leader to oversee the Pastry & Bakery section of our Central Production Kitchen (CPK). This role is ideal for a creative and disciplined pastry professional with strong leadership skills and experience in high-volume food production environments.
You will be responsible for the production, quality control, innovation, and food safety compliance of all pastry, bakery, and dessert products supplied across ready-to-eat chilled and frozen meal packs, banqueting and conference functions, retail lines, and halaal-certified offerings.
Key Responsibilities
Production & Culinary Execution
- Lead the planning and production of pastries, baked goods, and desserts for retail, banqueting, conference, and RTE meal lines.
- Develop and standardise recipes with accurate yields and costing.
- Oversee halaal-certified pastry production and special dietary products (gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan, allergen-free).
- Manage blast-chilling, freezing, and shelf-life extension processes.
- Drive seasonal menu development and product innovation.
Food Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with FSSC 22000, ISO 22000:2018, HACCP, and R638 requirements.
- Maintain allergen matrices, ingredient declarations, and traceability records.
- Verify correct labelling of batch codes, shelf life, and allergen information.
- Support internal and external food safety and halaal audits.
Team Leadership
- Supervise and train pastry chefs, bakers, and assistants.
- Allocate shifts and resources to meet production deadlines.
- Conduct team briefings for major functions and events.
- Manage performance, attendance, and discipline within the pastry section.
Planning & Cost Management
- Monitor recipe costing, portion control, and waste.
- Forecast ingredient requirements and coordinate with procurement.
- Ensure effective use of ovens, mixers, provers, and blast chillers.
- Report equipment issues promptly to minimise downtime.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
- Professional pastry or bakery qualification (City & Guilds Pastry, Diploma in Patisserie, or equivalent NQF Level 4+).
- Valid food handler’s or health certificate where required.
Experience
- 5–7 years of pastry or bakery experience.
- 2–3 years in a senior pastry supervisory or Head Pastry Chef role.
- Experience in high-volume central production kitchens, contract catering, or commercial bakery operations.
- Exposure to halaal production, allergen-free baking, or chilled/frozen dessert manufacturing will be advantageous.
Skills & Competencies
- Advanced pastry and baking techniques
- Recipe development and costing
- Allergen management and food safety documentation
- Leadership and staff development
- Production planning and organisation
- MS Excel and Word proficiency
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple deadlines
Why Join F2F Foods?
At F2F Foods, you’ll lead a skilled pastry and bakery team within a growing Central Production Kitchen that supplies multiple food service channels. This role offers the opportunity to combine culinary creativity, leadership, and food manufacturing expertise while contributing to innovative, high-quality products for a diverse client base.
Work Schedule
Shift-Based
This is a shift-based role that includes early mornings, weekends, and public holidays according to production and function requirements.
Apply Now
If you are a qualified pastry professional with strong leadership experience and a passion for quality, innovation, and food safety, we would love to hear from you.
Submit your updated CV today on [email protected]. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person
