Head of Food Operations (Pâtisserie Focus)

Head of Food & Bakery Operations (Pâtisserie Focus) Location: South Lanarkshire Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 Relocation Package Offered An established food manufacturing and retail business is entering a new growth phase, with plans to scale a premium artisan bakery and café offering across retail, wholesale and foodservice channels. The business is focused on building a high-quality, pâtisserie-led proposition supported by strong operational discipline, consistent product standards, and scalable production. Role Purpose To lead and develop all bakery and food operations, with a primary focus on pâtisserie and Viennoiserie excellence. The role will ensure consistent delivery of premium products while scaling production, driving innovation, and embedding operational best practice. This is a hands-on leadership role with full ownership of production, product development, team capability and operational performance. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership * Lead all day-to-day production activity, with a core focus on pâtisserie and laminated pastry operations. * Develop and manage production plans to meet demand across retail, wholesale and foodservice channels. * Design and implement efficient, scalable production processes, particularly for high-volume pastry output. * Manage capacity planning, including labour, equipment and production flow. * Drive improvements in productivity, waste control and cost efficiency. Pâtisserie & Viennoiserie Leadership * Take full ownership of pâtisserie and Viennoiserie production standards. * Lead the development and execution of laminated pastry (croissants, Danish, brioche, etc.) at a premium level. * Oversee creation of desserts, patisserie lines and seasonal offerings. * Establish consistency in quality, finish, flavour and presentation across all products. * Ensure artisan techniques are maintained while enabling scalable production. Product Development & Innovation * Lead pâtisserie-led innovation aligned to a premium brand position. * Develop and standardise recipes to ensure consistency and scalability. * Introduce seasonal collections and elevate the product range to differentiate in the market. * Balance creativity with operational feasibility and cost control. People & Capability * Build and lead a high-performing pastry and bakery team. * Coach and upskill team members in pâtisserie, Viennoiserie and finishing techniques. * Set clear expectations and manage performance against operational KPIs. * Create a culture focused on craftsmanship, precision and continuous improvement. Quality, Safety & Compliance * Ensure high standards of food safety, hygiene and compliance across all operations. * Maintain and enforce HACCP, GMP and internal quality systems. * Implement rigorous quality control processes, particularly for delicate and high-spec pâtisserie products. * Lead audit readiness and continuous compliance improvement. Skills & Experience Required * Strong background in pâtisserie and Viennoiserie at a senior level. * Advanced technical expertise in laminated pastry, desserts and premium baked products. * Proven experience scaling pâtisserie production while maintaining high quality. * Leadership experience within a fast-paced bakery, food manufacturing or hospitality environment. * Strong understanding of production planning, process design and efficiency. * Experience in product development and recipe standardisation. * Solid knowledge of food safety, hygiene and compliance standards. * Hands-on, detail-oriented approach with a passion for craftsmanship and quality