About the role The Head Baker / Bakery Production Lead will oversee daily bakery operations at 1000 Bakery, a modern, Asian-inspired bakery café located in Melbourne CBD. This is a hands-on leadership role combining technical baking expertise with team management and product development responsibilities.

Key responsibilities

- Bakery Operations: Oversee daily production, including dough preparation, baking, finishing and quality control.

- Team Management: Lead a team of 5–10 bakers, managing staff training, rostering, performance development and team coordination.

- Production Management: Establish and optimise production workflows, prep lists, standardised recipes and SOPs to ensure efficiency and consistency.

- Cost Control: Manage ingredient ordering, inventory, food costs and waste reduction.

- Product R&D;: Contribute to new product development, seasonal specials and improvements to existing products, incorporating Asian-inspired flavours that align with 1000 Bakery's product range.

- Quality Assurance: Maintain consistent standards across flavour, texture, appearance and food safety.

About you

- Minimum 5 years of professional baking experience, with strong expertise in European-style breads, French pastries and sourdough fermentation.

- Minimum 2 years of bakery or kitchen management experience, with proven leadership, staff training, team motivation and conflict-resolution skills.

- Strong technical proficiency in
- Lamination: Dough lamination and layer consistency.

- Mixing & Dough Development: Mixing techniques, gluten development and dough handling.

- Fermentation & Crumb Control: Proofing, fermentation management and crumb structure.

- Shaping & Scoring: Dough shaping, scoring techniques and product consistency.





- Oven & Steam Management: Baking temperatures, heat distribution and steam control.

- Baker's Percentages & QA: Recipe scaling, standardisation and quality assurance.

- Relevant qualifications or certificates in Baking, Patisserie or Commercial Cookery.

- Strong understanding of modern bakery production. Experience in an independent bakery, artisan bakery or bakery café is highly regarded.

- Genuine interest in Asian-inspired baking, fusion flavours and contemporary bakery trends.

- A hands-on approach, with the ability to work alongside the team and independently resolve production and operational challenges.

- Mandarin Chinese language skills are an advantage, but not essential.

About us

1000 Bakery is a modern, Asian-inspired bakery café located in Melbourne CBD. Our product range combines contemporary baking techniques with Asian-inspired flavours, offering a creative approach to breads, pastries and everyday bakery favourites.

Benefits

- Leadership & Growth: Take ownership of bakery operations, lead the production team and contribute to brand development, operational decisions and product innovation.

- Creative Freedom: Bring your ideas to life, with opportunities to lead seasonal menu development, signature products and new bakery ranges.

- Premium Resources: Collaborate with an experienced product development team and work with quality local ingredients and leading industry suppliers.

- Competitive Package: $90,000–$100,000 per annum (depending on experience), plus an annual performance bonus, staff discounts and versatile rostering.

- Long-term Development: Opportunities for equity incentives and overseas professional training, including French and Japanese baking programmes, for outstanding performers.

📌 Head Baker-1000bread (Melbourne)
🏢 nikusai
📍 Melbourne