Senior Bakery Assistant

Position details

• Minimum guaranteed hours: 30 hours per week
• The position involves rostered work from Monday to Sunday, including early-morning starts at 2:00 am, and weekend shifts. Availability on public holidays may also be required.
• Applicants must have reliable transport or another practical means of attending work for all rostered shifts, including during the early hours of the morning.

Key responsibilities

• Gather and prepare ingredients required by bakers and pastry cooks.
• Accurately weigh and measure flour, yeast, sugar, fats and other ingredients.
• Prepare baking trays, tins, utensils, workstations and equipment before production.
• Assist with routine dough and sourdough preparation under the direction of a baker or pastry cook.
• Assist with mixing, kneading, dividing, portioning, shaping and placing dough.
• Safely operate mixers, kneading machines and other commercial bakery equipment.
• Monitor routine preparation and production processes and promptly report any concerns to the baker or pastry cook.
• Place prepared products onto trays, racks and appropriate storage areas.
• Assist with removing baked products from ovens and transferring them to cooling or finishing areas.
• Assist with the preparation and finishing of breads, pastries and other bakery products as directed.
• Clean and sanitise workbenches, machinery, equipment, utensils and bakery-production areas.
• Correctly store ingredients, equipment and finished products.
• Rotate stock and advise the appropriate staff member when ingredients or other supplies are running low.
• Assist with receiving, checking and organising bakery supplies.
• Follow food-safety, hygiene, allergen-control, workplace health and safety, and equipment-operation procedures.
• Help maintain an organised, efficient and safe bakery-production environment.
• Perform other reasonable bakery-assistance duties consistent with the position.

About you

To be considered, you will need:

• at least 12 months of relevant commercial bakery or pastry-production experience;
• practical experience weighing and measuring ingredients and preparing materials for bakery production;
• experience assisting with dough or sourdough preparation, kneading, portioning or shaping;
• experience safely operating, or the demonstrated ability to safely operate, commercial bakery equipment;
• a practical understanding of food safety, cleanliness, allergen control and workplace health and safety requirements;
• the physical ability to perform repetitive manual work, stand for extended periods and safely lift and move items ordinarily required in bakery production;
• availability to work early mornings from 2:00 am and weekends and public holidays where rostered;
• reliable transport or another practical means of attending all required shifts, including early-morning shifts;
• good attention to detail and the ability to follow recipes, measurements and production instructions accurately;
• the ability to work efficiently as part of a busy bakery team;
• a reliable, punctual and practical approach to work; and
• willingness to undergo pre-employment drug and alcohol testing and to comply with the employer’s lawful workplace drug and alcohol policies.

Relevant food-safety training or a bakery-related qualification would be advantageous but is not essential.

Applicants should submit a current CV and a brief cover letter outlining their relevant experience, availability and current New Zealand citizenship, residence or visa status.