Blue Heron Bakery is looking for a Bread Mixer to join our bakery team. We are a local worker and consumer co-op committed to wholesome, scratch-made food and to building a workplace where people work cooperatively and take responsibility for the quality of what we produce.
Our bread team works together to turn ingredients into consistent, high-quality loaves for our storefront, the Olympia Farmers Market, local deliveries, and wholesale customers. The Bread Mixer plays an important part in that process: preparing accurate batches of dough and making sure they are ready on time for the bakers and shapers who follow.
Although it is a plus, you do not need previous bread-mixing experience for this position. We are looking for someone with some food-service experience who is comfortable working in a busy kitchen, pays close attention to details, and can stay focused on a process even when there are other things happening around them. You should be able to follow recipes carefully, work steadily and independently, communicate clearly with coworkers, and take pride in keeping your work clean and organized.
The ideal candidate is efficient, dependable, friendly, and attentive to both food quality and the needs of the team.
Role Summary
The Bread Mixer is responsible for preparing and mixing bread dough according to Blue Heron recipes, production needs, and quality standards. The Bread Mixer works closely with the Bread Baker and Bakery Lead to ensure that dough is prepared in the correct quantities and on schedule for retail, market, delivery, and wholesale production. The role requires careful attention to recipe accuracy, dough quality, timing, cleanliness, food safety, and communication with other bakery workers.
Schedule: Three 7 hour shifts per week. 11AM - 7PM. Possibility of other bread or pastry roles.
Responsibilities:
Production and Dough Preparation
Plans and prepares batch quantities based on the daily production needs of the bakery, including store, market, delivery, and wholesale orders, in coordination with the Bakery Lead or Bread & Granola Lead as needed.
Prepares and mixes dough for each bread according to established recipes, procedures, and quality standards.
Measures and calculates ingredients accurately, including adjusting batch sizes when production needs require it.
Accurately weighs and adds ingredients in the proper sequence and monitors mixing times and other recipe-specific requirements.
Monitors dough throughout the mixing process and communicates any concerns about dough consistency, temperature, ingredient quality, or other production issues to the Bread Baker, Bread Slicer or Bread Lead.
Maintains awareness of the overall bread production schedule and manages mixing work so that dough is ready when needed for the next stage of production.
Feeds and maintains sourdough starters according to established procedures and communicates any concerns about starter activity or condition.
Assists with other bread production tasks as needed to keep the production schedule moving smoothly.
Quality, Food Safety, and Sanitation
Follows all bakery recipes, SOPs, procedures, checklists, and established quality standards.
Maintains consistent production quality and communicates problems or deviations rather than allowing them to continue unnoticed.
Practices proper food safety and sanitation procedures, including appropriate handwashing, food handling, storage, labeling, temperature control, and prevention of cross-contamination.
Keeps ingredients and work areas organized and follows FIFO practices when handling stored ingredients.
Cleans and sanitizes mixing equipment, tools, tables, containers, and other smallwares used during production.
Washes all dishes and equipment used during the shift and returns them to their proper storage locations.
Keeps the bread production area clean and organized throughout the shift rather than leaving cleanup until the end of production.
Sweeps and mops the walk-in and other assigned bakery areas regularly and completes all applicable daily and weekly cleaning checklists.
Treats all bakery equipment, tools, and smallwares with care and reports equipment problems or maintenance needs promptly.
Communication and Teamwork
Communicates clearly and promptly with the Bread Baker, Bakery Lead, and other bakery workers regarding production quantities, timing, ingredient availability, dough quality, equipment issues, and other concerns affecting production.
Communicates supply and ingredient needs to the appropriate ordering role in sufficient time to prevent shortages or interruptions in production.
Works cooperatively with the Bread Baker and other bakery workers to coordinate production and respond to changing needs during the shift.
Works independently when carrying out assigned production tasks while remaining aware of the needs and priorities of the larger bakery operation.
Participates in maintaining a respectful, supportive, and productive kitchen environment.
Follows Blue Heron policies, procedures, job description expectations, and applicable health and safety requirements.
Requirements
• Some previous food-service or commercial kitchen experience.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow a recipe precisely.
• Ability to maintain concentration on a multi-step production process in a busy kitchen environment.
• Ability to recognize when something is not going according to the recipe or production plan and communicate it promptly.
• Willingness to learn bread production techniques and Blue Heron's recipes and procedures.
• Ability to lift up to 60 pounds throughout the workday. (Mixing bowl with dough)
• Ability to perform basic calculations and arithmetic, including accurately measuring ingredients and adjusting batch quantities.
• Ability to read and follow recipes and written procedures accurately.
• Ability to maintain consistent production standards while working at a steady pace.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in partnership with other bakery workers.
• Basic understanding of food safety and sanitation practices, or willingness and ability to learn Blue Heron’s required procedures.
• Strong time-management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks according to production needs.
• Ability to remain calm, courteous, and focused in a busy kitchen environment.
• Good communication skills and willingness to communicate problems, changing needs, and supply shortages promptly.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a production team and contribute to the overall functioning of the bakery.
• Willingness to learn and follow Blue Heron’s policies, procedures, recipes, and quality standards.
Physical and Working Environment
• Extensive standing and walking during the work shift.
• Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, carrying, and handling of ingredients, dough, equipment, and bakery products.
• Regular lifting of heavy ingredients, mixing bowls, dough, and finished products, including loads up to 60 pounds.
• Exposure to flour dust and other food-production materials.
• Exposure to hot, cold, wet, and humid working conditions, including ovens, refrigeration, walk-ins, and dishwashing areas.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals.
• Busy, fast-paced bakery production environment requiring sustained attention and the ability to work under time pressure.
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