Head Baker
Location: Gunstones, Dronfield
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
Shift Pattern: Monday - Friday
About Us
Joining 2 Sisters means becoming part of the UK's largest food manufacturer, with a £3 billion+ turnover and over 13,500 employees. Our Gunstones Bakery is a long-standing and respected site, known for producing premium bakery products such as bread rolls and hot cross buns for high-profile retail partners including Marks & Spencer. As part of our continued commitment to quality and excellence, we are investing in strong leadership to help shape the future of this iconic bakery.
About the Role
We are recruiting for a Head Baker to strengthen our technical capability and baking expertise across the site.
The role will focus on bringing a deeper understanding of baking science and process control into our large-scale bread production. You'll work closely with production, technical, and process teams to support consistent product quality, drive improvement projects, and help upskill colleagues through practical training and knowledge sharing.
This is a hands-on, collaborative role that combines baking knowledge with a focus on continuous improvement, training, and innovation.
Key Responsibilities
* Act as the site's bakery expert, providing guidance on dough development, ingredient functionality, and baking science
* Support NPD (New Product Development), EPD (Existing Product Development), and continuous improvement activities
* Collaborate closely with flour suppliers to optimise performance and consistency
* Provide technical support on mixing, fermentation, and baking parameters to enhance product quality and efficiency
* Work cross-functionally with Technical, Process, and Production teams to identify improvements and solve challenges
About You
This role is ideal for a passionate and knowledgeable baker who thrives in a large-scale manufacturing environment. You'll be equally comfortable getting hands-on with dough as you are explaining the science behind it.
Key Skills & Experience
* Proven experience in large-scale bread production
* Deep understanding of dough processes; energy vs. time balance, fermentation, and baking parameters
* Strong technical knowledge of ingredients and process science
* HACCP Level 4 or Food Safety Level 4 certification
* Excellent communication and presentation skills
* Practical understanding of quality, food safety, and process improvement in a bakery environment
* Background in Food Science, Bakery Science, or a relevant Further Education qualification (degree not essential)
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