Job Description
CJs Restaurants is seeking a passionate, skilled, and quality-focused Senior Baker to join our professional bakery production team in Nairobi. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced bakery professional who takes pride in producing exceptional baked products while maintaining outstanding food quality, safety, and consistency. The successful candidate will play a vital role in delivering freshly baked products that consistently exceed customer expectations and contribute to the continued success of our bakery operations.
As a Senior Baker, you will oversee the preparation, mixing, proofing, baking, cooling, and finishing of a wide range of bakery products. Your expertise will help ensure that every batch meets established quality standards, recipe specifications, and presentation requirements. You will work with specialty products including Kita bread, Health bread, Portuguese bread, bread rolls, croissants, and other signature bakery items while continuously maintaining consistency across daily production schedules.
This position requires a highly organized individual who can effectively coordinate production activities, prioritize tasks, and maintain efficient workflow within a fast-paced commercial kitchen environment. You will collaborate closely with fellow bakers, pastry personnel, kitchen supervisors, and management to ensure adequate production volumes, minimize product waste, and maintain timely product availability throughout daily operations.
The successful candidate will also contribute to maintaining exceptional food safety standards by ensuring compliance with HACCP procedures, sanitation regulations, and workplace hygiene requirements. You will regularly inspect ingredients, monitor baking equipment, maintain accurate inventory records, and support purchasing activities by identifying stock replenishment needs before shortages occur.
Beyond technical baking expertise, this role requires strong leadership qualities. You will guide junior bakery staff through coaching, task delegation, performance support, and daily operational supervision while fostering teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement. Your attention to detail, commitment to excellence, and ability to maintain high standards under pressure will significantly contribute to customer satisfaction and the overall reputation of CJs Restaurants.
The ideal candidate demonstrates creativity in bakery presentation, possesses advanced knowledge of modern and traditional baking methods, understands ingredient functionality, and remains committed to continuous learning within the bakery profession. Individuals who enjoy working in a structured, collaborative, and quality-driven environment while consistently producing premium bakery products are encouraged to apply for this rewarding career opportunity.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare doughs, batters, fillings, and bakery mixtures using approved recipes and standardized production methods.
- Produce high-quality Kita bread, Health bread, Portuguese bread, bread rolls, croissants, and other bakery specialties according to production schedules.
- Monitor ingredient measurements carefully to achieve consistency in texture, flavor, volume, and appearance.
- Operate bakery equipment safely while following manufacturer operating procedures.
- Supervise daily baking activities from ingredient preparation through final product packaging.
- Ensure baked products achieve the required color, structure, freshness, and presentation before distribution.
- Apply glazing, decorative finishes, and final product enhancements where required.
- Conduct quality inspections throughout every production stage to identify and correct product defects promptly.
- Monitor proofing conditions including temperature, humidity, and fermentation timing.
- Maintain clean, organized, and hygienic bakery workstations throughout every production shift.
- Enforce HACCP food safety procedures and company sanitation standards at all times.
- Train, mentor, and support junior bakers on production techniques and workplace best practices.
- Delegate daily production assignments according to workload and employee capability.
- Coordinate production timelines to ensure timely availability of bakery products.
- Minimize ingredient waste through careful planning and efficient resource utilization.
- Monitor inventory levels for flour, yeast, butter, sugar, dairy products, fillings, and packaging materials.
- Report inventory shortages before production is affected.
- Inspect incoming ingredients to verify freshness, quality, and compliance with company standards.
- Record daily production quantities and maintain accurate operational documentation.
- Ensure bakery equipment receives routine cleaning and preventive maintenance.
- Report equipment faults immediately to minimize operational interruptions.
- Maintain compliance with workplace health and safety policies.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing bakery efficiency and product quality.
- Collaborate with kitchen management when introducing seasonal or promotional bakery products.
- Assist with production forecasting based on customer demand and business requirements.
- Maintain excellent communication with supervisors and other kitchen departments.
- Ensure finished bakery products are properly cooled, stored, and labeled.
- Follow established portion control and product specification guidelines.
- Demonstrate professionalism, punctuality, and accountability during every shift.
- Contribute to a positive working environment that promotes teamwork, respect, and operational excellence.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree, Higher National Diploma, Diploma, or recognized professional qualification in Baking, Pastry Arts, Food Production, Culinary Arts, or a related discipline.
- Valid Baking or Pastry Certificate from a recognized training institution.
- Food Safety or HACCP certification is an added advantage.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are invited to submit a detailed CV together with a professional cover letter to hiring@cjs.co.ke no later than 18th July 2026. Please indicate "Senior Baker" as the subject of your email application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process. CJs Restaurants is committed to equal employment opportunities and welcomes applications from qualified individuals who are passionate about delivering exceptional bakery products and maintaining the highest standards of food quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.