Our Story
At Tandem Coffee, we believe in the power of great coffee, exceptional baked goods, and fostering a community vibe that keeps people coming back. Since opening in 2012 in Portland, Maine, we’ve grown into a community hub for locals and visitors alike. We roast our own coffee and have two cafe locations in Portland - our first is on Anderson St in Portland's popular East Bayside which operates as a tasting room to our roastery there with elevated coffee service and selections. The second is a James Beard-nominated bakery on Congress St in Portland's West End that has been featured in Bon Appétit.
Tandem as a whole is a team of passionate, creative folks who care about quality, kindness, and a lot of humor. Join us in shaping what’s next at either of our cafe locations or in our roastery!
Who You Are
As the Kitchen Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring seamless daily production, upholding the highest quality standards, and cultivating a positive, collaborative atmosphere for our team of bakers. Leveraging your expertise as a skilled baker and pastry chef, you will oversee all aspects of the kitchen, from team management and training to inventory control and operational efficiency. Collaborating closely with the Co-Owners and General Manager, your primary focus will be to deliver exceptional baked goods while leading the team in alignment with Tandem’s values and culture.
What You'll Do
- Team Leadership & Management: Oversee a team of bakers, including hiring, onboarding, and training new staff. Foster and maintain a professional, positive and collaborative work environment. Provide regular coaching, feedback, and performance management to ensure staff success. Regular meetings with co-managers to coordinate Bakery success.
- Scheduling & Staffing: Create and manage staff schedules to ensure proper coverage for production needs. Monitor and adjust schedules as necessary to meet business demands.
- Recipe & Menu Development: Using Tandem’s recipe files, create a monthly menu including our regular go-to recipes. Apply your expertise to create, tweak or update recipes seasonally with approval from Briana. Communicating any changes to FOH staff.
- Inventory & Ordering: Oversee ingredient and supply ordering to ensure inventory meets production needs. Maintain an organized system for tracking inventory and minimizing waste.
- Kitchen Operations: Ensure the kitchen meets all cleanliness and maintenance standards, including compliance with health and safety regulations. Monitor and maintain kitchen equipment to ensure proper functioning, coordinating repairs as needed. Develop and update systems of operation to enhance efficiency and workflow.
- Production Management: Design, implement, and maintain a living production schedule that adapts to changing needs.
- Special Events: Collaborate with the team to plan and execute special events or custom orders.
Qualifications
- Proven experience as a kitchen manager, lead baker, or similar role in a bakery or food production environment.
- Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a diverse team.
- Ability to perform daily baking duties efficiently in a high volume environment.
- Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
- Proficiency in inventory management and scheduling.
- Knowledge of kitchen safety, cleanliness standards, and equipment maintenance.
- Creative problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to improving systems and processes.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, fostering a positive team culture.
- Flexibility to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays as needed for bakery operations.
- Ability to lift 50 lbs above waist
- Ability to spend continual time standing and perform repetitive motions in a fast-paced environment.
What You'll Get
As a part of our team, we’re excited to offer…
- $60,000 annually + monthly and annual bonuses
- Full healthcare and dental coverage
- 3 weeks paid time off in the first calendar year plus holiday closures
- 401(k) retirement plan after one year of employment
- Discount on Tandem products and free coffee beans and drinks
- Fun team gatherings, including our annual retreat!
- Relocation assistance for anyone moving from outside of Maine
Job Details
While needs for this role may vary based on the time of year, this role is designed to be in the bakery full time, three days a week in the kitchen with two administrative days.
This position reports to the General Manager and Co-Owners.