Bakery Cake Decorator

Position Overview

As a Bakery Cake Decorator, you will be responsible for crafting and decorating cakes, tarts, pastries, and other special order baked goods. Your artistic skills will ensure that every item is beautifully finished to meet our high-quality standards while delivering excellent customer service.

Key Responsibilities

• Assemble, fill, and decorate various bakery items including cakes, tarts, and pastries.
• Follow established procedures for icing and decorating cakes to meet production needs, and maintain accurate production and spoilage records.
• Manage production priorities and adjust plans as necessary.
• Display products attractively in sales cases, monitor product freshness, and ensure correct rotation.
• Support and mentor Bakery Decorator Apprentices and other team members.
• Create custom cake designs according to customer specifications.
• Provide prompt and courteous customer service, including suggestive selling and handling phone inquiries professionally.
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of work and sales areas, and ensure equipment safety and maintenance.
• Perform assigned opening, mid-day, and closing duties, including accurate pricing and signage.
• Carry out any additional duties as required.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Proficient cake and pastry decorating skills with intermediate piping techniques and the ability to craft decorative flowers and borders.
• Understanding of color theory for blending buttercream and coordinating color palettes.
• Expertise in working with various icings including Swiss Buttercream, American Buttercream, Ganache, Cream Cheese Icing, Whipped Cream, Chantilly, German Chocolate Icing, Fudge Icing, and Meringue types.
• Ability to follow recipes and procedures, along with strong time management and organizational skills.
• Advanced knife handling and safety with bakery tools and equipment.
• Basic math skills for recipe adjustments and conversions.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate well within a team environment.
• Capability to deliver information clearly and respectfully to customers, vendors, and colleagues.
• Strong work ethic and ability to handle fast-paced work with urgency.

Experience Requirements

• At least 6 to 12 months of experience in retail or restaurant settings.
• Completion of Bakery Decorator Apprentice training or equivalent experience preferred.
• Previous experience in professional bakeries or grocery retail preferred.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Must be capable of lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Expect to stand or walk for 6 to 8 hours during an 8-hour shift.
• Regular use of fine motor skills including grasping, pushing, pulling, bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals approved by the FDA.
• Work environment temperatures ranging from freezing (<32°F), refrigeration (32–40°F), to warm (>90°F).
• Ability to work in both wet and dry conditions.
• Flexible scheduling including nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Use of tools and equipment such as knives, box cutters, electric pallet jacks, heavy machinery, and occasionally ladders.

Additional Information

This summary outlines the essential responsibilities and requirements but is not an exhaustive list. Duties and expectations may vary based on location, department, and business needs. Advancement requires demonstrated successful performance, business need, and qualifications; progression is not guaranteed by tenure or additional certifications alone.

Compensation and Benefits

Hourly wage ranges from £16.00 to £18.25 depending on experience. Whole Foods Market offers a comprehensive benefits package called "Whole Benefits" available to full- and part-time employees, which includes store discounts, paid time off, financial wellness, health support programs, and other perks. Eligibility depends on hire date, location, tenure, and employment type.