Competitive triathletes and passionate bakers, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald left their careers to open a small bread shop in New York City in 1995 — Levain Bakery.
One day, they baked a BIG chocolate chip walnut cookie as energy for triathlon training. At Levain, a batch of these 6-ounce cookies flew off the shelves, and an icon was born. The cozy shop on West 74th Street became a neighborhood favorite and a destination for epicurious visitors from around the world, hungry for “the cookie.”
From the start, Pam, Connie, and the team baked everything fresh on-site each day, donating the day’s leftovers to charity — and we still do, nearly 30 years later. Today, Levain has bakeries across the country (with more to come!), plus e-commerce gift boxes to treat cookie lovers in every state.
Our Vision: To give rise to lifelong memories
Our Mission: To bring together people who treat their work and the craft of baking—and all who come to visit—with great care.
Every day, we strive to embody our company’s five core values:
- Welcome All – We are all in it together
- Work Hard and Be Kind – We pull our weight, do our best, and take care of each other
- Lead with Heart – We operate with empathy and integrity
- Rise Up – We take initiative to make things better
- Savor It – We are present and find the fun
THE ROLE: SENIOR BAKER TEAM LEADER
Senior Baker Team Leaders report directly to the Director of Product Quality and Innovation and are responsible for driving product excellence across all bakery locations. This role ensures that every product—new and existing—is executed to Levain’s gold standards through strong leadership, disciplined training, and rigorous quality control.
This position owns in-market product execution, including the successful rollout, adoption, and long-term consistency of all new products. The Senior Baker Team Leader is accountable for ensuring bakery teams are fully prepared, trained, and executing at a high level before, during, and after product launches.
The role partners closely with Assistant General Managers, General Managers, and District Managers to develop teams, reinforce standards, identify gaps, and implement improvements that elevate both product quality and operational performance.
What We’re Looking For
- People-forward, proactive, and empathetic leadership style
- Strong communicator with a collaborative, team-oriented mindset
- High level of professionalism; adaptable, flexible, and patient
- Committed to continuous improvement and accountability
- Proven ability to motivate, coach, and develop teams
- Strong attention to detail with a relentless focus on quality and consistency
- Ability to lead effectively in fast-paced environments
- Passion for baking and developing others in Levain’s standards
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Embody and promote the values and standards of Levain Bakery
Job Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead with curiosity and compassion, building strong and effective team relationships
- Model ownership, accountability, and high-performance standards
- Delegate responsibilities and station assignments as needed
- Provide clear, actionable feedback to improve performance, and adapt coaching style to support diverse teams and learning styes
- Support store leaders with interviewing potential baker candidates
- Conduct regular check-ins to assess training progress, performance, and operational readiness
- Demonstrate a team-first mindset by actively supporting FOH operations when needed, stepping in to support retail operations during peak periods, reinforcing collaboration between baking and retail teams
- Partner with the Director of Product Quality and Innovation to execute and continuously improve training programs
Quality Control & Product Execution
- Conduct regular quality audits across bakeries, evaluating taste, texture, appearance, and consistency
- Identify execution gaps and implement corrective actions with urgency
- Hold bakery teams accountable to recipe adherence, techniques, and standards
- Ensure proper scaling, mixing, shaping, proofing, and baking techniques, and monitor baking times and temperatures to ensure consistency
- Troubleshoot and refine baking execution using strong critical thinking
Product Ownership & Execution
- Own end-to-end execution of new product rollouts in market, from pre-launch readiness through post-launch stabilization
- Partner with the Director of Product Quality and Innovation on launch strategy, training approach, and execution standards
- Validate bakery readiness prior to launch, including training completion, ingredient availability, and operational preparedness
- Monitor product performance during rollout and provide immediate feedback on quality and consistency
- Provide structured feedback to inform future product development and rollout improvements
Equipment & Maintenance
- Support preventative maintenance of all bakery equipment
- Escalate equipment issues that impact product quality or production
- Maintain clean, organized, and sanitary work environments
Requirements
- Minimum 2-3 years of professional baking experience, with at least 1-2 years of supervisory experience preferred (depending on location)
- Open availability: ability to work mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays
- Ability to travel 3-4 days per week to support bakery locations and outer markets
- Support new bakery openings, including extended stays as needed
- Ability to lift/push 50 pounds
- Stand/walk for an 8-hour shift (excluding a ½ hour break); some locations require walking up and down stairs
- Read and communicate in English, both verbally and in writing
- Utilize basic computer skills (Email, Microsoft Office)
- Must have Food Handlers Certification & maintain required certification (ServSafe, etc.)
Compensation & Benefits
- $68k–$72k + 15% quarterly bonus potential
- Health, Vision, Dental Insurance
- Employer-funded Healthcare Reimbursement Account
- Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Bike-Share Reimbursement
- 14 Weeks Fully Paid Parental Leave
- Three Weeks Paid Time Off
- 401K with 3.5% Company Match
We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees feel valued and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.
