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 ecommerce 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, we 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: BAKERY-COMMISSARY PRODUCTION MANAGER

The Commissary Production Manager will oversee daily cookie dough production for all of Levain’s bakery locations in their market and ensures every one of our world-famous cookies is the best quality possible. The Commissary Production Manager coaches and motivates team members, creates action plans to hit production targets, and coordinates the smooth delivery of supplies and dough across the bakery locations in their market. The ideal Commissary Production Manager candidate has high emotional intelligence and a knack for operating in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

What We’re Looking For:

• Strong communication & interpersonal skills; team-oriented with a positive attitude
• Maintain a high level of professionalism and care: be adaptable, flexible, and patient
• Be open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement
• Ability to continuously motivate and inspire team members and set a positive example for the team
• Ability to remain calm under pressure in a fast-paced environment when troubleshooting issues: be consistent, patient, and even keeled
• Results-oriented approach with the ability to deliver against daily production schedules
• Detail-oriented with passion and patience for creating consistent, high-quality products
• Proven leadership and management skills with the ability to optimize team performance and development
• Embody and promote the values and standards of Levain Bakery

Job Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead with curiosity and compassion by showing care for your co-workers and build meaningful connections that broaden your perspective.
• Demonstrate leadership capabilities focused on team dynamics, motivation, and conflict resolution

• Conduct monthly one-on-one meetings with each team member
• Provide constructive feedback and coaching to team members to help them improve
• Display effective leadership to inspire and manage all commissary staff, including Commissary Team Leader(s), Commissary Team Members, Porter(s), Receiver(s)
• Model DEI principles and ensure they are upheld in commissary operations and leadership practices, where team members foster a culture of inclusion on their team

Training, Coaching & Development

• Complete your required role training and apply all skills learned to your position
• Manage team member performance through assessment techniques, coaching, and regular development opportunities

• Inform your team about new products, procedures, and promotions
• Continuously train, coach, and develop to improve product knowledge with your team and inspire improvement in production skills
• Manage your team’s completion of MIX Pathways

Production & Efficiency

• Manage and direct all production, sanitation, maintenance, and shipping operations to achieve quality, labor, and product standards
• Coordinate production schedules to meet sales demands while minimizing labor hours
• Understand the full production process and maintain a schedule that ensures high output and consistent product quality
• Support Operations and Facility teams in areas such as capacity planning and supply chain management
• Understand and apply procedures to maximize production efficiencies and minimize performance variances

Food Safety & Quality Control

• Ensure all GMPs, allergen controls, sanitation, and Critical Control Points are followed by all personnel
• Create, nurture, and support a spirit of high quality and food safety
• Implement and oversee quality control procedures that ensure product consistency
• Support order processing in areas such as customer complaints, process validation, and team training
• Administer root cause analysis and resolution for food safety and quality concerns

Inventory & Ordering Management

• Oversee the process of inventory and ensure supplies are appropriately stocked using FIFO (first in, first out) processes
• Oversee deliveries of ingredients, paper products, and chemicals
• Manage the input and accuracy of the MRP system (Crunchtime)

Workplace Safety & Compliance

• Adhere to all food safety, sanitation, hygiene, and uniform standards
• Actively identify and prevent unsafe practices; report concerns to management
• Demonstrate thoughtful, safe work habits across all commissary operations
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and assess production and equipment problems, and take corrective action as needed

Problem Solving

• Analyze production, quality control, maintenance, and operational reports to make informed decisions that enhance production and drive positive outcomes
• Utilize critical thinking skills by applying logical reasoning, evidence-evaluation, and assumption-questioning for decision-making
• Collaborate cross-functionally and investigate/escalate complex issues to gain broader perspectives and improve analysis
• Make data-driven decisions. Collect and analyze data to support decisions based on KPIs, financials, customer feedback, and team behavior
• Discuss decisions with mentors or peers to review and improve decision-making processes
• Continuously improve product quality, and commissary environment with Awareness, Empathy, and Action

Strategic Planning

· ?Establish relationships with suppliers, businesses, and organizations for meaningful partnerships

· Partner with District Managers to establish priorities and initiatives that impact commissary plans

Growth Management

• Strong financial acumen to partner with District Managers to manage the commissary’s budget, control costs, and maximize profitability
• Demonstrate the ability to implement strategies to reduce costs (e.g., minimizing waste, optimizing labor costs)
• Partner with District Managers to analyze commissary’s financial reports and score cards to track performance and make data-driven decisions based on the information provided
• Partner with District Managers to review KPIs and use them to guide decision-making and performance management

Requirements:

· Minimum 2-4 years managing professional bakery production facilities

• Fluency in Spanish is preferred
• Open availability: ability to work mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays
• Experience in workplace safety programs and their application

• Ability to work 50 hours per week
• Ability to lift/push up to 55+ pounds, including overhead

• 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
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel

Compensation & Benefits

• $65k - $75k + 20% quarterly bonus potential
• Health, Vision, Dental Insurance
• Employer-funded Healthcare Reimbursement Account
• Additional supplemental benefits: Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Bike-Share Reimbursement
• 14 Weeks Fully Paid Parental Leave
• Three Weeks of 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.