Hawarden Estate Farm Shop

Head Baker

Hawarden Estate is a remarkable place — a sprawling, historic landscape perched on the edge of North Wales beside the Roman city of Chester. Home to a 13th-century fortification, a walled garden, a private lake and miles of woodland, it was once the seat of four-time Prime Minister William Gladstone. Today, the Estate is home to a thriving Farm Shop, bakery, restaurant, holiday accommodation and events programme that draw visitors from across the UK.

Our bakery is central to who we are — producing daily bread, pastries and speciality bakes that reflect the seasons, the landscape and our commitment to provenance. We are now looking for an exceptional Head Baker to lead this operation and take it to the next level.

The Role

This is a senior, hands-on leadership position. You will oversee all aspects of the bakery operation — from daily production of breads, cakes and speciality items, to range development, wholesale fulfilment and team management. You will work closely with our kitchen teams to evolve the product offer and play an active role in growing the bakery's commercial reach, both in-house and beyond.

Responsible to:

Reports to the Commercial Director, with a dotted line to the Senior Duty Manager of the Hawarden Estate Farm Shop.

What You'll Do

– Curate and develop a seasonal core range of breads and pastries that reflect the Estate's brand values

– Plan and manage daily baking schedules and production processes to ensure consistent quality and output

– Collaborate with the Head Chef on new product development and range innovation

– Identify and pursue opportunities to grow the bakery through new sales channels, wholesale accounts and product lines

– Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene and food safety throughout the bakery

– Manage all financial documentation for the bakery department — purchase orders, stock counts, waste control

– Lead, supervise and develop the bakery team, providing day-to-day guidance and mentorship

– Act as keyholder, ensuring the building is opened on time and secured at close

– Actively seek personal development and skills growth

What We're Looking For

Experience

– Proven experience running a professional bakery operation, ideally in a food retail or hospitality setting

– A track record of managing a profitable bakery with focus on quality, output and financial targets

– Experience developing seasonal ranges and working with local or artisan suppliers

– Comfortable presenting ideas to senior management and working to commercial objectives

– Experience in stock planning, budgeting and waste control

Skills & Knowledge

– Deep technical knowledge of baking techniques, ingredients and equipment

– Ability to develop, refine and innovate recipes to meet quality and commercial needs

– Strong leadership — you bring people with you and raise the standard around you

– Quality and provenance-driven: you care where ingredients come from and it shows in the product

– Excellent organisation and attention to detail

– A genuine passion for food, craft and the kind of place Hawarden is

The Offer

Competitive salary, dependent on experience. You'll join a close-knit team in a genuinely special setting, with the autonomy to lead your craft and the support to grow it. We are committed to developing our people and creating a workplace that reflects our values — quality, community and care for this place.

To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover note to careers@hawardenestate.co.uk

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From £34,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension
Cycle to work scheme
Discounted or free food
Free parking
On-site parking
Sick pay

Work Location: In person

Hawarden Estate Experience

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Head Baker