Bakery- Assistant Manager
Company : Roche Bros.
Location : Needham, MA, 02492
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 5 January 2026
Overview
Work with bakery manager to effectively plan, organize, lead, coordinate and optimize the materials and human resources in the bakery department to provide variety and high quality merchandise appealingly displayed to maximize the sales and profits of the bakery department while providing great customer service. The Assistant Bakery Manager will function as the department manager in his/her absence.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be 18 years of age.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Successful experience in the bakery operation (i.e., merchandising, ordering, inventorying, and pricing)
- Complete training in the bakery operation.
- Must be Servsafe certified.
- Ability to display initiative and work with limited supervision.
- Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English, with the ability to follow instructions.
- Ability to work a scheduled based on the business needs of the store location.
- Authorized to work within the U.S.
Responsibilities
The list of essential functions is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary by the company.
- Provide an open door atmosphere conducive to high associate morale and excellent customer service.
- Achieve the highest associate morale in the industry by managing in a style that is respectful, supportive and totally team oriented (RSTO).
- Commit to the “Golden Rule” and work with other associates to build a strong bakery team.
- Promote the company image as a service-oriented operation where every associate will greet, assist, render efficient service and thank customers in a prompt, courteous, friendly and business-like manner.
- Ensure the department achieves the standards of performance as outlined in the work and merchandising plan and guarantee the best-trained bakery team in the industry through training in accordance with company policy and procedures.
- Possess good communication skills and the ability to conduct and facilitate department meetings.
- Ensure all new department associates receive proper review and indoctrination of job descriptions, goals, and objectives.
- Ensure fair and consistent treatment in administering discipline to promote high associate morale.
- Responsible for department associate’s completion of the onboarding/e-learnings and checklists within 30 days of hire/entering the department.
- Conduct weekly sales meetings with bakery manager & associates to establish merchandising, sales and profit objectives.
- Responsible for assisting department manager in inventory, security and expense control of the department.
- Resolve customer complaints to the full satisfaction of the customer.
- Ensure the department is merchandised in accordance with the needs of the community.
- Order, receive, store, price, date, rotate and stock product and prepare product for display and sale.
- Keep all bakery ingredients or merchandise rotated in accordance with company policy and product code dates and always makes use of the oldest products first (first in, first out).
- Effectively control proper storage limiting shrink and damaged goods.
- Achieve and maintain department’s merchandising goals and standards in cooperation with store manager and department merchandisers and buyers (such as gross profit, presentation, etc.)
- Ensure all wage and hour policies and regulations are adhered to and respond timely to all location mail, reports and records.
- Assist department manager with work schedules and breaks; achieve payroll consistently by scheduling with budget.
- Proof dough products, bake breads, cookies and other bakery product, and cook and prepare bakery products according to company guidelines.
- Prepare special orders as requested by customers (i.e. special occasion cakes, party platters, write on cakes/prepare product, etc.).
- Offer product samples, answer product questions and offer assistance in finding or suggesting product selection.
- Delegate and use initiative, ingenuity and good judgment to act on opportunities and solve problems.
- Ensure company standards of safety, proper food handling practices, sanitation and productivity are achieved, along with practicing the “Cleaner’s Creed” and proper sanitation procedures.
- Monitor cooler and display area temperatures to ensure product quality; report refrigeration failure immediately.
- Ensure sales and work area are swept clean, orderly and free from safety hazards, and exercise proper safety practices when lifting or moving product or using equipment.
Secondary Job Functions:
- Verify price checks for customers as needed.
- Ensure all product labels, signs and prices are aligned with product.
- Ensure department associates adhere to company dress code standard (i.e. name tags, personal hygiene, etc.)
- Notify management of associate theft, customer shoplifting, unauthorized mark downs or property defacement.
- Clean walls, fans and drains in bakery coolers, display cases and work area.
- Other duties assigned by management.
Physical Demands: (per work day)
The physical demands and safety risk factors of the job listed below may occur during each work shift and are listed according to their frequency.
Physical Demands
Frequency
Crawling and reaching at waist or overhead.
0% (N) Never
Sitting, pushing and pulling up to 300 lbs., climbing up to 8 feet, kneeling, and crouching.
1-33% (O) Occasionally
Carrying and lifting up to 50 lbs., bending, balancing, and stooping.
34-66% (F) Frequently
Standing and walking on tile or concrete, handling, fingering, feeling, talking, seeing, hearing, and smelling.
67-100% (C) Continuously
Safety Risk Factors
Frequency
Loud noise, cluttered floor surface, contact with skin irritant, toxic exposure (see material safety data sheet), nuisance dust, fumes, sprays, and hazardous cleaning solutions.
1-33% (O) Occasionally
Twisting of back and neck, contact with sharp objects, and slippery floor surface.
34-66% (F) Frequently
Hazardous equipment (mechanical moving parts),
67-100% (C) Continuously
Machines, tools, and equipment utilized:
Fryer, bread slicer, ordering equipment, slicer, case cutter, ovens, proofer, kitchen utensils, electronic scales, mixer, shrink film wrapper, roller racks, unicarts, double deckers, skids, baler, pricing gun, trash compactor, water hose, intercom system, sink, cake machine, cooler, freezer, pricing gun, pallet jack, power jack, pressure washer, approved cleaning supplies and equipment.
Repetitive Action:
Continuous movement of entire body.
Working Conditions: Working environment is inside and within cold and hot temperatures.
Hiring Range: In accordance with MA Pay Transparency requirements, the following represents a good faith estimate of the hiring range for this position. At Roche Bros., we carefully consider a wide range of non-discriminatory factors when determining salary. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to education, experience, qualifications, and internal equity. The hiring range for this position is $19.40 - $25.20 per hour.
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Frequently asked questions
In Needham, MA, the bakery sector benefits from a community-focused clientele, meaning Bakery- Assistant Managers often tailor merchandising and customer service specifically to local preferences, which differs from larger urban centers. Additionally, competitive pay scales reflect regional living costs, influencing managerial strategies and team leadership.
Yes, ServSafe certification is typically mandatory for bakery management roles in Needham, MA, to ensure compliance with food safety standards. Locally, additional emphasis on sanitation and safety training due to state regulations enhances a candidate's eligibility for supervisory bakery positions.
Strong organizational abilities combined with inventory management and merchandising know-how are vital. Effective communication and team-building skills help foster a motivated bakery crew, while knowledge of product rotation and food safety regulations ensures quality and compliance.
Balancing inventory control with customer demand fluctuations requires constant attention. Managing staff schedules to optimize payroll while maintaining high service standards and handling customer complaints diplomatically are routine but critical challenges in bakery assistant management.
Absolutely, this role offers a pathway to full bakery management or specialized positions like bakery operations manager. Gaining leadership experience, mastering merchandising, and excelling in customer service can open doors to broader retail management or food production roles.
Roche Bros. emphasizes a respectful, team-oriented leadership approach, valuing associate morale highly. The role involves close collaboration with the bakery manager, with opportunities to lead department meetings and shape merchandising strategies, fostering a dynamic work environment.
The company provides structured procedures for inventory tracking and product rotation, focusing on minimizing shrinkage. Assistant managers receive training to optimize storage, maintain product freshness, and ensure accurate pricing, enhancing profitability and operational efficiency.
The hiring range for this position is approximately $19.40 to $25.20 per hour, reflecting local market rates and factoring in experience, certifications like ServSafe, and management skills. This aligns with Massachusetts pay transparency standards.
Needham's bakery sector shows moderate competition for assistant management positions due to the area's strong retail food culture. Candidates with proven bakery operational skills and certifications tend to stand out, especially within established companies like Roche Bros.
Beyond baking and stocking, this role includes leading team morale initiatives, conducting sales meetings, facilitating training, and stepping in as department head when needed. It demands multitasking across customer service, merchandising, and operational oversight.