Bakery Assistant

BAKERY ASSISTANT – WEDDINGS, BREAKFASTS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Pleasant Vista on Dancing Creek
Amherst, Virginia

ABOUT PLEASANT VISTA

Pleasant Vista on Dancing Creek is a growing destination hospitality estate in Amherst County offering weddings, private celebrations, corporate retreats, overnight accommodations, and distinctive culinary experiences.

Our culinary program emphasizes handcrafted food, seasonal and locally grown ingredients, thoughtful presentation, and warm Virginia hospitality with a Tuscan soul.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Bakery Assistant to work under the direction of our Lead Baker & Breakfast Production Lead.

The Bakery Assistant will help prepare breads, focaccia, pastries, breakfast items, tartlets, cakes, cookies, desserts, fillings, and other components for weddings, overnight guests, retreats, and special events.

This is a hands-on production position for someone who enjoys baking, works carefully, maintains an organized kitchen, and wants to develop professional bakery skills. Formal culinary-school training is not required. Reliability, accurate recipe execution, cleanliness, and willingness to learn are especially important.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accurately weigh and measure ingredients.
• Prepare ingredients, pans, equipment, and workstations for production.
• Assist with mixing, rolling, sheeting, shaping, proofing, filling, portioning, baking, cooling, and packaging.
• Help produce focaccia, breads, pastries, tart shells, cakes, cookies, breakfast items, jams, fillings, garnishes, and other dessert components.
• Assist with breakfast preparation for overnight guests, bridal parties, retreats, and special events.
• Help arrange pastry displays, dessert stations, breakfast buffets, and guest amenities.
• Follow standardized recipes, production sheets, portion sizes, presentation standards, and event deadlines.
• Operate commercial mixers, ovens, proofing equipment, dough sheeters, tart-shell machines, and related equipment after training.
• Label, date, rotate, and properly store ingredients and finished products.
• Assist with receiving supplies and maintaining bakery inventory.
• Notify the lead baker when ingredients or supplies are running low.
• Maintain a clean, organized, sanitary, and inspection-ready work area.
• Clean bakery equipment, utensils, pans, and workstations as part of the regular production process.
• Follow all food-safety, sanitation, allergen, and cross-contact procedures.
• Assist with packing, event setup, replenishment, breakdown, and storage when required.
• Communicate promptly if a recipe, product, or production assignment does not appear correct.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Genuine interest in baking, pastry, breakfast production, or professional food service.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to follow written recipes and verbal instructions accurately.
• Strong attention to measurements, timing, sanitation, and presentation.
• Willingness to learn and accept constructive feedback.
• Ability to work independently after training.
• Ability to stay organized while handling multiple assignments.
• Availability for some early-morning and weekend shifts.
• Reliable transportation to our Amherst County property.
• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Ability to safely lift and carry up to approximately 40–50 pounds.
• Willingness to complete required food-safety training.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous bakery, pastry, restaurant, catering, or commercial-kitchen experience.
• Experience making yeast breads, focaccia, breakfast pastries, tartlets, cakes, cookies, or event desserts.
• Culinary or baking education.
• Experience using commercial ovens, mixers, proofers, or dough sheeters.
• Experience decorating celebration cakes or working with layered cakes, fillings, buttercream, fondant, or piping.
• Interest in developing specialty-cake and wedding-cake skills.

Specialty-cake or wedding-cake experience is strongly valued but is not required.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Our ideal candidate:

• Takes pride in producing attractive and consistent food.
• Understands that successful baking requires accuracy and discipline.
• Arrives prepared and completes work within production deadlines.
• Recognizes and reports problems before an entire batch is affected.
• Follows approved recipes without unauthorized substitutions.
• Keeps ingredients, tools, equipment, and work areas organized.
• Works calmly and cooperatively during busy event weeks.
• Wants to grow with an expanding hospitality and culinary program.

COMPENSATION AND OPPORTUNITY

Starting pay is $17–$20 per hour, based on relevant experience and demonstrated ability.

Schedule: Weekdays with some early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays

Candidates with significant specialty-cake, wedding-cake, or advanced decorating experience may be considered for expanded responsibilities and additional compensation as Pleasant Vista develops its custom-cake program.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit:

• A résumé or summary of relevant experience.
• A brief description of your baking background.
• Your general availability, including mornings and weekends.
• Photographs or a portfolio of baked products, pastries, cakes, or decorated desserts, if available.
• Two professional references.

Selected candidates may be invited to participate in a paid practical baking assessment.

Pleasant Vista on Dancing Creek is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, performance, dependability, and the operational needs of the business.

Pay: $17.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15.0 – 25.0 per week

Work Location: In person