Pastry Chef

About Sage

Sage is a from-scratch cafe in downtown Columbia focused on thoughtfully made food, French-inspired pastry, and craft coffee. We care about quality ingredients, attention to detail, and creating an experience that feels special without feeling fussy.

Our team takes pride in the craft behind what we serve, from freshly baked pastries to carefully prepared coffee and food.

About the Role

We’re seeking an experienced Pastry Chef to lead and further develop Sage’s pastry program.

This is a full-time, hands-on leadership role for an experienced pastry professional with strong expertise in viennoiserie and laminated doughs. You’ll lead pastry production, develop the people behind it, and help shape the future of the program through thoughtful menu development, strong production practices, and a commitment to exceptional quality and consistency.

We’re looking for someone who cares deeply about the craft, brings both technical expertise and leadership experience, and is excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a growing pastry program.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the production of Sage’s pastries and baked goods from scratch
• Oversee work with viennoiserie, laminated doughs, and other pastry preparations from mixing and shaping through proofing, baking, and finishing
• Manage pastry production, including planning, prep, timing, workflow, and quality control
• Lead, train, and support members of the pastry and baking team
• Develop and refine recipes, seasonal offerings, and new pastry concepts
• Establish and maintain high standards for quality, consistency, freshness, and presentation
• Support inventory planning and ingredient management for efficient production
• Maintain a clean, organized kitchen and ensure food safety and sanitation standards are followed
• Collaborate with cafe and kitchen leadership to continue developing and elevating Sage’s pastry program

What We’re Looking For

• Significant professional pastry experience with strong expertise in viennoiserie and laminated doughs
• Strong technical foundation across pastry production, including mixing, shaping, proofing, baking, and finishing
• Experience managing pastry or bakery production and workflow
• Experience leading, training, and developing a team
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to quality and consistency
• Creativity and genuine passion for pastry and continued development of the craft
• Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills
• Ability to lead by example in a hands-on production environment

Schedule & Availability

This is a full-time position and may include early-morning shifts based on production needs. Weekend availability is important, along with strong, reliable availability to support the kitchen’s production schedule.

Relocation assistance is available for the right candidate.

Why Sage

At Sage, we care deeply about the details, but we also care about the people behind them. As Pastry Chef, you’ll have the opportunity to lead and shape a growing pastry program while being part of a team that values craft, quality, creativity, and hospitality.

Interested, But Not Ready to Apply?

If this opportunity sounds like it could be a fit but you’re not quite ready to apply, we’d still love to hear from you. Reach out to [email protected] to start a conversation about the role.