Chief Baker
Position Summary:
The Chief Baker is responsible for overseeing all bakery operations onboard, ensuring the daily production of high-quality breads, rolls, pastries, breakfast items, and specialty baked goods for guests and crew.
The Chief Baker delivers consistent products across all dining venues while maintaining efficient production in a fast-paced, multicultural shipboard environment and ensuring overall guest satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities:
Effectively manage the production and delivery of bakery items for all food outlets, always ensuring compliance with company recipes and picture presentation as the minimum standard.
Manage the Bakery galley staff during all operational activities and service periods, ensuring adherence to company standards.
Conduct daily briefings with Galley management to review the previous day’s operational efficiency and offer suggestions for improvement.
Conduct daily briefings with the Bakery galley team to discuss the previous day’s operational performance and efficiency, upcoming production, and events.
Observe each crew member’s performance using the relevant role description as a guide, and deliver prompt and appropriate correction, improvement, or reinforcement.
Coach and develop skilled, engaged team members.
Identify top performers and mentor them for career advancement or promotion.
Regularly collaborate with the Executive Chef to provide constructive and consistent appraisals to encourage Bakery galley staff to achieve their highest potential and advance as appropriate.
Monitor costs and expenditures of Bakery operations at all times.
Control production levels, targets, and par levels to ensure they fall within the established budget.
Ensure options are always available for passengers with special dietary requirements or requests, including gluten-free options.
Ensure special-occasion bakery items, including decorative items, are provided as requested.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience:
Solid knowledge of international bakery recipes and preparation.
Solid knowledge of USPH requirements, food safety, and waste management.
Strong supervisory and training skills.
Fluent English language skills, both verbal and written.
Understanding of the foundation of guest service, with the ability and willingness to deliver outstanding service to guests.
Personable communicator with outstanding social skills and a warm, friendly, and caring personality.
Ability to continuously surprise and delight guests throughout their cruise experience.
Commitment to establishing and maintaining courteous and professional working relationships in a diverse cultural environment.
Non-Negotiable Requirements:
At least 10 years’ experience in high-volume bakery operations within hotels, resorts, or cruise ships.
Minimum of 2 years’ experience as Chief Baker or in an equivalent role, or at least 5 years as Chef de Partie Baker onboard cruise ships, is mandatory.
Strongly Preferred:
Degree in Bakery from a recognized culinary institution, or a three-year apprenticeship in lieu thereof.
Contract Details:
6/2 rotation: continual rotations of 6 months onboard followed by 2 months of vacation.
Single cabin with private bathroom facilities.
- Department
- Culinary
- Role
- Chief Baker
- Locations
- Shipboard Worldwide (USA), Cruise Academy - United Kingdom, Shipboard Worldwide (Central America), Shipboard Worldwide (Eastern Europe), Shipboard Worldwide (Western Europe), Shipboard Worldwide (UAE), Shipboard Worldwide (South America)
About Cruise Academy
Straight Talk. Real Experience. No Bull-ship. 🚢✨
At Cruise Academy, we don’t just teach it - we’ve lived it. Founded in 2017 by seafarers for seafarers, we specialize in maritime training and shipboard recruitment for the global cruise industry.
We tell it like it is - the good, the bad, and the downright exhausting. No sugarcoating, no sales pitch - just real, honest insights from those who’ve been there. Because you deserve to know exactly what to expect before stepping onboard.
We are MLC Certified and proudly audited and approved by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, ensuring the highest standards in training, recruitment, and compliance.
If you're serious about a career at sea, we’ll get you there - the right way.