Baking Center Manager

About the role

Lesaffre, a global leader in microorganisms and fermentation serving baking, food taste and pleasure, health care and biotechnology, is looking for a Baking Center Manager in Guangzhou. The role manages the local Baking Center team and its activities, from operations and budget to technical support, market observation and new product development.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the Baking Center team: training and skill development, performance evaluation, annual objectives, salary reviews and recruitment of baking center staff and sales technologists.
• Plan the center's short-term and long-term activities, own the OPEX and CAPEX budget, and suggest technical investments.
• Handle requests from other departments and customers, collect feedback and turn it into improvements.
• Organize technical support (troubleshooting, product launches, recipe creation), visit customers' facilities when asked, run technical seminars and trainings, and prepare cost-in-use and recipe cost calculations.
• Work with quality management on quality control and monitor CRM data, consumer trends, competitors and competitor products.
• Suggest product range and marketing mix changes, take part in regional networks, organize baking trials of new products and report on activities and KPIs.
• Supervise the technical condition of the facility and equipment, comply with hygiene and safety rules, and maintain contacts with suppliers, institutes and associations.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in food science, cereal science or similar; master's or PhD preferred, combined with bakery education or experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in a leading position in a bakery or a comparable industry.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.

Required skills

• Specialist level in baking theory and practice, project management, client relations, sensory analysis and management.
• Junior level in finance, development and training.
• Team leadership, planning and organization of events and projects, and communication with multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
• Managerial traits such as coaching, innovation, entrepreneurship, achievement and global company player mindset.