Head of Bakery Operations & Production

OKJA | East London / Liverpool Street

Salary: £45,000–£65,000 + performance bonus + equity opportunity Hours: Full-time, 45 hours per week (early starts from 3:00am when required) Location: East London, on-site Job Type: Full-time, permanent

This isn't just another bakery management job.

We're looking for someone who wants to take ownership of a bakery, build something they're proud of and help shape the next chapter of a growing London bakery brand.

At OKJA, we're building a modern bakery business with big ambitions. We produce everything from laminated pastries and our signature swirls to innovative sweet and savoury products, supplying our own London stores and a growing number of wholesale partners.

We've built the foundations. Now we want someone who can take the bakery to the next level.

Someone who sees opportunities where others see problems. Someone who can bring structure without killing creativity. And someone who wants to put their own stamp on how a bakery operates, develops and grows.

We're not looking for someone to simply maintain what we've built. We're looking for someone to make it better.

The Opportunity

You'll take full ownership of our Central Production Unit in East London, leading the people, production, standards and distribution that keep the business running.

This is a genuine leadership opportunity with the freedom to challenge how things are done, introduce better ways of working and help shape the future of our bakery.

You'll work closely with the Managing Director, with real influence over operational decisions, team development, product innovation, production planning and how we scale.

It's a hands-on role. You'll be just as comfortable working alongside the bakers at 3:00am as you are reviewing performance, improving processes or planning for growth.

What You'll OwnOwn the Bakery

• Take complete ownership of day-to-day bakery operations, from preparation and production through to dispatch.
• Build an efficient, well-organised production environment that delivers exceptional quality consistently.
• Introduce better processes, systems and ways of working.
• Ensure production meets growing demand across our retail and wholesale business.
• Bring ideas, challenge existing methods and continuously improve how we operate.
• Take accountability for the overall performance of the bakery.

Lead and Develop the Team

• Lead, coach and develop our Bakery Manager and wider production team.
• Build a positive, ambitious culture where people take pride in what they produce.
• Set clear expectations around quality, productivity and accountability.
• Recruit, develop and retain great bakery talent.
• Create a team and structure capable of supporting a growing business.
• Lead from the front and be prepared to get hands-on when needed.

Shape the Future of Our Products

• Help lead product innovation, bringing fresh thinking and new ideas to the bakery.
• Bring a strong understanding of modern baking techniques, particularly lamination.
• Develop and improve products with quality, consistency and commercial viability in mind.
• Turn great ideas into products that can be consistently produced at scale.
• Stay curious about emerging bakery trends, flavours and techniques.
• Challenge existing products and methods to continually improve our offering.

We want someone with ideas and the confidence to bring them to life. Someone who understands the technical side of baking but also knows what makes a product commercially successful.

Build an Operation That Can Scale

• Own production planning, forecasting and labour deployment.
• Improve productivity while maintaining exceptional product standards.
• Reduce unnecessary waste without compromising product availability or sales opportunities.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement practical solutions.
• Build processes that allow us to grow without unnecessary complexity.
• Take responsibility for food safety, HACCP, hygiene and operational compliance.
• Ensure equipment, facilities and production workflows support an efficient operation.

Own Logistics and Distribution

• Oversee daily picking, packing, dispatch and deliveries.
• Ensure the right products reach the right locations, on time and in excellent condition.
• Manage delivery schedules, routes and courier relationships.
• Improve logistics efficiency as retail and wholesale volumes grow.
• Build a reliable distribution operation that can support future expansion.

Who We're Looking For

We're less interested in where you've worked and more interested in what you've achieved and what you're capable of building.

You could be an experienced Head Baker looking for greater ownership, a Bakery Manager ready for the next step, or a production leader who understands great bakery products and wants more creative and commercial influence.

What matters to us:

• Strong experience in a professional bakery or food production environment.
• A solid understanding of modern bakery production, particularly laminated products.
• Proven experience leading, managing and developing teams.
• Confidence managing production volumes, labour, costs and waste.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to plan production effectively.
• An understanding of how production and logistics work together.
• A hands-on approach — you're happy to get involved whenever needed.
• Strong food safety and operational standards.
• The confidence to make decisions, challenge existing processes and take accountability.
• The flexibility to work early shifts, including starts from 3:00am when required.

Experience managing managers, wholesale production and multi-site distribution would be an advantage.

The Person Who Will Thrive Here

You're not someone who wants to walk into a business and follow the same routine every day.

You want ownership.

You enjoy building teams, improving operations and solving problems.

You're passionate about modern baking and excited by new products, techniques and ideas.

You understand that a successful bakery needs both creativity and commercial discipline.

You can spot an inefficient process, fix it and make sure the solution sticks.

You care deeply about the product coming out of the oven, but you're equally interested in how the entire operation performs.

Most importantly, you want to build something, put your own stamp on it and be recognised for the impact you've made.

Why Join OKJA?

We're at an exciting stage of our journey, and this is an opportunity to play a meaningful role in what comes next.

What you'll get:

• £45,000–£65,000 salary , depending on experience.
• Equity participation opportunity , subject to agreement, giving you the potential to share in the long-term success of the business.
• Real ownership: Lead the bakery operation and influence how it develops.
• Freedom to make your mark: We actively want your ideas, experience and perspective.
• Creative involvement: Help shape our products, production processes and future innovation.
• Direct access to leadership: Work closely with the Managing Director and influence key business decisions.
• Long-term growth: Help build the production operation behind an ambitious, growing bakery brand.

We don't want someone who simply wants another management title.

We want someone who looks at this opportunity and thinks, "I could really build something here."

Interested?

We don't expect you to tick every box.

If you're an ambitious bakery professional who wants more responsibility, more ownership and the opportunity to build something special, we'd love to hear from you.

When applying, tell us a little about what you've built, improved or changed in your current or previous bakery — not just the jobs you've held.

Application Questions

• Tell us about a bakery or production operation you've managed. What size was the team?
• What is one significant improvement you've made to a bakery operation?
• What experience do you have with laminated pastry production?
• Have you been responsible for production planning, labour costs and waste?
• Have you managed other managers or team leaders?
• Are you comfortable working early shifts, including 3:00am starts?

Work location: In person, East London / Liverpool Street.

Pay: £45,000.00-£65,000.00 per year

Application question(s):

• Tell us about a bakery or production operation you've managed. What size was the team?
• What is one significant improvement you've made to a bakery operation?
• What experience do you have with laminated pastry production?
• Have you been responsible for production planning, labour costs and waste?
• Have you managed other managers or team leaders?
• Are you comfortable working early shifts, including 3:00am starts?

Work Location: In person