Executive Pastry Chef & Culinary Education Lead

Executive Pastry Chef & Culinary Education Lead

 

Masterbrand & Community | Naperville | Full Time | Permanent

Wilton's Recipe
Wilton is a global heritage brand with a 95-year history in baking and decorating. As part of the Dr. Oetker family, Wilton aspires to be the most influential and successful cake decorating brand, sparking more ways to create sweeter moments both in the kitchen and the workplace. Learn more about Wilton at www.wilton.com.
 

Description

Do you have a passion for pastry, teaching, and a desire to inspire the next generation of pastry and cake decorating artists? Wilton’s reimagined school and education program is seeking a creative and skilled Executive Pastry Chef to help shape our Sweet Studio experience. Based inside our corporate headquarters in Naperville, IL, this role will be key in designing and executing hands-on curriculum, recipes, and dessert prototypes while leading and inspiring Sweet Studio staff and adjunct instructors.  Reporting to the Manager of Education Strategy, the Executive Pastry Chef will teach, engage, and entertain diverse audiences while bringing Wilton’s education approach to a global audience. 

Ingredients

• Curriculum Development: Inform and inspire the creation of differentiated educational offerings, including virtual learning experiences, class lesson plans, and how-to tutorials.
  • Create and update course outlines, lesson plans, and instructional materials based on industry standards and current pastry trends. 
  • Review and approve all new curriculum ensuring all lesson plans and recipe documentation are accurate and up to date.
• Teach Sweet Studio classes, with a focus on baking/pastry and advanced classes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (product development and Sweet Studio personnel) to create and refine recipes for taste, texture, and shelf stability.
• Train, schedule, and manage adjunct instructors and the Sweet Studio Prep Assistant to ensure proper staffing for all classes.
• Conduct tastings and presentations to communicate the value of Wilton products and education to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage kitchen and maintain kitchen and class inventories,  controlling costs, and optimizing production. Organize kitchen spaces, oversee class preparations, and provide support to adjunct and master-level instructors.
• Place orders following Wilton’s purchase order process and monitor stock levels through regular inventory checks.

Equipment

• Culinary degree required; pastry degree preferred.
• 5+ years’ experience in the culinary/ baking and pastry field.
• 3+ years’ experience in a supervisory role in the culinary field and 2+ years’ teaching pastry arts.
• Proven expertise in the pastry arts, with a strong foundation in classic and contemporary techniques, including macronage, laminated dough, sugar and chocolate work, and buttercream and royal icing piping.
  Valid food handler certification.

Instructions

• Strong sense of urgency, organizational skills, and attention to detail, with ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• High proficiency in MS office suite along with strong analytical capabilities.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to develop & maintain relationships while collaborating cross-functionally within areas of the business.
• Demonstration of growth mindset by embracing the qualities of agility, curiosity, accountability, and innovation consistent with Wilton’s Culture Recipe.

Baking Conditions (Environment)

• Ability to work a semi-flexible schedule including some Saturdays and 1 evening a week (Wednesday or Thursday).
• Occasional travel for customer presentations 2-5 times  per year - typically with at least 3 weeks notice.
• Work involves long hours of standing, bending, pushing, lifting (up to 40 pounds), exposure to heat while cooking and cold while retrieving food from freezer.
• Routinely use standard office equipment such as (laptop computers, monitors/keyboards, printers, and telephones).
• Processes information and communicates effectiv