About the Role
TalentHUB is seeking an experienced Production Manager to join a leading Saudi sweets and bakery brand in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is a full-time, on-site position within a high-volume production kitchen serving a multi-branch retail network. The role requires a deep, hands-on understanding of professional pastry and chocolate production, encompassing recipe execution, new product development, team leadership, food safety, and cost control. This position is not suitable for individuals with backgrounds solely in home baking, single-shop production, or hotel banquet pastry without significant daily volume responsibility.
The successful candidate will be a seasoned professional with expertise in commercial-scale pastry and chocolate production. Responsibilities include ensuring consistent taste and appearance across all batches, troubleshooting production challenges, and leading a production team to achieve high standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the entire pastry and chocolate production line, ensuring daily output, precise recipe execution, and consistent final product quality.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the production team through effective task allocation, technical training, and performance management.
- Manage all aspects of chocolate production, including tempering, creating fillings, developing pralines and bonbons, molding, packaging, and storage.
- Drive innovation by developing new pastry and chocolate products aligned with brand identity and market trends.
- Plan daily production volumes accurately based on sales forecasts and branch orders, focusing on waste minimization.
- Strictly enforce HACCP, food safety, and hygiene standards across the production floor.
- Manage raw material inventory, coordinate with suppliers, and optimize ordering cycles.
- Ensure the proper operation, maintenance, and calibration of all production equipment.
- Collaborate with operations and finance departments to implement cost control measures, accurately cost recipes, and achieve production efficiency targets.
Qualifications and Requirements
- A minimum of 5 years of hands-on production experience specifically in professional pastry and chocolate is mandatory.
- Demonstrated mastery of chocolate tempering techniques, praline and bonbon production, and decorative finishing.
- Advanced working experience in producing mousse, tarts, cakes, and entremets at commercial volumes.
- A proven track record of successfully leading a production team within a high-volume bakery, patisserie, or sweets brand environment.
- Working knowledge of HACCP principles, food safety standards, and relevant Saudi food regulatory requirements.
- A strong understanding of recipe costing, yield management, and effective waste control strategies.
- Hands-on familiarity with commercial pastry and chocolate production equipment.
- A formal culinary or pastry certification from a recognized institution (*, Le Cordon Bleu, Valrhona, Callebaut Academy, or equivalent) is considered a strong advantage.
- Working knowledge of English is required for vendor and brand communication; proficiency in Arabic is a strong advantage, particularly for team interaction.
- Must be based in or willing to relocate to Riyadh.
Required Skills
- Pastry Production
- Chocolate Production
- Recipe Execution
- New Product Development
- Team Leadership
- Food Safety
- Cost Control
- Chocolate Tempering
- Praline Production
- Bonbon Production
- Mousse Production
- Tart Production
- Cake Production
- Entremet Production
- HACCP
- Hygiene Standards
- Inventory Management
- Supplier Coordination
- Production Equipment Maintenance
- Recipe Costing
- Production Efficiency
- English Communication
Work Environment
This is a full-time, on-site position located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role operates within a high-volume production kitchen environment.