Lead Pastry Chef

Location: Whippany, New Jersey
Job Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $1,500–$1,600 per week

About the Opportunity

Staffmax Staffing & Recruiting is hiring an experienced and dependable Lead Pastry Chef for one of our clients, a family-owned fine dining Northern Italian restaurant in Whippany, New Jersey.

This is a hands-on, one-person pastry position ideal for an experienced pastry professional who takes pride in consistency, organization, presentation, and quality. The successful candidate will independently oversee the pastry operation, including dessert preparation and plating for lunch and dinner service.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and follow the established dessert menu with consistency and attention to detail.
• Prepare desserts and pastries for daily lunch and dinner service.
• Plate and finish desserts during lunch and dinner service.
• Prepare desserts for private parties, banquets, and special events.
• Create elegant and consistent occasion cakes and special-order desserts.
• Develop one original dessert special each week while maintaining the restaurant's established style and standards.
• Maintain pastry ingredient inventory and communicate ordering requirements.
• Keep the pastry area clean, organized, sanitary, and properly stocked.
• Follow food-handling and sanitation standards.
• Work efficiently and independently while maintaining quality during service.
• Coordinate with management regarding dessert specials, events, and upcoming pastry requirements.

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years of professional pastry experience.
• Fine dining or upscale restaurant experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of pastry preparation, baking, dessert plating, and finishing.
• Ability to accurately follow established recipes and maintain consistency.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to independently manage the pastry operation.
• Creative mindset with the ability to develop weekly dessert specials.
• Reliable, punctual, and comfortable working both preparation and service shifts.
• Strong commitment to cleanliness, quality, and professionalism.

Schedule

• Monday–Friday: Lunch and dinner shifts
• Saturday: Dinner shift, with early arrival for preparation as needed
• Flexibility required for private parties, banquets, and special events.

Compensation

• $1,500–$1,600 per week
• Full-time opportunity
• Opportunity to work independently and take ownership of the pastry program
• Opportunity to contribute creative dessert specials while working within an established fine dining concept

Apply Today

If you are an experienced Pastry Chef looking for an opportunity to take ownership of a pastry program without managing a pastry team, Staffmax Staffing & Recruiting would like to hear from you.

Apply today and one of our recruiters will be in touch to discuss the opportunity.