Pastry Chef at Minifactory in Vermont

$58 - $70 yearly
  • Minifactory
  • Oct 14, 2026

Job Description

We’re hiring a skilled, creative baker / pastry chef to helm the baking program at Minifactory. Our location has homed a bakery for almost 5 decades and the community's appreciation for pastry and baking is immense.

You'll step into a well-organized system built by a veteran pastry chef who is moving on after four years at Minifactory. The system is yours to learn and gradually morph around your strengths and interests while working with V Smiley to craft a pastry case that emphasizes seasonality and fruit and aromatics especially

Our ideal candidate likes to work independently but understands themselves to be a part of the V Smiley Preserves / Minifactory organization and enjoys ancillary roles. You are the morning time lead in the space, setting the tone in the kitchen, greeting/checking in deliveries, keeping counterfolks informed about menu, etc. You are a pivotal part of our leadership team at Minifactory.

We are happy to assist with re-location. The community support here is strong and folks want Minifactory to continue thriving so we have a good track record with finding housing for folks. 

Who You’ll Work With

  • Baker's assistant

  • VSP Production Lead – head jammer at VSP

  • Minifactory Cooks

  • V Smiley (Head Cook of Minifactory, Owner of VSP)

You manage: Assistant baker

You report to: V Smiley

ROLE

o Overseeing and fulfilling upon daily output of biscuits and 14-18 additional baked goods (tea cake, danish, cookies, scones, brioche, potentially croissants) and monthly bakes of gluten free bread for the kitchen

o Testing + creating products for the pastry case

o Coordinating with savory cooks

o Tying output to seasonality

RESULTS

o A baking program that speaks to a large clientele from grain free or gluten free to folks who don’t like super sweet to traditional bakeshop offerings - we want to make sweetness available to as wide a group as possible

o Foster communicative and upbeat work environment

o Stimulates excellence in both the individual and group

o Minimizes food waste

REQUIREMENTS

o A love of learning (both through self teaching and co-workers)

o Wide range of skills and interests from laminated doughs to keenness for working with alternative flours and sweeteners

o Likes working with aromatics and herbs/spices

o Have excellent interpersonal and customer service skills

o A love for being part of a team and using a strengths based approach

o Highly organized

o Quick, efficient, multi-tasking and attentive to detail

o Community minded

Some of our baking influences: Charlie Dunmire, Nigel Slater, Pam Corbin, Tandem, Thalia Ho, Camilla Wynne, Magnus Nilsson, Claudia Roden, Aran Goyoaga, Fany Gerson.

Compensation

  • Wages are based off an hourly wage + tips. Pay range is 58,000-70,000/yr + $2,000 signing bonus
  • Two weeks paid time off, 3 weeks after 2 years
  • Employee CSA
  • Staff meals
  • Employee discount
  • Seasonal bonuses

Application instructions

Online: http://vsmileypreserves.com/jobs

1. Scroll to the bottom of vsmileypreserves.com/jobs and fill out application and send materials requested on application to honeyjam@vsmileypreserves.com

2. We’ll be in touch via your provided contact info to set up a remote, 10 min. interview.

3. Final steps will be a hybrid working and in person interview.