Head Baker (Contract)

About the company

MIJ Hub (My Inspiring Journey) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2011, supporting individuals with special needs — including autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, Down syndrome and global developmental delay — aged 4 to 40. What began as a weekend only programme has grown into centres across Singapore and Malaysia, impacting over 1,000 individuals daily through education, therapy, student care and vocational training. Beyond the classroom, MIJ Hub creates pathways into paid employment through its social enterprise arm, Ashraf's Cafe, giving graduates guided, real-world work experience and a route to greater independence. Beyond its own programmes, MIJ Hub works with a range of stakeholders — caregivers, partners, volunteers and donors — to advocate for and broaden its impact on the special needs community.

Ashraf's Cafe is a social enterprise that operates a growing portfolio of food, beverage, production, fulfilment and inclusive-employment initiatives, including Komunal. The organisation combines commercial operations with meaningful employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals. As the business grows across café operations, central production, e-commerce, catering, events and future outlets, strong internal coordination is required to ensure that products, supplies, people and operational processes move smoothly across all areas.

Your tasks

Position Summary The Head Baker/Chef leads day-to-day baking and culinary operations for Ashraf's Cafe (high-volume baked goods and cooked food) and Komunal (specialty cafe), translating projected demand into consistent, high-quality production while upholding food safety and driving menu innovation.

The role works closely with the Inclusive Operations Manager, Project Manager, Senior Barista and the Director to keep production aligned with purchasing, fulfilment and service needs. The Head Baker/Chef also carries standing responsibility for order-fulfilment coverage and supervision of supported employees on production tasks whenever the Inclusive Operations Manager is unavailable — this is a fixed duty of the role, not an occasional favour, so production continuity never depends on any one person being present.

Priority Order (use this when things conflict)

• Food safety and hygiene compliance — never compromised; this is the first priority, always.
• Meeting confirmed daily production quantities for Ashraf's Cafe and Komunal — a stock-out is the costliest failure.
• Order fulfilment coverage during the Inclusive Operations Manager's absence.
• Supervision of supported employees on production tasks when the job-coaching lead is not present.
• Recipe refinement, new product development and equipment/process improvement — the first things to flex when production demand spikes.

Baking & Culinary Operations

• Execute and coordinate the full spectrum of daily baking and culinary operations for Ashraf's Cafe (high-volume baked goods and cooked food) and Komunal (specialty cafe), ensuring consistent quality and adherence to established SOPs.
• Oversee the timely production of all goods based on weekly projected quantities provided by the Inclusive Operations Manager, ensuring both Ashraf's Cafe and Komunal are adequately stocked at all times.
• Drive culinary excellence by continuously testing, refining, and improving recipes to meet customer expectations and uphold brand standards.

Operational Efficiency & Process Improvement

• Identify, implement, and refine innovative production techniques to enhance kitchen efficiency and reduce wastage without compromising quality.
• Lead the evaluation and recommendation of new kitchen equipment to improve workflow, production output, and overall operational performance; major acquisitions require the Director's approval.
• Ensure seamless coordination in baking operations for both Ashraf's and Komunal Cafe.

Menu Development & R&D

• Work with the Director and Senior Barista to understand customer preferences for both Ashraf's Cafe and Komunal, and align on menu development and R&D.
• Execute and coordinate new product development, including seasonal offerings, specialty bakes, and experimental menu items for both cafes.
• Ensure all menu creations meet high standards of taste, quality, presentation, and consistency.
• Align menu innovations with customer preferences, market trends, and cafe branding.

Inventory & Supply Chain Management

• Set quality, specification and cost-effectiveness requirements for ingredients and packaging, and flag ingredient needs and stock risk to the Inclusive Operations Manager for timely ordering.
• The Inclusive Operations Manager leads supplier negotiation, quotation comparison and purchase execution against the requirements set here; work closely together to ensure consistent ingredient availability and quality control.
• Contribute production-side inventory data to trackers maintained by the Inclusive Operations Manager to support stock rotation, minimize waste, and enable accurate forecasting.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Uphold strict compliance with food safety regulations, hygiene practices, and industry standards within the kitchen.
• Conduct routine health and safety checks to maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free kitchen environment.
• Ensure all team members follow safe food handling procedures and proper sanitation protocols.

Order Fulfilment Coverage

• Step in to coordinate order fulfilment during the Inclusive Operations Manager's absence, ensuring timely packing of orders and delivery of all customer orders and smooth operational continuity.

Support for Special Needs Clients

• Supervise and guide special needs working clients in the production cycle when the Inclusive Operations Manager (who leads the organisation's job-coaching function) is not present.
• Ensure tasks are clearly communicated and completed safely, effectively, and in line with production requirements.

Requirements

Competencies

• Culinary craftsmanship and consistency at volume
• Food safety and hygiene discipline
• Ability to plan and prioritise production under demand pressure
• Coaching and supervisory patience for supported employees
• Collaborative, spec-driven communication with the Inclusive Operations Manager on purchasing
• Openness to recipe experimentation balanced with brand consistency

Qualifications and Experience

• Professional baking or culinary experience, including kitchen management or supervisory experience.
• Valid food-safety or food-handler certification.
• Experience or willingness to support neurodivergent employees on production tasks.
• Familiarity with inventory and production-planning tools.

Other

What Success Looks Like

• Production consistently meets confirmed demand with minimal waste.
• Food safety compliance has zero avoidable incidents.
• New products launch on a predictable cadence.
• Supported employees are confidently and safely supervised on production tasks.
• Fulfilment and coverage handoffs with the Inclusive Operations Manager are smooth during absences on either side.