Pastry Chef

Castaway • Burbank, CA

26d • Onsite

About The Position

Castaway is seeking a talented, driven, and creative Pastry Chef to lead and grow our pastry and dessert program. This is an opportunity for a chef who wants more than a production role. We are looking for someone who can bring creativity, discipline, leadership, and consistency to a high-volume, upscale restaurant with private events, weddings, special events, and everyday à la carte service. The ideal candidate understands that great pastry is not just about sugar. It is about balance, seasonality, technique, texture, presentation, timing, and emotional impact. We want desserts that feel memorable, polished, craveable, and aligned with the Castaway brand. This person will work closely with the Executive Chef and culinary leadership team to develop seasonal desserts, execute high-quality daily production, support large-scale events, mentor the pastry team, and maintain strong systems around prep, ordering, inventory, labor, cleanliness, and consistency.

Requirements

• Previous experience as a Pastry Chef, Pastry Sous Chef, Lead Pastry Cook, or similar leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of baking, plated desserts, creams, custards, doughs, cakes, chocolate, frozen desserts, sauces, seasonal fruit, and modern pastry techniques.
• Ability to create desserts that are both beautiful and operationally realistic.
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to train, coach, and hold team members accountable.
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, labeling, dating, and product rotation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong sense of urgency and attention to detail.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events as business needs require.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an upscale, high-volume restaurant, hotel, resort, catering, or event-driven environment preferred.
• Culinary degree or pastry certification preferred, but not required with equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the daily operation of the pastry department with professionalism, urgency, and attention to detail.
• Create, test, and execute seasonal desserts, baked goods, composed plates, event desserts, and special menu items.
• Develop desserts that are visually polished, balanced in flavor, and consistent with Castaway's upscale dining experience.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef on menu development, seasonal changes, tastings, specials, private events, holidays, and large-scale activations.
• Ensure every pastry item meets standards for taste, texture, temperature, portioning, presentation, and consistency.
• Maintain strong communication with savory kitchen leadership, event teams, purchasing, stewarding, and front-of-house management.
• Train, coach, and mentor pastry cooks and culinary team members.
• Build clear prep lists, station expectations, production guides, recipes, and plating standards.
• Hold the team accountable to quality, cleanliness, organization, timing, and professionalism.
• Foster a positive, respectful, and productive work environment.
• Lead by example during service, prep, events, and high-pressure moments.
• Oversee daily pastry production for restaurant service, banquets, weddings, private events, and special menus.
• Manage ordering, inventory, waste control, recipe costing, and product rotation.
• Maintain proper pars and production levels based on business volume and event needs.
• Support food cost goals through smart purchasing, accurate recipes, portion control, and waste management.
• Maintain clean, organized, and efficient pastry workspaces.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, health department, and company standards.
• Partner with the culinary leadership team to improve systems, workflow, execution, and consistency.
• Perform additional responsibilities as requested by the Executive Chef or culinary leadership team.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Vacation pay
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Lifestyle Spending Account supporting expenses such as gym memberships, child care, groceries, student loans, and more
• Company dining package with an allotted monthly spending amount
• Variety of supplemental benefit plans
• 401(k) with annual employer match after 12 months
• Employer match: 25% of the first 5% contribution
• Employer-paid life insurance throughout employment
• Paid and floating holidays for five major holidays
• Education Assistance Program for hospitality-related growth
• Employee Assistance Program supporting work-life balance
• Management Referral Program with up to a $4,000 payout for qualifying management positions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed