Technical Advisor – Bakery & Patisserie
Puratos
Quick Take
Lead technical demonstrations, recipe development, and customer training across Kenya and East Africa while maintaining Puratos' Innovation Center and bridging R&D, Sales, and Marketing teams.
5+ years hands-on bakery/patisserie production experience, strong technical presentation skills, and ability to manage multiple customer projects and regional travel simultaneously.
Competitive salary (KES 150–250k/mo), exposure to global ingredient innovation, regional influence across East Africa, and impact on professional artisans and food businesses.
Job Description
Puratos, a global leader in innovative bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients founded in Belgium in 1919, is seeking a passionate and highly skilled Technical Advisor to join its growing R&D team in Nairobi. In this role, you will serve as a key technical ambassador across Kenya and East Africa, inspiring customers and partners through hands-on expertise, product demonstrations, and cutting-edge bakery and patisserie solutions built around Puratos' core product range.
Reporting directly to the R&D Director, you will bridge the gap between R&D, Sales, and Marketing teams — driving business growth through exceptional technical service, innovative recipe development, and strategic customer engagement. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned bakery or patisserie professional who thrives in a dynamic, international environment and wants to make a tangible impact on the food industry across the region.
- Deliver high-impact technical demonstrations, trainings, workshops, and events to inspire and upskill customers across Kenya and East Africa.
- Develop innovative finished goods, recipes, and product concepts by continuously tracking global and local food trends and tailoring solutions to specific customer needs.
- Drive business development by actively promoting Puratos focus products, identifying new commercial opportunities, and strengthening existing customer partnerships.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Sales, and Marketing teams on new product development — contributing technical insights, conducting product tests, and participating in product launches.
- Create compelling content including photos, videos, and concept presentations to support marketing and sales activities.
- Maintain the Innovation Center to the highest professional standards, ensuring operational readiness and fostering a culture of creativity and innovation.
- Build and maintain a robust pastry recipe databank to serve as a resource for customers and internal teams.
- Provide technical support across all regions in Kenya, travelling regularly to deliver on-the-ground assistance and expertise.
- Develop and nurture strong networks with customers, industry stakeholders, and partners to expand Puratos' footprint in the region.
- Demonstrate at least 5 years of hands-on production experience in the food, bakery, and/or patisserie sector — you must be able to work confidently at the bench, not just advise from the sidelines.
- Deliver clear, engaging technical presentations and training sessions to diverse audiences including artisans, retail clients, and food industry professionals.
- Manage and influence cross-functional relationships with internal teams, customers, and third-party stakeholders with professionalism and cultural sensitivity.
- Organise and prioritise multiple projects, customer visits, and demonstrations simultaneously without compromising quality or deadlines.
- Navigate and adapt within a large international organisation, embracing global best practices while localising solutions for the Kenyan and East African market.
- Operate digital tools including computers and tablets confidently to produce reports, presentations, and digital content.
- Travel regularly across Kenya and potentially within East Africa — a valid driving licence and willingness to travel is essential.
- Hold a Bachelor's degree (BA/BSc/HND) in a relevant field; patisserie-related certifications are an added advantage.
Puratos offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience and aligned with international FMCG standards. The estimated monthly salary range for this role in the Kenyan market is KES 150,000 – KES 250,000, depending on qualifications and experience. While specific benefits have not been listed in the job posting, Puratos as a global organisation typically offers a professional work environment, opportunities for international exposure, career development, and access to world-class innovation resources.
This role is ideal for a self-motivated bakery or patisserie professional with at least 5 years of industry production experience who is equally comfortable working at the bench and engaging with high-level clients. You should be a confident communicator, a natural collaborator, and someone who is genuinely passionate about food innovation and customer success. If you enjoy travel, thrive in fast-paced environments, and are excited by the idea of representing an internationally renowned brand across East Africa, this role is for you.
Please do not apply if you have fewer than 5 years of direct bakery or patisserie production experience, are unwilling to travel regularly within Kenya, or are looking for a purely desk-based or administrative role. This position requires consistent hands-on technical engagement.
- Prepare an up-to-date CV highlighting your bakery and patisserie production experience, technical skills, and any relevant certifications.
- Write a concise cover letter explaining why you are the ideal candidate for this role and how your background aligns with Puratos' mission.
- Submit your application through the Puratos careers portal or the job platform where this listing was found.
- Note: No deadline has been specified — apply as soon as possible to improve your chances of consideration.
- Important: Never pay any fee, notarisation charge, or assessment cost as part of this or any legitimate recruitment process.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Minimum 5 years hands-on production experience in bakery, patisserie, or food manufacturing
- Proven ability to deliver technical presentations and training to diverse audiences
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with internal teams, customers, and stakeholders
- Project and time management capability to handle multiple customer visits, demonstrations, and deadlines
- Willingness to travel regularly across Kenya and East Africa
Nice to Have
- Experience with recipe development or innovation center management
- Content creation skills (photography, video, concept presentations)
- Knowledge of global food trends and artisanal/retail bakery operations
- Background in a multinational or international food company
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Salary Context
Competitive mid-to-upper range salary for specialized technical role in Kenya's food sector
KES 150–250k/month places this role above average technical advisory positions in Kenya, reflecting the specialized expertise required and multinational employer status. Salary variation depends on experience level, regional travel demands, and existing customer network — candidates with extensive East African connections and patisserie credentials will likely command higher end.
About Puratos
Puratos is a global Belgian-founded leader (est. 1919) in bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients with operations across Africa and the world. The company is renowned for innovation in professional baking solutions and serves artisanal and industrial bakeries, patisseries, and food manufacturers. In Kenya, Puratos represents a growing investment in East African food industry development, offering professionals the chance to work with cutting-edge global products while building regional market presence.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Walk us through a specific recipe or product innovation you developed in your last role — how did you identify the customer need and test your solution?
- 2
Describe a time you had to train or upskill a customer or team member who was resistant to new techniques or ingredients. How did you approach it?
- 3
How do you stay current with global bakery and patisserie trends, and how have you applied those insights to drive business or product development?
- 4
Tell us about your experience managing multiple customer visits or demonstrations simultaneously — how do you prioritize and ensure quality delivery?
- 5
What experience do you have in an international or multicultural company environment, and how would you approach building networks across Kenya and East Africa?
Application Tips
Emphasize hands-on production experience with concrete examples: mention specific products you've developed, techniques you've mastered, and quantities/scales you've worked with — avoid generic advisory-only backgrounds.
Highlight any experience delivering workshops, training, or demonstrations; include metrics (e.g., 'trained 50+ artisans,' 'ran monthly technical sessions') and audience diversity.
Showcase evidence of innovation or trend awareness: link to portfolio work, published recipes, content you've created, or involvement in product launches or competitions in the baking/patisserie sector.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Reputable multinational employer (Puratos, est. 1919) with global scale and investment in African markets — strong stability and professional development environment.
- Competitive salary range (KES 150–250k/mo) for this specialization, reflecting value placed on expertise.
- Direct reporting to R&D Director signals strategic influence and access to senior leadership — not a siloed role.
- Clear cross-functional collaboration (R&D, Sales, Marketing) suggests diverse projects, learning opportunities, and career exposure beyond pure technical work.
Watch Out
- Job description is truncated mid-sentence ('Navigate and adapt within a large in…') — request full, final version before applying to confirm all responsibilities and benefits are listed.
- No mention of benefits package, remote work flexibility, or professional development allowances — clarify these during interviews, especially given travel demands.
- Broad regional scope (Kenya and East Africa) with regular travel but no clarity on travel budget, accommodation support, or frequency — confirm expectations to avoid burnout.
A Day in the Life
Your week at Puratos typically alternates between Innovation Center-based work and regional customer engagement. Monday might involve recipe testing and product development collaboration with R&D on a new seasonal offering, followed by content creation (photos/videos) for marketing. Mid-week, you're likely on the road — visiting a retail bakery in Kisumu to deliver a technical workshop on laminated dough techniques or consulting with a growing patisserie in Kampala on ingredient optimization. Back in Nairobi, you spend time maintaining the recipe databank, coordinating with Sales on customer pain points, and prepping for next week's demonstration event. Evenings often involve reviewing emerging trends and sketching recipe concepts tailored to local preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to be a Technical Advisor – Bakery & Patisserie at Puratos?
You need a minimum of 5 years of hands-on production experience in bakery, patisserie, or food manufacturing — working directly at the bench, not just in advisory capacity. Proven presentation and training skills, cross-functional collaboration ability, and willingness to travel across Kenya and East Africa are essential; formal qualifications (e.g., pastry diploma) are advantageous but not explicitly required if hands-on experience is strong.
Is the Technical Advisor – Bakery & Patisserie role at Puratos remote or office-based?
This is a hybrid role with significant travel. You're based in Nairobi (likely at the Innovation Center office), but the job requires regular regional travel across Kenya and East Africa to deliver on-the-ground technical support, demonstrations, and customer visits — expect frequent time away from the office.
How much does a Technical Advisor – Bakery & Patisserie earn at Puratos?
The posted salary range is KES 150,000–250,000 per month, placing it in the competitive mid-to-upper range for specialized technical roles in Kenya's food sector. Exact pay within that range depends on experience level, regional expertise, and existing customer network.
What are the career growth opportunities for this role?
This role offers a strong pathway to senior technical or leadership positions: you can progress to R&D Manager, Regional Technical Manager across East Africa, Innovation Center Director, or Business Development leadership within Puratos or the broader food ingredients sector. The direct reporting line to the R&D Director and cross-functional exposure accelerate visibility and advancement.
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