Role Purpose:
To manage the operations and resources of a Hatchery including equipment and manload and to set the maximum number of eggs with maximum hatchability to ensure the highest standards are met and produce good quality chicks at the lowest cost.
Required Qualifications:
- A Degree or Diploma in Agriculture (3 years) or suitable alternative qualification
Required Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years management experience in a hatchery environment
Production Management
- Develop and implement policies and practices for the operation of the hatchery to ensure attainment of KPI’s, improve efficiencies and is a profitable operation.
- Conduct operational planning for future production including planning, equipment and supply needs, production and work schedules.
- Through the planning department, arrange with farm management the supply of eggs.
- Direct and coordinate, through subordinate supervisory personnel, hatchery activities such as:
- Receiving and storage of eggs for incubation.
- Incubating eggs.
- Hatching eggs.
- Sorting, grading, vaccinating and despatching of chicks.
- Ensure the highest standard of fertile eggs are set to optimise chick production.
- Ensure that the correct number of eggs are set per week as per the plan provided by the Agricultural Planner.
- Prepare hatching schedules for chicks considering factors such as planning, hatchery facilities and equipment.
- Supervise any adjustment of controls to maintain specified incubating conditions.
- Periodically inspect eggs in incubators to ascertain hatching progress (hatch window), and sequence of the pull.
- Supervise all operations relating to stock control, disinfection and maintenance of all hatchery assets.
- Ensure that standby electricity generators, water supply and chiller units, egg storage rooms, gas / coal heaters, air compressors, humidifiers as well as plenum equipment are well maintained to reduce any risk of loss of quality day-old chicks.
- Control the status of vaccines and the logistics associated with the vaccination - syringes and the care of sterilizers, staff training on efficient and safe vaccination procedures and environmentally friendly waste disposal.
- Plan, organise and supervise the biosecurity and management practices for profitable production of quality chicks under safe and hygienic conditions.
- Interpret hatchery records and genetic data on chicks daily and make any necessary operational adjustments.
- Analyse and prepare reports on hatchery activities, such as chick production daily.
- Prepare reports on chick production and incubation parameters such as temperature, humidity, ventilation, turning and controlling the stock and cold storage of vaccines.
- Ensure that the ventilation and lighting systems are working properly to enable correct levels of production output.
- Ensure that hygiene standards are maintained through disinfection and fumigation in accordance with Hatchery BOP.
Information, Data Management and Reporting
- Use relevant information from the Agric Cube & MTech, to analyse and troubleshoot.
- Analysis reports to be shared with Breeder Production Manager, Hatchery Manager, Regional Vet and Agricultural Executive.
- Ensure all checks are performed and recorded on the correct documents.
- Conduct weekly review meetings with hatchery foremen and the maintenance team.
- Report on the hatchability (or Hatchery KPI’s) and health status of chicks.
- Report on flock performance; MTech Systems; vaccination programmes and total hatchery supply chain.
- Report all variances in relation to standard, egg numbers, quality of eggs and fertility to the Hatchery Manager.
Administration
- Ensure that daily incubation data is captured accurately and promptly into the information system on a daily basis.
- Place and follow-up on orders well in advance of potential shortages.
- Ensure that daily/ weekly and monthly reports are comprehensive and submitted on time to enable effective decision-making and proactive trend analysis.
- Ensure that daily utility meter readings (water/gas/electricity) are taken and communicated to the relevant administrators.
- Ensure that immovable and movable asset registers are updated monthly.
Hatchery Compliance
- Ensure the hatchery and all its operations comply with all relevant TQMS, health, safety and environmental requirements as well as legal requirements relating to fire breaks, water usage and effluent management.
- Implement and ensure compliance with the national best operation practice.
- Ensure that Alexander Forbes requirements and all standards are maintained and enforced.
- Ensure that H&S Meetings are held as prescribed by OHSA.
Budget and Cost Control
- Provide input into and utilise the financial budget optimally.
- Ensure the hatchery meets budgetary targets by working within agreed financial boundaries.
- Manage immoveable and moveable operational assets to ensure optimal usage in line with best production practice.
- Provide input into annual capex requirements and implement approved capex programmes.
- Motivate required Capex and major maintenance projects.
- Manage fixed and loose assets.
- Take accountability for buying and stores requisitions.
- Oversee that diesel and coal / gas control is utilised optimally.
- Manage the PPE and housing registers.
Team Supervision
- With support from the HRBP and the Hatchery Manager, employ hatchery staff in vacant and approved posts.
- Supervise the activities of the team to ensure production targets are met.
- Coach and support team members where necessary to achieve individual, hatchery and strategic objectives.
- Manage leave, overtime and general time management issues in line with company policy.
- Authorise all time sheets and attendance registers on a daily basis.
- Authorise leave application forms and submit them to the relevant clerk when necessary.
- Comply with employment equity legislation within the team to ensure that representation is achieved at all levels and that statutory targets and requirements are met.
- Implement training and development plans for the team as agreed with the Hatchery Manager and Training manager.
- Manage the employee relations climate and ensure corrective action is taken where required in line with relevant legislation and company policy.
- Chair or initiate disciplinary hearings as needed according to RPM standards.
- Conduct regular performance appraisals with subordinates and ensure that the process is cascaded throughout the hatchery team.
Bio-Security Management
- Ensure that clean protective clothing is always available for staff and visitors.
- Ensure that staff and visitors always shower when entering and exiting.
- Ensure that all material that enters the site is fumigated.
- Apply all other bio-security standards in accordance with BOP and the RPM.
- Ensure that cleaning, disinfection and housekeeping are well managed (i.e. the hatchery is properly washed and sanitised, lawn and grass under the fencing is kept short, drains on site are kept clean, all waste and debris from the site is removed and buildings on site are properly maintained).
- Ensure that all security procedures are adhered to and that access doors and gates are locked at all times to prevent unauthorised and unmonitored access.
Hatchery Compliance
- Ensure the hatchery and all its operations comply with all relevant TQMS, health, safety and environmental requirements as well as legal requirements relating to fire breaks, water usage and effluent management.
- Implement and ensure compliance with the national best operation practice.
- Ensure that Alexander Forbes requirements and all standards are maintained and enforced.
- Ensure that H&S Meetings are held as prescribed by OHSA.
Maintenance
- Ensure maintenance of areas that require specialist attention.
- Resolve daily maintenance and urgent maintenance issues in conjunction with the responsible maintenance personnel.
- Ensure that all breakdowns are attended to immediately.
- Ensure that assets, plant and equipment are appropriately maintained to ensuring that they operate at optimum levels.
- Manage the implementation of capital and major maintenance projects.
- Order or arrange for purchases of equipment and supplies, such as lamps, actuators, vaccines and medication.