Job description

The Assistant Hatchery Manager is responsible for supporting the Hatchery Manager in overseeing day-to-day hatchery operations, ensuring the efficient handling of fertile eggs through incubation, hatching, and chick processing stages. The role ensures optimal hatchability rates, chick quality, biosecurity compliance, and smooth coordination with downstream operations such as the processing plant and breeder farms.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Strategy Support & Execution

• Support the implementation of departmental objectives and KPIs aligned with overall business strategy.
• Assist in monitoring hatchery performance indicators and report deviations or operational risks.
• Contribute to the execution of corrective actions to improve hatchability, chick quality, and operational efficiency.

Budget & Cost Control

• Assist in monitoring hatchery operational costs and ensuring adherence to approved budget limits.
• Support in tracking expenses and highlighting variances for review by the Hatchery Manager.

Policies & Procedures

• Support the implementation of hatchery policies and procedures in line with company standards, regulatory requirements, and biosecurity protocols.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs across all hatchery operations.

Hatchery Operations

• Assist in managing the receipt, unloading, and handling of fertile eggs from breeder farms.
• Support coordination of hatchery processes including egg setting, incubation, hatching, chick grading, and dispatch.
• Assist in monitoring incubation parameters such as temperature, humidity, ventilation, and sanitation to ensure optimal hatch conditions.
• Support supervision of egg grading activities and identification of defective or non-viable eggs.
• Assist in monitoring vaccination processes in coordination with the veterinary and quality teams.
• Support identification and reporting of fertility and hatchability issues, and assist in managing disposal of non-viable eggs and chicks.
• Monitor hatchery equipment performance and escalate maintenance issues when required.
• Assist in maintaining weekly hatch schedules to ensure timely supply of chicks to downstream operations.
• Support monitoring of hatchery inventory, ensuring adequate stock of eggs, chicks, and critical supplies.
• Ensure compliance with biosecurity, animal welfare, HSE, and quality control standards across all hatchery activities.
• Assist in maintaining cleanliness, fumigation, and sanitation standards within the hatchery facility.
• Perform any additional duties assigned by the Hatchery Manager.

People Management Support

• Assist in workforce planning and coordination with HR for staffing requirements.
• Support monitoring of attendance, shift coverage, and leave planning.
• Participate in performance evaluation processes and provide input on staff performance.
• Assist in identifying training needs and ensuring completion of development programs.
• Support task allocation and daily coordination of hatchery teams.

Reporting

• Assist in preparing operational and performance reports for submission to management.
• Review basic operational reports from team members and provide initial feedback or escalation where necessary.

Skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science, Poultry Science, Veterinary Science, or related field.
• Master’s degree in Poultry Science is an advantage.
• Minimum 6–8 years of experience in hatchery or poultry operations.
• Prior supervisory or assistant managerial experience is preferred.