Hatchery Supervisor

Job Summary

• Agricare STD Plus Ltd., a leading agro-allied company involved in poultry breeding and hatchery operations, seeks to recruit a highly experienced, technically competent, and result-oriented Hatchery Supervisor.
• The successful candidate must have hands-on experience operating and managing different hatchery machines, including Emka, Petersime, VET 7, and other related incubation and hatching equipment.
• The candidate must be capable of independently supervising hatchery operations with little or no supervision, maintaining high hatchability rates, producing quality day-old chicks, minimizing operational losses, and ensuring optimal machine performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise daily hatchery operations, including egg reception, storage, setting, candling, transfer, hatching, chick processing, and dispatch.
• Operate, monitor, and manage Emka, Petersime, VET 7, and other hatchery machines.
• Monitor incubation temperature, humidity, ventilation, and egg-turning parameters.
• Maintain high hatchability rates and excellent day-old chick quality.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and promptly report or resolve machine faults.
• Maintain accurate records of egg setting, fertility, embryonic mortality, hatch rates, chick output, and machine performance.
• Supervise hatchery personnel, allocate duties, monitor attendance, and enforce discipline.
• Ensure strict compliance with biosecurity, hygiene, sanitation, and safety standards.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance and ensure proper handling of hatchery equipment.
• Prepare accurate daily, weekly, and monthly operational reports.
• Monitor operational costs, minimize wastage, and improve production efficiency.
• Work independently and take responsibility for hatchery performance without requiring constant management intervention.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 3–5 years of practical hatchery experience, preferably in a supervisory role.
• Demonstrable hands-on experience with Emka, Petersime, VET 7, and other related hatchery machines.
• Sound knowledge of incubation, candling, egg transfer, hatching, chick processing, and hatchery management.
• Ability to troubleshoot machine faults and respond effectively to operational challenges.
• Strong leadership, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with little or no supervision and take ownership of assigned responsibilities.
• A qualification in Animal Science, Animal Production, Veterinary Medicine, or a related discipline is an advantage.

Key Performance Indicators KPIs

The successful candidate will be assessed using the following performance indicators:

Hatchery Production and Hatchability – 30%

• Achieve agreed hatchability targets based on fertile eggs set, flock age, breed, and egg quality.
• Minimize embryonic mortality and unexplained production losses.
• Maintain accurate records of eggs set, fertile eggs, chicks hatched, and chicks rejected.
• Meet agreed production and chick dispatch schedules.

Machine Operation and Technical Competence – 20%

• Demonstrate effective operation of Emka, Petersime, VET 7, and other available hatchery machines.
• Maintain incubation parameters within prescribed operating ranges.
• Minimize machine downtime through routine checks and timely troubleshooting.
• Ensure timely reporting of technical faults and compliance with preventive maintenance schedules.

Day-Old Chick Quality – 15%

• Maintain agreed standards for chick quality, uniformity, activity, and navel condition.
• Minimize weak, dehydrated, injured, and unfit chicks.
• Ensure proper chick handling, processing, counting, and dispatch.
• Maintain accurate chick quality and rejection records.

Biosecurity, Hygiene, and Compliance – 10%

• Ensure compliance with hatchery sanitation and disinfection procedures.
• Enforce biosecurity protocols and proper movement control.
• Maintain clean and orderly hatchery facilities.
• Minimize preventable hygiene and biosecurity violations.

Staff Supervision and Productivity – 10%

• Ensure effective deployment and supervision of hatchery personnel.
• Monitor staff punctuality, discipline, productivity, and adherence to procedures.
• Provide practical guidance and training to improve staff competence.
• Ensure assigned duties are completed within stipulated timelines.

Record-Keeping and Reporting – 10%

• Submit complete and accurate daily, weekly, and monthly hatchery reports.
• Maintain reliable production, mortality, machine performance, and inventory records.
• Report operational deviations promptly and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure production figures reconcile with physical counts and relevant records.

Independence, Accountability, and Problem-Solving – 5%

• Execute routine hatchery operations with little or no supervision.
• Identify and resolve operational problems promptly within delegated authority.
• Escalate major technical faults, unusual mortality, and significant production deviations without delay.
• Demonstrate accountability for assigned equipment, staff, records, and operational outcomes.