Assistant Hatchery Manager

The Assistant Hatchery Manager plays a key role in supporting the efficient day-to-day operation of the hatchery, ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, biosecurity, health and safety, quality, and productivity are consistently maintained. This role will work alongside an existing Assistant Hatchery Manager, providing additional leadership capacity and operational support to ensure the continued success and growth of the hatchery operation.

Working closely with the Hatchery Manager and fellow Assistant Hatchery Manager, the postholder will support the leadership and development of hatchery teams, oversee operational performance, and ensure hatching programmes are delivered effectively to meet business requirements. Together, the management team will drive a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.

The role involves supervising hatchery processes from egg receipt through to chick dispatch, maintaining compliance with company policies and industry standards, and ensuring that all equipment, facilities, and procedures operate efficiently. The Assistant Hatchery Manager will also support workforce planning, employee training, performance management, and employee engagement initiatives to help create a high-performing and positive working environment.

In the absence of the Hatchery Manager, the Assistant Hatchery Managers will jointly provide operational leadership and decision-making support, ensuring continuity of service and adherence to all regulatory and company requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of poultry production and hatchery operations at Annyalla Chicks.
• Support the day-to-day management of hatchery operations, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and customer requirements are achieved.
• Assist with daily hatchery production activities, with particular focus on chick production, quality, and welfare.
• Monitor and maintain hatchery hygiene standards, ensuring full compliance with company biosecurity requirements.
• Analyse hatchery performance data and communicate effectively with colleagues across sister hatcheries and farms throughout the UK.
• Undertake and oversee key hatchery processes, including chick take-off, chick grading, and chick dispatch activities.
• Ensure all hatchery facilities and surrounding areas are maintained to the highest standards of cleanliness and housekeeping.
• Promote and maintain the highest standards of bird welfare in line with company policies, legislation, and industry best practice.
• Adhere to and support compliance with all Health & Safety policies, procedures, and safe working practices.
• Support the training, coaching, and development of hatchery employees to ensure operational effectiveness and succession planning.
• Assist in identifying opportunities for continuous improvement in productivity, quality, welfare, and operational efficiency.
• Deputise for the Hatchery Manager in their absence, ensuring the smooth and effective running of the hatchery operation.
• Undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required to support the hatchery and wider business operations.
• Take responsibility for own continuous professional development, ensuring knowledge remains current with industry standards, legislation, and best practices.

Biosecurity Requirement

Due to strict biosecurity regulations, the successful candidate must have no involvement outside of Annyalla Chicks with other bird species, including domestic poultry or cage birds.

Skills and Experience

• Previous experience within a hatchery, poultry, agricultural, food production or manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of poultry welfare, biosecurity and relevant industry standards would be advantageous.
• Experience of supervising, leading and motivating teams within a production environment.
• Knowledge of hatchery operations, automation systems and logistics processes.
• Experience of managing employees, contractors and visitors whilst maintaining high standards of health and safety, biosecurity and animal welfare.
• Strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and meet production targets.
• Ability to analyse information, solve problems and make sound operational decisions.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships at all levels.
• Competent IT skills, including the use of Microsoft Office and production management systems.
• Flexible, reliable and committed, with a hands-on approach to work.
• Enthusiastic team player with a positive attitude and a willingness to support colleagues across the operation.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to working hours
• Accustomed to early start operations if required, providing hands on leadership and support to ensure production targets and quality standards are achieved.
• Previous experience working within a hatchery environment would be advantageous.
• Supervisory or management qualification (or willingness to work towards one) would be desirable.