Background

Our client, a leading integrated poultry and agribusiness enterprise in Nigeria invites applications for the Hatchery Manager position. The company operates large-scale breeder farms, modern hatchery facilities, and integrated production systems dedicated to producing high-quality day-old chicks.

The Hatchery Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the efficient, cost-effective, and biosecurity operation of hatchery facilities, delivering superior chick quality, and supporting the company’s strategic objectives for growth, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction.

Position Summary

The Hatchery Manager is responsible for the overall technical, operational, and personnel management of hatchery operations. The position carries full accountability for hatchability performance, chick quality, incubation processes, biosecurity compliance, supervision of hatchery staff, and the achievement of production targets.

The successful candidate must possess extensive practical experience in commercial poultry hatchery management and demonstrate a strong understanding of incubation technology, embryo development, hatchery automation, quality assurance, biosecurity, and operational planning.

The role requires a disciplined and hands-on leader capable of optimizing hatchery performance through effective planning, preventive maintenance, continuous monitoring, staff development, and data-driven decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Hatchery Operations Management

• Manage all hatchery operations from egg receipt through chick dispatch.
• Ensure achievement of hatchery production targets relating to:
  • Hatchability
  • Chick quality
  • Production volume
  • Mortality reduction
  • Operational efficiency
• Monitor and optimize incubation parameters including:
  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Ventilation
  • Egg turning
  • Setter and hatcher performance
• Ensure proper egg handling, storage, transfer, and incubation procedures.
• Coordinate hatch schedules to meet customer and production requirements.

Chick Quality & Performance Management

• Establish and maintain chick quality standards.
• Monitor embryo mortality patterns and identify root causes of losses.
• Analyze hatch residue and incubation performance data.
• Implement corrective actions to improve hatchability and chick quality.
• Ensure all chicks dispatched meet company quality specifications.

Biosecurity, Hygiene & Quality Assurance

• Enforce strict hatchery biosecurity and sanitation protocols.
• Develop and implement cleaning and disinfection programs.
• Ensure compliance with company SOPs and quality assurance standards.
• Conduct routine audits of hatchery operations and hygiene practices.
• Ensure compliance with animal welfare requirements and industry regulations.

Equipment, Maintenance & Technical Oversight

• Oversee the operation and maintenance of hatchery equipment and automation systems.
• Develop preventive maintenance schedules for:
  • Setters
  • Hatchers
  • HVAC systems
  • Fumigation equipment
  • Chick processing equipment
• Coordinate with maintenance teams to minimize downtime and production interruptions.
• Ensure proper calibration and performance of hatchery equipment.

Production Planning & Inventory Control

• Plan incubation schedules based on breeder farm production and sales forecasts.
• Monitor hatchery inventory levels including:
  • Vaccines
  • Consumables
  • Packaging materials
  • Spare parts
  • Sanitation products
• Ensure efficient utilization of resources and cost control.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Lead, supervise, and develop hatchery supervisors, technicians, and operational personnel.
• Establish performance standards and accountability systems.
• Conduct technical training programs and skills development initiatives.
• Promote a culture of discipline, teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.

Reporting & Performance Analysis

• Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly hatchery performance reports.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators, including:
  • Hatchability
  • Chick quality scores
  • Embryo mortality
  • Contamination rates
  • Equipment efficiency
  • Cost per chick produced
• Recommend and implement improvement initiatives based on performance data.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate closely with:
  • Breeding Department
  • Veterinary Department
  • Feed Mill Management
  • Production Management
  • Maintenance Department
  • Sales and Logistics Teams
• Ensure seamless communication and production flow throughout the poultry value chain.

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in Poultry Production, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Agriculture, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5–10 years of practical experience in commercial poultry hatchery operations.
• Minimum 3 years in a supervisory or management position within a modern hatchery environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of incubation systems and hatchery management practices.
• Experience with large-scale commercial poultry hatcheries.
• Experience with Petersime, Chick Master, Pas Reform, Jamesway, or similar incubation systems.
• Experience working in Africa or other emerging-market poultry environments.
• Knowledge of hatchery automation systems and production software.
• Training in poultry health management and biosecurity systems.
• Strong technical expertise in hatchery management.
• Leadership and team development capability.
• Data-driven decision-making and analytical skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Strong problem-solving ability.
• Commitment to biosecurity, quality assurance, and operational excellence.
• Ability to work effectively in demanding production environments.
• Fluent in English.
• Must be willing to relocate

• Manage all hatchery operations from egg receipt through chick dispatch.
• Ensure achievement of hatchery production targets relating to: Hatchability, Chick quality, Production volume, Mortality reduction, Operational efficiency
• Monitor and optimize incubation parameters including: Temperature, Humidity, Ventilation, Egg turning, Setter and hatcher performance
• Ensure proper egg handling, storage, transfer, and incubation procedures.
• Coordinate hatch schedules to meet customer and production requirements.
• Establish and maintain chick quality standards.
• Monitor embryo mortality patterns and identify root causes of losses.
• Analyze hatch residue and incubation performance data.
• Implement corrective actions to improve hatchability and chick quality.
• Ensure all chicks dispatched meet company quality specifications.
• Enforce strict hatchery biosecurity and sanitation protocols.
• Develop and implement cleaning and disinfection programs.
• Ensure compliance with company SOPs and quality assurance standards.
• Conduct routine audits of hatchery operations and hygiene practices.
• Ensure compliance with animal welfare requirements and industry regulations.
• Oversee the operation and maintenance of hatchery equipment and automation systems.
• Develop preventive maintenance schedules for: Setters, Hatchers, HVAC systems, Fumigation equipment, Chick processing equipment
• Coordinate with maintenance teams to minimize downtime and production interruptions.
• Ensure proper calibration and performance of hatchery equipment.
• Plan incubation schedules based on breeder farm production and sales forecasts.
• Monitor hatchery inventory levels including: Vaccines, Consumables, Packaging materials, Spare parts, Sanitation products
• Ensure efficient utilization of resources and cost control.
• Lead, supervise, and develop hatchery supervisors, technicians, and operational personnel.
• Establish performance standards and accountability systems.
• Conduct technical training programs and skills development initiatives.
• Promote a culture of discipline, teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly hatchery performance reports.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators, including: Hatchability, Chick quality scores, Embryo mortality, Contamination rates, Equipment efficiency, Cost per chick produced
• Recommend and implement improvement initiatives based on performance data.
• Coordinate closely with: Breeding Department, Veterinary Department, Feed Mill Management, Production Management, Maintenance Department, Sales and Logistics Teams
• Ensure seamless communication and production flow throughout the poultry value chain.

• Proficiency in hatchery operations
• Incubation management
• Biosecurity
• Commercial poultry hatchery management
• Incubation technology
• Embryo development
• Hatchery automation
• Quality assurance
• Operational planning
• Preventive maintenance
• Data-driven decision-making
• Leadership
• Team development
• Planning and organizational skills
• Problem-solving ability
• Working in demanding production environments

• Degree or Diploma in Poultry Production, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Agriculture, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5–10 years of practical experience in commercial poultry hatchery operations.
• Minimum 3 years in a supervisory or management position within a modern hatchery environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of incubation systems and hatchery management practices.
• Experience with large-scale commercial poultry hatcheries.
• Experience with Petersime, Chick Master, Pas Reform, Jamesway, or similar incubation systems.
• Experience working in Africa or other emerging-market poultry environments.
• Knowledge of hatchery automation systems and production software.
• Training in poultry health management and biosecurity systems.
• Fluent in English.