Breeder Farm Officer & Hatchery Officer - Premier Poultry

Premier Poultry aims to be the leading smallholder-focused poultry company in Ghana. Our purpose is to make rural households healthier and wealthier, and we achieve this by supplying them with high-quality, vaccinated, brooded, and affordable improved dual-purpose chickens. 

Premier Poultry is backed by reputed international investors with a proven track record of success in the poultry industry, including market-leading enterprises in Ethiopia (EthioChicken), Rwanda, and Uganda (Uzima). 

Job Description

• Report to: Production Manager

Premier Poultry Limited is seeking to recruit highly disciplined, smart, accountable and detail-oriented Breeder farm and Hatchery Officers. They are responsible for managing the breeding birds in the rear and inlay, maintaining 100% compliance to biosecurity measures, implementing and improving the standard operational procedures on the site, as well as ensuring the hatching eggs and Day-old chicks produced from the site achieve company standards of quality.

These officers will work closely with the Production Manager in the Production Department, to rear and produce quality Day-old-chicks for customers.

Job Responsibilities

Operations (House Cleaning and preparation)

• Ensure timely disposal of poultry manure and conduct proper cleaning and disinfection
• Make sure all windows are working properly and make sure starter feed and water are ready
• Make sure all electrical systems for the brooder and light are installed or well-maintained
• Make sure all tankers and water lines are flushed and disinfected
• Make sure enough feeders, drinkers, brooders and thermometers are ready
• Ensure the house with disinfected litter and is pre-warmed before chicks arrive
• Ensure record-keeping materials are in place
• Make sure weighing scales are purchased and ready

After chick arrival

• Ensure proper receiving, counting and inspection of chicks
• Conduct grading and separating of weak chicks for special care
• Weigh representative samples after arrival
• Ensure room temperature and humidity are appropriate based on breed standard
• Follow up the vaccination schedules of the vaccine

Weighing, Grading, and Uniformity

• Weigh representative samples of chicks every week and compare them with their breed standard
• Conduct grading based on their weight and ensure the chicks are at least 80% Uniform
• Provide special care for those smaller chicks to increase uniformity

Litter Management

• Ensure the litter is always dry and monitor the odour, colour and consistency of the litter regularly
• Monitor and dispose if there is wet litter timely and properly

Maintenance

• Develop routine preventative maintenance for water pump, water lines, automatic drinkers, windows, doors, building, ventilation, and all other equipment
• Improve breeding farm environment (cleanliness, design, ventilation)
• Make decisions to conduct any repairs in-house or outsource based on urgency and economic efficiency

Bio-security and Quality Control

• Periodically review and improve adequate bio-security program
• Ensure cleanliness and orderliness of production houses and surroundings
• Set clear standard and ensure all eggs going to hatchery are Grade A quality

General Management

• Prepare and translate SOPs for breeding farm
• Provide reports to Company management and other departments as requested
• Conduct planning and budgeting, including annual budget, material requisitions, and workforce planning

Required Skills or Experience

Educational Qualification and Requirement

• B.Sc. in Veterinary Medicine or Animal Production 
• 1-2 years and above experience with Hatchery or Breeding farm operations 
• Fresh Graduates with great practical knowledge in breeding and hatchery

The right Candidate should have the following: 

• The Passion to learn and grow: There will be ample opportunity to grow in this role, as we expand into new markets which will give you more experience to be an expert for the business. 
• Quick and Adaptive Approach: As PPL is growing fast, priorities shift and there will be constant re-evaluation of our approach to business, hence you will enjoy a flexible environment with enthusiastic new challenges. 
• Passionate about positively impacting smallholder farmers and customers in rural areas: You will be excited by the possibility of directly impacting millions of Ghanaians, thereby helping them to build a sustainable livelihood, as well as improve their nutritional value.