Farm Manager - Breeders & Rearing

Hazeldene's; Shire of Loddon; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

On-site accommodation

Company vehicle may be considered

Long term career opportunities

Supportive team environment

Job summary

Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm, a long-established Australian poultry business, seeks a Breeder Farm Manager to drive performance on an assigned breeder farm with a strong focus on hatching egg production and overall farm operations.

You will lead day-to-day operations, monitor flock health and production, ensure welfare, biosecurity and safety standards, and guide a team to deliver production targets while maintaining high quality standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in poultry or breeder farm operations
• Hands-on farm leadership with a focus on production outcomes
• Experience managing bird performance, fertility and hatchability
• Experience leading teams in an operational farm environment
• Understanding breeder management practices (feeding, lighting, environmental control)
• Ability to monitor production data and take corrective actions

Responsibilities

• Drive farm performance to maximise egg production, fertility and hatchability
• Monitor bird health, behaviour and environmental conditions daily
• Ensure feed, water, lighting and housing conditions are optimised
• Oversee egg collection, handling and quality standards
• Identify production issues early and implement corrective actions
• Plan and coordinate daily farm operations to meet production targets
• Monitor key production metrics and drive continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with biosecurity, animal welfare and quality standards
• Act as Health and Safety champion across the farm and wider company
• Lead and support farm staff with hands-on guidance and training
• Maintain a strong on-farm presence and lead by example

Skills

Poultry operations

Breeder farm leadership

Team leadership

Data interpretation

Biosecurity knowledge

Education

Agriculture or Animal Science degree (desirable)

Job description

• Maximise hatching egg production and farm performance outcomes

• Hands-on leadership role in breeder farm operations

• Work with a well-established Australian poultry business

Our Company

Incorporated in 1938, Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm is a leading FMCG company headquartered in Lockwood (Bendigo), Victoria. At Hazeldenes, we have more than 80 years of history underpinning how we proudly go about our business. It is not just about our delicious chickens, innovation and commitment to quality. It is about our people doing extraordinary things to deliver great products.

At Hazeldenes, we are proud of our people, our reputation and our place in the community. From humble beginnings in Kangaroo Flat in Bendigo, our facilities have expanded across rural Victoria. Our people come from many different cultures and backgrounds and have skills ranging from farming and quality control to engineering and poultry processing.

About the Role

We are seeking a Breeder Farm Manager to take full responsibility for the performance of an assigned breeder farm, with a strong focus on maximising hatching egg production, quality and overall farm operations.

This is a hands-on role where you will be actively involved in day-to-day farm operations, bird performance and production outcomes. You will lead from the front, ensuring optimal flock health, egg production, fertility and hatchability while maintaining high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity and safety.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive farm performance to maximise egg production, fertility and hatchability

• Monitor bird health, behaviour and environmental conditions daily

• Ensure feed, water, lighting and housing conditions are optimised

• Oversee egg collection, handling and quality standards

• Identify production issues early and implement corrective actions

• Plan and coordinate daily farm operations to meet production targets

• Monitor key production metrics and drive continuous improvement

• Ensure compliance with biosecurity, animal welfare and quality standards

• Act as a champion for Health and Safety across the farm and wider company, leading by example and driving a strong safety culture.

• Lead and support farm staff, ensuring tasks are completed safely and efficiently

• Provide hands-on guidance, training and direction to team members

• Maintain a strong on-farm presence and lead by example

• Undertake any other duties as required to support business operations

About You

• You are a practical, hands-on farm leader who understands breeder operations and is focused on delivering strong production outcomes

• Proven experience in poultry or breeder farm operations, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience

• Strong track record in managing bird performance and production outcomes

• Hands-on experience working in farm environments

• Good understanding of breeder management practices including feeding, lighting and environmental control

• Ability to monitor and interpret production data and take action

• Experience leading teams in an operational setting

• Strong problem solving skills in a live farm environment

• High level of accountability and attention to detail

• Strong communication skills and ability to work with diverse teams

• Relevant qualification in Agriculture, Animal Science or similar is desirable

Benefits

• Competitive salary package

• On-site accommodation & company vehicle may be considered

• Work within a well-established and growing business

• Supportive and practical team environment

• Long term career opportunities