Hatchery Worker - Transfer

Maple Leaf Foods Inc.; New Hamburg; On-site; CAD 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits after 3 months

Defined benefit pension after 1 year

Shift premium $1.50/hour

Job summary

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. in New Hamburg, ON is seeking an Inovo Operator to transfer eggs from incubators to hatchers, following SOPs and CFIA/NFACC guidelines. Responsibilities include operating transfer machinery, performing inspections, and maintaining sanitation under strict biosecurity rules.

The role supports animal welfare and quality standards with a focus on safety, accuracy, and continuous process improvement in a production hatchery environment.

Qualifications

• Role requires attention to detail, safe handling practices, and adherence to SOPs and health & safety protocols.
• Ability to work flexible hours until tasks are completed.
• Physically capable of standing for long periods and lifting up to 40 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Safely pull incubator racks and transport to transfer room.
• Set up and operate transfer room machinery such as Egg Remover and Inovoject.
• Transfer eggs to hatcher boxes and load into hatchers per SOPs.
• Perform egg inspections and humane euthanasia of unhatched embryos per policy.
• Support candling and fertility checks per OBHECC regulations.
• Verify vaccine equipment calibration and maintenance records.
• Weigh and record egg weights to determine hatch timing and optimize hatch parameters.
• Ensure sanitation of transfer equipment using approved chemicals to prevent contamination.
• Conduct quality control tests for diluent, vaccine, and sanitizer.
• Follow Maple Leaf Foods AgOps Biosecurity Policy and Hygiene Program.

Skills

Attention to detail

Safe handling

SOP adherence

Health & safety

Flexibility

Physical stamina

Education

No formal education required

Tools

Egg Remover

Inovoject

Transfer Head with suction cups

Hatcher machines

Job description

Hatchery Worker - Transfer – New Hamburg, ON (15 minutes from Kitchener)

Location: 70 Heritage Drive, New Hamburg
Job Type: Full-Time
Posting Date: 09/17/2026
Application Deadline: 09/27/2026
Shift Details:
Monday & Tuesday – Starting at 2PM until the job is completed
Wednesday & Thursday – Days Off
Friday & Saturday – Starting at 7AM until the job is completed
Sunday – Day Off
Reason for vacancy: Incremental Headcount
Vacancy Code: 2026-NHB-30

About Us

We’re a carbon-neutral food company on a mission to Raise the Good in Food—through better nutrition, safer workplaces, humane animal care, and sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We also work to reduce food insecurity in Canada. Join us and help build a better future.

Position Summary

The Inovo Operator is responsible for transferring eggs from incubators to hatchers while ensuring proper SOP, vaccination, inspection, sanitation and procedures are followed. This position supports operational standards procedures outlined in the CFIA Hatchery Preventive Control Plan and the NFACC Code of Practice while maintaining high standards of animal welfare.

Key Responsibilities

• Safely pull incubator racks and transport them to the transfer room using appropriate equipment.
• Set up and operate the transfer room and machinery, including the Egg Remover, Inovoject (Injection Head), Transfer Head with suction cups, and waste equipment.
• Transfer eggs to hatcher boxes and load them into hatcher machines following standard operating procedures.
• Perform egg inspections to identify and remove contaminated or defective eggs; conduct humane euthanasia of unhatched embryos and pipped chicks in accordance with Maple Leaf Foods Animal Welfare Policy.
• Support candling and fertility checks as per Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg & Chick Commission (OBHECC) regulations.
• Verify vaccine equipment calibration and maintenance records to ensure compliance.
• Weigh and record egg weights to determine hatch timing and optimize hatch parameters.
• Ensure proper sanitation of transfer equipment using approved chemicals such as Embrex solutions, Inovotabs, and mixed disinfectants to prevent bacterial contamination.
• Conduct quality control tests for diluent, vaccine, and sanitizer to prevent cross-contamination between egg flocks.
• Follow Maple Leaf Foods AgOps Biosecurity Policy and Personal Hygiene Program.

What’s in it for you?

• $21.80 - $22.80 per hour (based on progression)
• Shift/Position Premium: $1.50/hour
• Health Benefits after 3 months of employment
• DB Pension plan after 1 year of service

Qualifications

• The role requires attention to detail, safe handling practices, adherence to SOPs and health & safety protocols
• Ability to work flexible hours until tasks are completed
• Physically capable of standing for long periods, lifting up to 40 lbs repetitively. Must be comfortable working in conditions that may involve strong odours, noise, wet surfaces and humidity.
• Must adhere to PCP, WHIMS and CFIA standards
• No formal education required; on-the-job training provided

We champion diversity and inclusion as part of our purpose and vision, living our Leadership Values and driving results. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired.

*We confirm that AI tools are not utilized in the evaluation or selection of candidates within our hiring process.