Farm Associate I

Aviagen; Walpole (IL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid holidays

PTO 14 days/year

Job summary

Aviagen in Illinois is seeking a Farm Associate I responsible for the animal care and welfare of the birds within the facility. You will gather eggs, grade them by category and size, and assist in washing eggs while maintaining sanitary conditions in the egg wash and cooler rooms.

The role requires flexibility to work up to 6 days per week, including weekends and holidays, with duties spanning live birds handling, data collection, and ensuring safe farm operations.

Qualifications

• Ability to understand oral and written instructions and perform simple tasks with basic skills: reading, writing, and arithmetic.
• Ability to perform repetitive work.
• Ability to stand for long periods (8+ hours) with a flexible schedule.
• Ability to grip, grasp, or twist using hands and wrists.
• Must lift, carry, push or pull up to 50 lbs or more.
• Bend and stoop repetitively during shifts.
• Animal husbandry experience preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• May work up to 6 days a week, including weekends and holidays.
• Gather eggs without excessive breakage.
• Grade eggs by category, size and condition and move egg flats to cooler room.
• Maintain and record eggs data as instructed.
• Monitor feed lines, drinkers, fans, and barn conditions.
• Monitor health and mortality of the flock; clean and rebuild pens as needed.

Skills

Reading, writing and arithmetic

Instruction comprehension

Stand for long hours

Lifting up to 50 lbs

Poultry facility operations

Job description

Job Description Summary:

This role plays a critical part in overall success of the farm operations within the Aviagen suite of Poultry farms. The Farm Associate I, has primary responsibility for the animal care and welfare of the birds within the facility.

Job Description:

• May work up to 6 days a week, including weekends and holidays
• Gather eggs in a manner that prevents excessive breakage
• Grade eggs according to category, size and condition. Transfer egg flats with eggs from the barn to the egg cooler room and record the number of eggs collected and assist in washing eggs and maintain sanitary conditions in the egg wash room/cooler room
• Maintain and record eggs and or gather proper data as instructed
• Maintain poultry house living conditions by monitoring and troubleshooting issues with feed lines, drinkers, fans and barn appearance etc.
• Monitor and document the health of the flock and or mortality
• Clean out houses and rebuild bird pens as needed
• Transfer up to 50 lbs of feed and maintain feed in all feeders according to trial requirements and ensure all birds can access the feed

• Will be required to collect birds for moving or weighing
• Work with day old baby chicks within the Hatchery Facility. Additional duties may include set eggs, collect eggs, transfer eggs and disinfecting of the facility
• Ability to work in a poultry processing plant - Live hang poultry, use cutting instruments to de-bone and or cut poultry as trained for proper data collection

• Ability to work with chemicals such as detergents, disinfectants, etc.
• Must perform essential duties in a safe and efficient manner as trained
• Must be able to perform manual tasks in extreme hot or cold temperatures
• Must follow Animal Care Standards, Animal Welfare Guidelines and Bio-Security policies and procedures
• Must be able to work in dry, dusty, damp and or wet environment
• Must be able to work with live animals and the associated environment
• Must be able to, on a routine basis, handle and interact with live poultry

• Must be able to be around farm related smells or foul odors and loud/noisy environment
• Must be able to work in an environment with substantial dust circulation

Job qualifications and physical requirements:

• Ability to understand oral and written instructions and perform simple tasks. Required basic skills - reading, writing and arithmetic
• Ability to perform work that is repetitive in nature
• Ability to stand for long periods of time (8 hrs or more - must have a flexible work schedule)
• Ability to grip, grasp or twist using hands and wrists.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push or pull up to 50 lbs or more
• Bend and stoop repetitively throughout the shift
• Animal husbandry experience preferred but not required

USA Benefits: Aviagen provides a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the healthcare and financial well-being of our employees. Aviagen offers medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Teladoc, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability coverage, subject to the terms and conditions of Plan documents. Additionally, you will be eligible for company observed paid Holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO) at a rate of 14 days per year, prorated based on your hire date.

Work Authorization:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the Country of Specified Job Location at hire and must maintain authorization to work in that Country throughout their employment with our company.

EEOC Statement:

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.