Hatchery Process Lead - 2nd Shift

Perdue Farms; Salisbury (MD); On-site; USD 34,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Perdue Farms is seeking a Hatchery Process Lead for our Salisbury, MD facility. You will lead, train, and support hatchery associates while monitoring equipment and processes to ensure peak performance and healthy chick delivery to growers.

This onsite role includes scheduling, quality control, and safety compliance. The position offers a base rate of $25.00 per hour with potential pay premiums, shift differentials, overtime, and an annual bonus contingent on performance.

Qualifications

• Monitor egg setters and hatchers; maintain temperature and humidity.
• Record machine checks every three hours.
• Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions promptly.
• Coordinate nightly effluent shipments and documentation.
• Ensure hatchery environment is clean and safe.

Responsibilities

• Monitor operations of egg setters and hatchers, maintaining proper temperature and humidity.
• Conduct and record machine checks every three hours.
• Identify and resolve common equipment malfunctions in a timely manner.
• Coordinate receipt of nightly effluent shipments verifying shipping documents.
• Arrange flocks within effluent room to facilitate correct set times.
• Reload effluent trough with filled buggies and keep area cleaned.
• Prepare set sheets and rotate effluent packs as needed.
• Coordinate nightly shipping of effluent buggies and transfers.
• Prepare hatchery for daily processing and manage chick box padding.
• Oversee sanitization, fogging, and disinfecting of set/hatch halls weekly.
• Operate wash equipment; clean chick boxes weekly or as required.

Skills

Hatchery operations

Equipment troubleshooting

Disinfection procedures

Salmonella intervention

Process monitoring

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

As a Hatchery Process Lead, you take on a vital leadership role at the heart of hatchery operations. You guide, train, and support hatchery associates while closely monitoring equipment and processes to ensure everything runs at peak performance. By maintaining optimal environmental conditions, you help deliver healthy, high-quality chicks to our growers, playing a direct role in the success of our operations and the strength of our production system.

This position is located onsite at our facility in Salisbury, Maryland at Hatchery # 3.

This position has a base rate of $25.00 per hour, with opportunities for pay premiums, shift differentials and overtime where applicable. Annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).

In addition to hourly wages, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

Schedule

Monday through Friday with weekend work (Saturday and/or Sunday) as required based on department schedules and production needs 4:00 Pm.-2:00 Am.

• Monitor operations of egg setters and hatchers, ensuring consistent proper temperature and humidity levels are maintained.
• Conduct and records machine checks every three hours.
• Identify and resolve common equipment malfunctions in a timely manner.
• Coordinate receipt of nightly effluent shipments verifying accuracy of shipping documentation.
• Arrange flocks within effluent room to facilitate identification and movement at required set times.
• Reload effluent trough with filled buggies.
• Ensure effluent room is cleaned and disinfected weekly and/or as required.
• Prepare set sheet ensuring proper effluent rotation based on effluent pack dates.
• Coordinate setting of effluent buggies nightly, transferring from farm buggies to setter racks.
• Prepare hatchery for daily processing.
• Coordinate padding of chick boxes nightly, ensures trash is emptied, starts boiler, loads box de-stacker, moves empty effluent buggies from tray washroom to hatch halls.
• Coordinate and perform salmonella intervention, pouring formaldehyde in hatchers at designated intervals following transfer.
• Oversee and perform hatchery disinfection, ensuring all set and hatch halls are fogged nightly.
• Operates try wash machine, washing chick boxes weekly or as required.

Minimum Education and Experience

• High school or equivalent.

Preferred Education and Experience

• 1 year experience in hatchery processing.
• Some basic mechanical/electrical knowledge.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Exposed to temperatures ranging from 60 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and humidities up to 100%.
• Exposed to chemicals, drups and vaccines to be covered in MSDS training and hazardous communications.
• Use personal protective equipment as required.
• Ability to lift 4 lbs. to a height of 6 feet, to push 75 lbs. a distance of 75 feet and lift 20 - 25 lbs. to a height of 3 feet.
• Must be able to work in a wet, damp, dusty (chick down) environment.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.