Technical Manager - KZN - Rainbow Chicken

Trending Talent Solutions; Pietermaritzburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Trending Talent Solutions in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, seeks a Technical Manager to oversee technical and scientific aspects of poultry operations across breeder farms, hatcheries, broiler production, feed mill formulations and processing planning.

You will drive biosecurity, animal welfare, data-driven guidance, and cost-effective yields by aligning production metrics with business goals, supervising teams, and ensuring compliant operations.

Qualifications

• Degree in Animal Science, Poultry Science, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of technical management experience in commercial poultry production.
• Valid Code EB driver’s license.
• Strong expertise in poultry pathology, data analytics and hatchery automation, with leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement policies to achieve KPI improvements and profitability.
• Plan 5-year production strategy including equipment needs.
• Coordinate egg, chick supply with processing plant alignment.
• Ensure fertile eggs and chick quality standards.
• Monitor hatching schedules and incubator progress.
• Audit stock control, disinfection and production assets.
• Oversee vaccination logistics and staff training on procedures.
• Ensure biosecurity and hygienic conditions across sites.
• Analyze production data and prepare weekly reports.

Skills

Poultry pathology

Data analytics

Hatchery automation

Leadership

Communication

Education

Animal Science / Poultry Science degree

Job description

The Technical Manager oversees the technical and scientific aspects of the poultry operations, the Breeder Farms (Rearing and Laying), Hatcheries, Broiler Production, engagements with the Feed Mill and formulations, and Processing planning for compliance.

This role ensures maximum biological performance, strict biosecurity, and optimal animal welfare to drive cost-effective yields. As a key leader, to provide data–driven technical guidance to farm managers, optimizes flock health, and aligns production metrics with business goals across both own and contract grower farms.

Requirements:

• A Degree in Animal Science, Poultry Science, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 7 – 10 years of technical management experience within a commercial, fully integrated poultry production environment.
• Valid Code EB driver’s license
• Strong expertise in poultry pathology, data analytics, and hatchery automation systems, paired with excellent leadership and communication skills.

Main Responsibilities:

Production Management

• Develop and implement policies and practices for the agricultural operation to ensure attainment of KPI’s, improve costs and efficiencies through a strong basis, innovation & technology, and profitability.
• Conduct operational planning for future production (5-year strategy & implementation) including planning, equipment design and project needs, sustainable production and tighter work schedules.
• Through the planning department, align with National Planning and farm management on the supply of eggs, chicks and quality A-Grade Broilers to the processing plant.
• Ensure the highest standard of fertile eggs are produced, set to optimize exceptional chick quality.
• Monitor hatching schedules for chicks considering factors such as planning, hatchery facilities and equipment.
• Periodically inspect eggs in incubators to ascertain hatching progress (hatch window), and the sequence of the pull.
• Audit all operations relating to stock control, disinfection, and maintenance of all production assets.
• Monitor the status of vaccines and the logistics associated with vaccination - syringes and the care of sterilizers, staff training on efficient and safe vaccination procedures, and environmentally friendly waste disposal.
• Ensure strict biosecurity and management practices for profitable production of quality chicks under safe and hygienic conditions.
• Frequently interpret operational records and genetic data on TEHH, HEHH, Rejects %, CHH, 7d mortality, FCR, ADG, Condemns, and make any necessary operational recommendations in alignment with the Production managers.
• Analyze and prepare reports on daily production across all operations in Agriculture.
• Request reports on chick production and incubation parameters such as temperature, humidity, ventilation, turning, and controlling the stock and cold storage of vaccines.
• Monitor that ventilation and lighting systems are working properly to enable correct levels of production output.
• Ensure that hygiene standards are maintained through disinfection and fumigation in accordance with BOP, including Farm Services practices and hygiene results.
• Monitor the egg bank and its critical supply for egg sales and chick placements and chick sales.

Information, Data Management and Reporting

• Use relevant information from the Agric Cube & MTech (Amino) to analyze and troubleshoot.
• Analysis reports to be shared with Breeder Production Managers, Hatchery Managers, Regional Vet and Agricultural Executive.
• Ensure all checks are performed and recorded in the correct documents.
• Conduct weekly visits and meetings with all production teams & management, including the maintenance teams.
• Monitor health status of all flocks.
• Report on flock performance; MTech Systems; vaccination programmes and total hatchery supply chain.
• Report weekly on all variances in relation to Rainbow standards, TEHH, HEHH, reject % by category, CHH, ADG, FCR, PEF, mortality, condemns by category, quality of eggs, fertility, HOF, to the Operations Manager and Agricultural Executive.

Budget and Cost Control

• Provide input into and utilize the financial budget optimally.
• Ensure the region meets budgetary targets by working within agreed financial boundaries.
• Access and report on immovable and movable operational assets to ensure optimal usage in line with best production practice.
• Provide input into annual capex requirements and implement approved capex programmes.
• Assist in the motivation of required Capex and major maintenance projects.
• Manage fixed and loose assets if applicable.
• Monitor and take accountability for auditing of buying and stores requisitions.
• Oversee that all chemicals, diesel, coal & gas controls are monitored and controls are in place.

Administration

• Ensure that daily data are captured accurately and promptly into the information system on a daily basis.
• Access risk in the business and plans to mitigate these.
• Ensure that daily/ weekly and monthly reports are comprehensive and submitted on time to enable effective decision-making and proactive trend analysis.
• Ensure that daily utility meter readings (water/gas/electricity, diesel, coal) are taken and monitored, and communicated to the relevant administrators.

Team Supervision

• Assist in the employment of key critical staff in vacant and approved posts.
• Supervise the activities of the team to ensure production targets are met.
• Coach and support team members when necessary to achieve operational and strategic objectives.
• Manage leave, overtime, absenteeism and general time management issues in line with company policy.
• Comply with employment equity legislation within the team to ensure that representation is achieved at all levels and that statutory targets and requirements are met.
• Implement training and development plans for the team as agreed with the Training Manager.
• Manage the employee relations climate and ensure corrective action is taken where required in line with relevant legislation and company policy.
• Chair or initiate disciplinary hearings as needed according to RPM standards.

Bio-Security Management

• Ensure that clean protective clothing is always available for staff and visitors.
• Ensure that staff and visitors always shower when entering and exiting.
• Ensure that all material that enters the site is fumigated.
• Apply all other bio-security standards in accordance with BOP and the RPM.
• Ensure that cleaning, disinfection and housekeeping are well managed (i.e. the hatchery is properly washed and sanitized, lawn and grass under the fencing is kept short, drains on site are kept clean, all waste and debris from the site is removed and buildings on site are properly maintained).
• Ensure that all security procedures are adhered to and that access doors and gates are locked at all times to prevent unauthorized and unmonitored access.

Strategy Into Action

• Provides input to Business unit meetings by keeping up to date with the latest market trends, competitor activity, operational knowledge, and processes
• Provides input related to technical and quality requirements of products to deliver sustainable and profitable growth
• Provides input to support integrated supply chain delivery through interactions with cross-functional team

Product quality and Cost saving:

• Present opportunities for product quality improvement and cost saving realization through process automation, new technology, ingredients and raw materials.
• Scope and brief technologist on approved product quality improvements and cost saving initiatives.
• Interpret and communicate the impact that the current and/or new materials, machine requirements, process flows, labor complements, throughputs etc. have on costs to the business.

Technical Expertise and insight

• Provide expertise through management meetings and recommend solutions based on technically sound insight and research
• Provide practical expertise and insights to internal and external clients as part of regular engagement and/or ad hoc requests
• Drive the resolution of quality and technical issues raised by customers and/or consumers

Compliance Management

• Guide the team to ensure that all legislative and industry standards are implemented in new product development
• Drive the adherence to all legislative and industry standards
• Drive actions when required to ensure that there are no areas of non-compliance
• Analyze technical reports from processing plants to confirm technical compliance