Hatchery Associate I

Aviagen•Longview, TX

About The Position

The Hatchery Associate supports daily poultry hatchery operations by maintaining a clean, safe, and efficient production environment and upholding animal welfare, biosecurity, safety, and quality standards. The role includes sanitation, egg transfer, hatch preparation, chick handling, equipment cleaning, facility upkeep, production documentation, and inventory support. The successful candidate is dependable, safety-conscious, and able to work in a fast-paced agricultural environment. The position requires frequent standing and walking, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, twisting, and reaching. Employees regularly lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds and perform repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movements. Work may involve approved cleaning chemicals and environments that are wet, damp, dusty, noisy, odorous, or subject to warm and cool temperatures. The role involves regular interaction with live poultry and hatchery materials and may require working up to six days per week, including weekends and holidays, as production demands require. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain that authorization throughout employment. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent preferred, but not required.
Previous agricultural, poultry, manufacturing, production, warehouse, or sanitation experience preferred, but not required.
Ability to perform repetitive work while maintaining attention to detail and quality.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision and as part of a team.
Reliability, strong work ethic, and consistent attendance.
Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
Reliable transportation to and from work.
Willingness to work flexible schedules, including weekends and holidays, based on business needs.
Commitment to animal welfare and humane handling practices.
Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced production environment and meet production deadlines.
Basic understanding of workplace safety practices.
Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors and team members.
Willingness to learn company procedures and participate in ongoing training.
Ability to regularly lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds.
Legal authorization to work in the United States at hire and throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent.
Previous agricultural, poultry, manufacturing, production, warehouse, or sanitation experience.

Responsibilities

Maintain cleanliness and sanitation throughout the hatchery in accordance with company sanitation, biosecurity, and food safety standards.
Clean and sanitize hatchery equipment and production areas, including setters, hatchers, conveyors, work tables, trays, floors, walls, and ceilings.
Transfer eggs from setter machines to hatchers according to operating procedures and production schedules.
Prepare newly hatched chicks for processing, sexing, vaccination where applicable, packaging, and shipment to customer farms.
Handle day-old chicks carefully and humanely according to animal welfare standards, company SOPs, and applicable industry guidelines.
Assemble chick boxes and prepare shipping materials for customer deliveries.
Assist with hatch pull operations while maintaining chick quality standards.
Monitor work areas for cleanliness, equipment functionality, and safety hazards, and promptly report concerns to supervision.
Follow company policies on biosecurity, PPE, environmental health and safety, and quality assurance.
Maintain production records and complete required documentation.
Support inventory management by maintaining production supplies and notifying supervisors of shortages.
Participate in preventive cleaning and maintenance activities.
Maintain organized production areas and assist with facility housekeeping.
Collaborate with team members to meet daily production schedules and operational goals.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.