Cobb - QA Inspector

Cobb-Vantress•Lafayette, TN

About The Position

The QA Inspector ensures customer-requested services are met and maintains accurate inventories of supplies needed to service day-old chickens, including by-product vaccine inventory. The position keeps the by-product lab clean and organized in accordance with sanitation monitoring protocols and assists with day-one processing and vaccine mixing when needed. The employee must remain until the processing department is finished unless a manager approves an early departure. The role processes and inspects chicks, including grading, vaccination, beak trimming, dubbing and despurring males, toe trimming, weighing, assessing chick quality, and checking for improper injections. Other work may include operating processing equipment, entering hatchery monitoring data, verifying daily processing orders, assisting the processing crew, euthanizing weak or ill birds in accordance with company policy, and maintaining a clean work area. Duties may change or be assigned at any time. The job is in a biosecure facility. Employees must shower and change clothing and footwear before entering; company-provided clothing and footwear are supplied. Jewelry is prohibited except medical ID jewelry and covered body piercings. Employees must agree to avoid avian species and sign and follow company biosecurity and animal welfare guidelines. The schedule is subject to production needs. The schedule information lists Monday through Thursday, with a shift beginning at 4:00 a.m. and ending when the job is complete; the role typically averages 40 hours per week and includes working holidays. A schedule effective January 3, 2027, is also listed as Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Applicants must have no disciplinary actions in the previous six months, no more than six attendance points, and six months in their current area, except that an internal promotion may allow less than six months in the area. The role requires standing for most of the shift on a concrete floor and working in wet, slippery, hot, dry, dusty, and cold environments. Regular physical tasks include lifting and stacking chick boxes weighing up to 15–17 pounds, pushing or pulling a wheeled dolly carrying 10 boxes weighing approximately 150–170 pounds, bending, walking, reaching, and handling tools or controls. Required protective equipment includes safety glasses, ear plugs and N95 respirators as needed, and chemical protection when using chemicals. The employee will be trained in safety policies and is expected to follow procedures and identify, address, and mitigate safety risks.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least six months of related experience and/or training; an equivalent combination of education and experience is accepted.
Ability to read, write, and perform simple math.
Good communication skills to accurately convey opinions and concerns.
Ability and willingness to perform the physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, including lifting and stacking boxes weighing up to 15–17 pounds and pushing or pulling a wheeled dolly loaded with 10 boxes weighing approximately 150–170 pounds.
Ability to work in a biosecure environment, including showering and changing clothing and footwear before entering the facility.
Willingness to sign an agreement to avoid avian species and to sign and abide by company biosecurity and animal welfare guidelines.
Applicants must have no disciplinary actions within the prior six months, an attendance point level of six or fewer, and six months in their current area; internal candidates promoting may have less than six months in the current area.
Follow applicable safety policies and procedures, including Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), and Personal Protective Equipment requirements.

Nice To Haves

Data entry skills.
Excel experience.

Responsibilities

Process chickens by grading, vaccinating, operating a beak-trimming robot, dubbing and despurring males, and performing toe trims.
Weigh chicks and check chick quality for each house.
Check chick quality against the percentage of the total number of boxes.
Check for improper injections.
Operate a gas box, cut vitamin gel, and operate a Coccivac machine as assigned.
Maintain a clean and organized work area and keep the by-product lab clean in accordance with sanitation monitoring protocols.
Verify daily processing orders on the board and enter hatchery monitoring data for chick weights and breakout data.
Assist the processing crew, including with day-one processing and vaccine mixing, as needed.
Properly euthanize weak or ill birds in accordance with company policy.
Maintain accurate inventories of supplies used to service day-old chickens and track by-product vaccine inventory.
Remain at work until the processing department is finished unless a manager approves leaving early.
Follow biosecurity, animal welfare, and safety policies and procedures; identify, address, and mitigate safety-related risks.