Assistant Hatchery Manager

updated 9/15/2026

 

Employment Type

Regular Full-time Salaried Exempt

On-site, Duncannon, PA, and cover the Elizabethtown locations as needed

 

Reports To:

Hatchery Manager

 

Position Summary:

The Assistant Hatchery Manager supports the Hatchery Manager in overseeing daily hatchery operations, ensuring compliance with company standards, and supervising personnel to achieve productivity, quality, and efficiency goals. This role provides hands-on leadership, assists with operational planning, and helps maintain poultry welfare, biosecurity, and food safety protocols. The Assistant Hatchery Manager serves as a key resource for team members and assumes leadership responsibilities in the Hatchery Manager's absence.​

 

Hours & Schedule:

Work hours may fluctuate based on production demands, staffing needs, or special circumstances.

The Hatchery Manager is expected to ensure operational continuity and accountability regardless of specific start or end times

• Hatch Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (Subject to change due to holidays or rescheduled hatches)

  • Start Time: 5:00 AM

  • These early start times are required to support live production processes and oversee hatch-related operations.

  • The Assistant Manager is expected to be present during critical hatch activities and to ensure all processes are completed effectively.

• Non-Hatch Days (Wednesday)

  • Schedule: At the Manager’s discretion

  • Typical Hours: Managers commonly start between 7:00–8:00 AM and leave around noon.

  • While Wednesday offers flexibility, the Manager remains responsible for:

    • Completing assigned administrative and operational tasks

    • Ensuring staff coordination, administrative needs, and compliance requirements are met

• Saturdays

  • The Assistant Hatchery Manager is responsible for providing rotational Saturday leadership coverage to ensure continuous facility operations and support.

  • Primary Saturday Responsibilities:

    • Verifying that the hatchery has been properly shut down following Embrex operations

    • Ensuring cleanup procedures are completed by the Saturday crew

    • Addressing any immediate issues related to biosecurity or facility condition

 

Main Responsibilities:

Leadership & Supervision

• Provide general supervision, care, and accountability for team members.

• Aid in personnel scheduling, time management, and task assignments.

• Work alongside general labor to set an example for productivity and efficiency.

• Train and coach staff on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Operational Management

• Supervise egg setting, incubation, hatching, and chick processing.

• Ensure sanitation and maintenance of hatchery equipment and facilities.

• Monitor environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, ventilation).

• Maintain accurate records of egg inventory, hatch rates, and chick quality.

Quality Control & Biosecurity

• Implement and enforce biosecurity measures.

• Conduct regular quality checks on eggs and chicks.

Staff Management

• Recruit, train, and supervise hatchery personnel.

• Schedule shifts and manage labor resources effectively.

• Promote a safe and productive work environment.

Performance & Reporting

• Analyze hatchery performance metrics and identify improvement areas.

• Prepare and submit operational reports.

• Collaborate with Hatchery Manager to support operational objectives

Compliance

• Ensure adherence to poultry welfare standards and company policies.

Additional Duties

• Handle chick processing during emergencies when Chick Room Lead is unavailable.

• Order supplies and manage inventory accurately.

• Record flock data in company databases.

• Attend meetings and training sessions to enhance knowledge base.

• Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions when necessary.

• Utilize downtime for learning, planning, and operational evaluation.

 

Essential Job Functions: 

• Fluent in English

• Reliable and consistent attendance

• Excellent communication skills and legible handwriting

• Ability to work effectively under pressure

• Ability to plan and coordinate staffing, scheduling, and workflow to meet production goals and deadlines

• Ability to train and coach staff on safety guidelines and SOPs

• Ability to act as a positive agent for the company, demonstrating our core values through work, speech and action

• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and maintain a steady focus on tasks throughout the day

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion

• Ability to handle confrontational situations professionally

• Ability to work well both with others and independently

• Ability to understand the overall flow of all processes involving the hatchery

• Hunger to learn and grow

• Ability to perform tasks while in various environments (cool, warm, dusty, wet, noisy)

• Ability to complete, organize, and maintain records

• Ability to use software at an intermediate level, including Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Hatchery Software

• Ability to work and communicate in proximity to loud machinery, PPE provided

• Self-motivated to be efficient and detail-oriented

• Ability to maintain standards for biosecurity, poultry management, poultry welfare and operations

 

​Physical Requirements​

• Able to lift up to 50 lbs.  

• Able to repetitively lift objects weighing 25-30 lbs. from the floor to six feet above the floor for extended periods

• Able to stand and walk on concrete floors for the whole shift

• Able to push 800 lb. and 1,200 lb. racks safely 

• Ability to work while standing, squatting, kneeling and sitting for extended periods

• Ability to bend at the waist regularly

 

​ Qualifications

• Fluent in English required

• Fluent in Spanish preferred

• Pre-Employment Drug Testing

• Intermediate level computer skills​​​