Farming Space: Broiler Farm Manager
Job Title: Broiler Farm Manager
Location: Wartburg, Pietermaritzburg, Camperdown
Closing Date: 09 February 2025
Overview:
The Broiler Farm Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a poultry farm, ensuring everything from staff management to biosecurity protocols is running smoothly. This role involves the efficient management of farm activities, which includes achieving production targets, maintaining budgets, and ensuring the health and safety of the animals and farm workers. The Broiler Farm Manager must also ensure that all activities align with industry standards and regulations. You will be expected to monitor the performance of farm staff, manage production and financial records, and implement key operational procedures. Above all, your goal will be to run the farm efficiently, safely, and profitably.
Being a Broiler Farm Manager comes with a variety of responsibilities that require strong leadership skills, an understanding of farm operations, and the ability to effectively manage people and resources. The successful candidate will be highly organized, proactive, and passionate about managing the farm to its best potential.
Key Responsibilities:
- Staff Management:
Managing a farm isn’t just about animal care; it’s also about managing the people who work there. As the Broiler Farm Manager, you will be in charge of supervising farm staff. You must ensure that staff are not only doing their job effectively but also following company policies and maintaining high standards. This requires excellent communication and leadership skills to keep everyone on task and motivated.
One of the primary goals is to maintain discipline among the workers while fostering a positive work environment. You need to create a space where employees feel valued and are willing to work together towards the common goal of running a successful farm. This involves monitoring performance, offering guidance when needed, and addressing any issues as they arise to prevent disruptions in farm operations.
You will also be responsible for training new staff, ensuring that they understand their responsibilities, safety protocols, and farm policies from day one. This is an ongoing process, as proper training leads to fewer mistakes, better farm productivity, and a healthier workplace culture.
- Operational Management:
As the Broiler Farm Manager, your core responsibility is to ensure that farm operations are running smoothly and meeting the established production targets. This includes managing the day-to-day activities and making sure everything is functioning efficiently. You’ll need to work closely with your team to ensure that poultry care, feeding schedules, and health monitoring are all being carried out effectively.
You’ll also be responsible for overseeing the farm’s operational budget. This includes preparing budgets, managing operational expenses, and making sure that the farm stays within financial limits. Effective budget management is essential to ensuring the farm’s financial health. You will need to constantly monitor the financial flow, adjust as needed, and ensure that resources are being used wisely and responsibly.
Beyond just overseeing daily operations, you will be expected to identify and resolve any issues that may arise, whether they’re related to equipment, staff performance, or animal health. A good manager is someone who anticipates problems before they become large-scale issues and finds solutions proactively.
- Health and Safety:
A crucial part of your role as Broiler Farm Manager is ensuring the health and safety of the staff and the animals. This involves strict adherence to health and safety protocols to minimize accidents and ensure a safe working environment. These protocols are not just about preventing injuries; they also involve ensuring that all farm activities comply with environmental and health laws.
Equally important is biosecurity. A major part of farm management includes safeguarding livestock from diseases that could spread rapidly and destroy large portions of your flock. This means implementing rigorous cleaning, sanitizing, and security measures. You’ll be responsible for training your team on these protocols and making sure they are strictly followed.
You’ll also have to ensure that the farm adheres to all local and national health regulations. This includes ensuring that proper safety gear is worn by staff, all machinery is maintained in good working condition, and the farm is regularly inspected for any safety hazards. A well-managed farm not only meets but exceeds safety and biosecurity requirements, ensuring the protection of both the animals and the people who work there.
- Recordkeeping and Reporting:
One of the most important aspects of farm management is maintaining accurate records. You will need to ensure that detailed logs are kept for farm activities, production levels, expenses, and staff performance. This data will be used to track the farm’s progress and make informed decisions about operations.
Accurate recordkeeping allows you to identify trends, spot potential issues early on, and track the overall performance of the farm. These records are also necessary for reporting purposes. You will be required to prepare reports on the farm’s operations, which will be submitted to higher management or other stakeholders. These reports should provide a clear overview of how the farm is performing, what challenges are being faced, and what improvements need to be made.
The Broiler Farm Manager must also keep records of inventory, including feed, supplies, and equipment, ensuring that there is always enough stock to meet the needs of the farm. You will also be responsible for tracking the health of the animals, including vaccination schedules and any treatments administered.
- Compliance and Procedures:
In addition to day-to-day operations, you will also be responsible for ensuring that the farm adheres to industry standards and regulations. This includes following labor laws, biosecurity measures, and any other legislation that may apply to poultry farming. Adherence to these laws is crucial not only to avoid fines or penalties but also to ensure that the farm operates ethically and sustainably.
A key part of the farm’s operations is the 20 Keys system, which focuses on continuous improvement and efficient farm management. You will be responsible for implementing and maintaining these 20 Keys, ensuring that all processes are streamlined and that the farm operates at its highest level of efficiency.
Additionally, you will need to stay up to date with changes in laws and regulations that affect the poultry industry and adjust farm operations as necessary to remain in compliance. This requires you to be proactive in seeking out information, attending relevant industry events, and communicating with authorities when necessary.
Requirements:
- Qualifications:
To be eligible for this role, you must have at least a Grade 12 (Matric) education. This is the minimum academic requirement for this position. However, a tertiary qualification in agriculture, farm management, or a related field would be highly advantageous. This qualification would provide you with the technical knowledge necessary to manage the complexities of farm operations.
Having a background in agriculture or farm management will give you a deeper understanding of animal husbandry, farm economics, and production techniques, all of which will be crucial for your success in this role.
- Experience:
We are looking for a candidate with at least 8 to 10 years of experience in poultry broiler farm management. This experience will provide you with the practical skills needed to handle the day-to-day operations of the farm. You should be comfortable overseeing all aspects of farm management, from feeding and health care to budgeting and reporting.
Experience in managing staff is also critical, as you will need to effectively lead a team and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals. You should also have a proven track record of meeting production targets and adhering to safety and biosecurity protocols.
- Skills:
The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and guide a team effectively. You should be proactive and self-motivated, always looking for ways to improve farm operations and productivity.
Additionally, you should have a high level of computer literacy, as you will be responsible for managing records, budgeting, and reporting using various software programs. A good understanding of financial management and the ability to prepare and manage budgets is also required.
You will also need to have strong attention to detail to ensure that all aspects of farm operations are running smoothly. Your ability to work independently and accurately will be essential in maintaining the efficiency and profitability of the farm.
- Additional Requirements:
Flexibility is key in this role, as farm operations often require working irregular hours, including weekends. You should be prepared to manage the farm full-time, which includes living on-site. This is an essential part of the role, as being close to the farm allows you to stay on top of operations and address any issues as they arise.
This role provides a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and motivated Broiler Farm Manager to make a significant impact on the success of a poultry farm. If you are passionate about agriculture and farm management and have the leadership skills necessary to drive operational success, this position may be the perfect fit for you.