Operations Manager Broilers - Grain Field Chickens Head Office , Reitz at VKB Group

Job Description

• Creating and sustaining a cost-effective broiler operations environment by managing the various functions and processes which include resources, controlling the achievement of production targets and quality standards according to company policies.

Requirements

• Grade 12 or NQF Level 4 equivalent.
• National Diploma: Poultry Farm Manager (NQF Level 4) or similar required.
• BSC Degree or General in Livestock or Grazing desirable.
• 5 - 10 Years experience in a broiler Operations Management position/ poultry/ broiler growing required.
• Advanced Microsoft Office with advanced excel.
• Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental, Food Safety and bio-security background.
• A very strong technical Broiler Production and Rearing farming skills.
• A thorough understanding of modern Broiler Farm operations.
• Working knowledge of:
  • Functional anatomy and physiology of birds.
  • Poultry nutrition management.
  • Poultry health management.
  • Poultry housing and equipment.
  • Environmental control in poultry production.
• A willingness to travel continuously between the different grower farms.

Duties and responsibility

• Drawing up and controlling the broiler chicken production capital and operating budget on an annual basis.
• Monitoring and approving expenditure and revenue of specific departments within approved mandate.
• Preparation and distribution of the monthly budget deviations report to Financial Manager and Executive Director: Poultry.
• To set the growers price by following the growers pricing process with each grower cycle.
• Read cost control reports, evaluate variances and recommend cost improvements where applicable.
• Oversee the work of a professional team consisting of two Contract Growers Managers, a Farm Services Manager and a Veterinarian.
• Ensure the optimal functioning of the Farm Services Administration Dept as a support function to the various internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee the Workers Trust and related functions such as the trial pens.
• Set performance goals and conduct performance interviews for direct reports.
• Ensure own team have established annual broiler farms visiting schedules and that these are adhered to.
• Oversee the negotiations with the suppliers of day-old chickens.
• Ensure Supplier Agreements are in place and maintained.
• Responsible for the transportation of live birds to the abattoir in line with exiting SLAs and legislation.
• Establish and maintain open communication with all farm services staff, management, other internal departments, external customers and suppliers as well as contract growers.
• Liaise with the abattoir, sales department, feed mills as well as consult with internal and external professionals such as animal nutritionists, government and industry bodies.
• Ensure full compliance with Grain Field Chickens’ risk management policies.
• Ensure health and safety inspections and food safety audits are performed and report on observations and formulate recommendations and corrective actions where required.
• Facilitating and coordinating the optimal use of the human resource function within the relevant department.
• Ensure that all relevant legislation (bio-security, food safety) as well as Grain Field Chickens’ policies and procedures are met by all managers and staff.
• Plan and control the utilisation, maintenance and physical bio-security status in line with relevant Food Safety Legislation.
• Ensure that all systems, documentation, and procedures are in place and compliance with legislation as well as internationally acceptable standards.
• Monitoring the setting up of production standard practices instruction and contracts as well as their execution.
• Analysing production data daily by minimizing risks and optimizing production.
• Provide technical advice and support to the producers with respect to broiler chickens daily.
• Where applicable, make appropriate recommendations to own team as well as to contract growers on various broiler-related matters such as but not limited to:
  • Poultry nutrition management.
  • Poultry health management.
  • Poultry housing and equipment.
  • Environmental control in poultry production.
• Identifying, evaluating, and reporting economic feasibility with respect to broiler production.
• Initiate corrective measure where production-related problems were identified, monitor and report results in accordance with workplace standards.
• Weekly reporting per project as well as any changes to Grain Field Chickens’ management on a weekly basis.
• Drive Continuous Improvement processes and quality management, identify potential problems and initiate improvements through-out area of responsibility.
• Continuous liaison with internal departments/ customers/ suppliers/ growers in relation to product standards and quality aspects.
• Continuous distribution of industry notices and technical advice to growers.
• Identification and recommendation on system changes to relevant entity managers and growers.
• Any other duties as may be required by line manager.

Skills required

• Advanced Microsoft Office with advanced excel.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate people, assess and develop employee skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, with the ability to balance production and maintenance needs.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and listening ability.
• A strong ability to be adaptable and flexible.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work with teams and lead decision-making processes in a team environment.
• Highly motivated, results oriented, driven.
• Problem definition and analysis.
• Strong EQ, leadership and motivational skills.
• Good presentation skills.
• Good operational skills, but also strong strategic focus.
• Business acumen.
• Personal resilience.