Operations Manager Broilers – Grain Field Chickens, Reitz at VKB Group

Introduction

• Grain Field Chickens, a subsidiary of VKB Agriculture (PTY)Ltd, is a dynamic role player in the integrated broiler industry with an abattoir in Reitz in the North Eastern Free State. We offer you the opportunity to establish yourself within a professional, corporate environment in the countryside.

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
• National Diploma: Poultry Farm Manager (NQF Level 4) or similar
• BSC Degree or General in Livestock or Grazing
• 5 - 10 Years experience in a broiler Operations Management position/ poultry/ broiler growing required.
• Advanced Microsoft Office with advanced
• Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental, Food Safety and bio-security
• A very strong technical Broiler Production and Rearing farming
• A thorough understanding of modern Broiler Farm

Working knowledge of:

• Functional anatomy and physiology of
• Poultry nutrition
• Poultry health
• Poultry housing and
• Environmental control in poultry
• A willingness to travel continuously between the different grower farms.

Duties and Responsibilities

• 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
• Set performance goals and conduct performance interviews for direct
• 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
• Ensure Supplier Agreements are in place and
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Poultry health
• Poultry housing and
• Environmental control in poultry

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