Quality Controller - Gauteng Hatchery - H3 - GP134

Role Overview

National Chicks, a leading international supplier of day-old chicks and hatching eggs within the Astral Group, is seeking a highly skilled Quality Controller who will be responsible for maintaining and continuously improving quality, hygiene, biosecurity and operational standards within our Gauteng Hatchery.

Role Responsibilities

• Pre-Incubation Management – ensuring eggs are appropriately handled, stored and prepared prior to incubation.
• Egg Quality Control – monitoring egg quality and identifying factors that may impact hatchability and chick quality.
• Incubation and Hatching Optimisation – Monitoring incubation processes and implementing corrective measures to optimise hatch results.
• Chick Quality Control – Conducting inspections and monitoring chick quality in accordance with established standards.
• Post-Hatch Processing and Environmental Control – ensuring post-hatch processes, hygiene, environmental conditions, and handling practices meet required standards.
• Sampling and Testing – Co-ordinating quality-control sampling and testing programme’s and ensuring accurate results and records.
• Data Recording and Analysis – Maintaining accurate quality records and analysing trends, performance indicators and KPI’s.
• SOP Management – Reviewing, developing, updating and implementing Quality control Standard Operating procedures.
• Staff Training – Providing training and guidance to Quality control personnel to ensure consistent application of procedures and standards.
• Non-Conformance Management – Investigating customer complaints, quality deviations and non-conformances and implementing appropriate corrective and preventative actions.
• Quality and Hygiene Standards – Ensuring the highest standards of product quality, hygiene, sanitation and food safety are consistently maintained.
• Biosecurity Management – Ensuring strict biosecurity protocols are implemented, monitored and maintained throughout the Hatchery.
• Audits and Compliance – Conducting internal audits, including Biosecurity, 20 Keys and Hygiene audits and developing action plans to address identified gaps.
• Customer Support – Participating in customer visits, evaluating quality concerns, and providing recommendations for corrective action and continuous improvement.
• 20 Keys programme – Supporting the implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the 20 Keys programme.
• Quality Inspections – Conducting regular quality – control inspections and maintaining all relevant quality documentation.

Required Qualification And Knowledge

• Minimum Grade 12 qualification
• A qualification in Animal Science, Animal production, Poultry Science or related field is required.
• Previous Hatchery or poultry production experience will be advantageous
• Experience in quality control within an agricultural or poultry environment will be advantageous.
• Experience in the development and implementation of SOP’s will be an advantage.
• Strong computer literacy, with a proven proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, including ability to perform root-cause analysis.
• Ability to work confidently with quality data, trends, and KPI’s
• Excellent record-keeping skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work accurately, independently and under pressure.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills
• Proactive, self-motivated, results orientated and performance-driven.
• Strong commitment to quality, hygiene, biosecurity, and continuous improvement.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including weekends and public holidays where required.

What We Offer

• A competitive, market-related salary package
• Performance bonus
• Opportunity to work within Astral Group anywhere within South Africa if positions arise
• Growing career opportunity within the company and also within the whole Astral Group as the biggest poultry company in South Africa.
• Learning and development opportunities

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