Breeder Service Technician - Contract

The Opportunity:

The Breeder Service Technician is a highly technical, on farm hands-on role and is responsible for representing the Hatchery while guiding and influencing Hatching Egg Producers to follow broiler breeder management best practices. The result is the producer and the hatchery maintain and ideally maximize hatching egg quality and volumes. The Breeder Service Technician maintains open communication with internal and external stakeholders to ensure issues are identified, addressed appropriately, regulations are followed, and animal husbandry and welfare standards are achieved. Please note: This is a 6-month contract opportunity.


Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online byMarch 03. Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

• Work closely with the hatchery, hatching egg producers, and veterinarians to maintain flock health, production, hatching egg quality, and hatchability.
• Provide flock management recommendations regarding brooding, feeding, bodyweight, fleshing, disease prevention, egg production/quality, fertility and flock health and welfare.
• Using the national hatching egg producer quality program (CHEQ), ensure that breeder farms are providing best management recommendations regarding ventilation, water treatment, lighting, litter management and pest control.
• Establish relationships by working in conjunction with hatching egg producers to ensure best practices are in place and provide feedback to hatchery about farm concerns that may impact results.
• Responsible to communicate with production coordinator/hatchery manager regarding flock performance for egg supply.
• Responsible to submit birds or samples to laboratories as required for provincial regulations or under veterinarian direction for bird health and quality programs.
• Facilitate communications between primary breeder company, Maple Leaf Foods, and hatching egg producers including all necessary paperwork.
• Monitor and ensure correct vaccination program is being followed, which may include advising producers on vaccine administration, preparing vaccination schedules, and delivery of vaccines.
• Responsible for collection and submission of samples for salmonella monitoring (AHEP/PIE programs), serology and quality assurance monitoring as directed by the hatchery and the AHEP Salmonella Enteritidis policy.
• Responsible to develop and follow a visitation/service schedule in consultation with hatching egg producers to meet objectives and production performance and egg quality, including day old placements.
• Provide field technical servicing to hatching egg producers including, but not limited to blood sampling, bird weighing, environmental swabbing, necropsies, tissue sampling.
• Responsible to submit documents to meet primary breeder and provincial board requirements.
• Develop reports for all producer flock records to identify trends, changes, possible challenges and opportunities for improvement. May include, but is not limited to placements, production, and mortality.
• Technical transfer of management techniques and emerging technologies that improves field performance such as contact with primary breeder companies, other industry organizations, current scientific literature, and industry technical information to understand flock management recommendations based on breed and product advancements.
• Perform various SAP data processing tasks.

What You’ll Bring:

• Post-secondary education, preferably in agricultural, animal science, or related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Experience working in or with poultry/broiler breeder operations preferred
• Supply managed commodity experience an asset
• Strong desire to educate and drive continuous improvement initiatives through the adoption of best practices with excellent interpersonal and influencing skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Analytical and reporting skill set with ability to provide recommendations
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment; be self-motivated and enthusiastic
• Leadership skills to lead discussions and navigate conflicting ideas and conversations
• Willingness to develop into role
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Competency and comfort using Microsoft programs such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Willingness to perform physical activity
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to work flexible hours - outside of normal working hours
• Must have a Class 5 driver’s license

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods:

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best.

About Us:

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf®, Schneiders®, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co.® We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.

We’re a global food company with approximately 10,000 team members. We operate sites in 20+ locations across Canada. We also have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, and do business in Asia.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at accommodations@mapleleaf.com.

Disclaimer: Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board. Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.