Production Lead - NM

Position: Production Lead - NM

Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Department: Hatchery

Reports To: Production Manager - NM

Location: Portales, New Mexico

About Us

At Hoover’s Hatchery, we don’t just hatch chicks – we support farmers, homesteaders, and families across the country. As a company with a national reach, our culture is built on alignment, not hierarchy. We bridge frontline operations and leadership through direct communication, high standards, and shared responsibility of results.

We are a stable, growing agricultural business rooted in accountability, teamwork, and high standards. Our production environment is structured, fast-paced, and purpose-driven. We believe in clear expectations, measurable performance, and providing opportunities for employees to grow into leadership roles.

We have fun and we work hard. If you are dependable, take pride in doing things right, and want to play a meaningful role in a team that values precision and professionalism, we encourage you to apply.

Why Join Our Team?

• Stable, growing company with national reach
• Hands-on leadership role with real impact on daily production outcomes
• Clear expectations and structured process
• Opportunity for advancement into supervisory roles
• Team-oriented environment with accountability and professionalism
• Competitive pay and full-time benefits
  
  

Job Summary

The Production Lead plays a key leadership role in supporting hatchery operations and ensuring that production standards are met with accuracy, efficiency, and care. This position provides hands-on leadership during critical hatch processes and serves as a working lead for the team.

The Production Lead works closely with the Production Supervisor and Production Manager to uphold standards in quality, safety, biosecurity, and productivity. This role directly impacts hatch quality, order accuracy, and customer satisfaction nationwide.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a structured production environment and is ready to grow into greater leadership responsibility.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Leadership & Coordination

• Assists in training crew members and reinforces proper procedures and expectations.
• Directs team members in pulling correct trays and provides assistance and guidance as needed.
• Coordinates with supervisors to determine where crew members may be reassigned after hatch pull is complete.
• Maintains clear communication with team members and leadership to ensure smooth shift operations.
• Performs double checks to ensure all hatch pulls are complete and equipment is properly reset.
  
  

Production & Operational Excellence

• Cleans and prepares filters, retrieves duck and turkey boxes, and ensures all materials are ready for use.
• Initiates operations by changing filters and starting the system properly.
• Pulls hatched chicks and counts trays to verify accurate tray counts for hatchability monitoring.
• Prioritizes pulling premium, ultra-premium, and standard breeds in proper order for efficient box placement and counting.
• Supports continuous chick processing throughout the shift until complete.
• Monitors hatchers to confirm alarms and turners are properly re-engaged after egg placement.
• Checks dump truck periodically to avoid overfilling.
• Operates dump truck when needed in a safe and responsible manner.
• Assists with labeling incubators for the following week's pulls.
• Ensures incubators are properly leveled and hatchers are started as needed.
• Counts trays and transports carts to hatchers.
• Leads post-pull cleaning efforts in the incubator room, including floors and machinery.
  
  

Quality, Safety, & Biosecurity

• Upholds all biosecurity protocols and safety procedures.
• Maintains cleanliness and organization within the hatchery.
• Ensures accuracy in counts and processes to support hatch performance metrics.
• Contributes to continuous improvement of operations.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.
  
  

Job Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred
• Valid Driver’s License and insurability required
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) proficiency
• Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret important instructions, guidelines, and communications and respond accordingly
• Must be willing to handle live poultry
• Previous leadership or production experience preferred
  
  

Competencies

• Ethical conduct
• Customer servitude
• Tenacity and dependability
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Adaptability in a fast-paced production environment
• Ability to lead by example
• Strong communication skills
• High level of accountability
• Effective prioritizing and multitasking
• Ability to work well in a team environment
• Strong computer skills
  
  

Travel Requirements

• This position does not require travel.
  
  

Physical Demands

• Requires the ability to tolerate unpleasant odors associated with eggs and poultry of various quality
• Normal corrective vision range, ability to see color and distinguish letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Frequently required to sit, walk, talk, hear, bend, reach, stand, stoop, crawl, crouch, push, pull, twist, turn, balance, climb, and stretch.
• Requires the ability to perform physical labor requiring continual use of motor skills, manual dexterity, and the manipulation of large objects.
• Requires the ability to work around equipment that generates noise, vibration, and heat.
• This position may require heavy lifting, over 60 lbs.