Vacancies

Game Breeding Stock Manager (Pheasant)

Game Bird Breeding Stock Manager (Pheasants)

Heart of England Farms Ltd is one of the country’s leading breeders, hatchers and rearers of game birds. Our extensive breeding flocks of Pheasants, Partridges and Ducks are carefully managed and improved year on year. These produce huge numbers of eggs for hatching in our two state of the art modern hatcheries on our home farm.

We offer a diverse hands-on role with great opportunity for someone who wants to develop their career with a growing and successful family business. Ensuring you are passionate about bird welfare and that it is never compromised, being driven to increase the hatchability of the eggs produced. This environment requires keen attention to detail which is imperative for the health and welfare of the birds.

Role Requirements –

-          Daily care of a large breeding pheasant flock

-          Ensuring bird welfare is up to the highest standards, including maintaining automatic food and water systems.

-          Carry out general maintenance when necessary

-          Team player but can also work alone

-          Provide regular updates to management, highlighting progress, challenges and resources needed.

-          Time management

-          A responsible position which can only suit a responsible person.

-          At least 6 months commercial livestock management experience essential

-          Working to a structure ensuring each day’s jobs are complete. Highlighting issues and solutions where required.

-          Practical Skills to include some of the following: use of power tools, fencing, use of landscape machinery and basic plumbing.

-          Could suit a couple.

-          Driving License

Personal Attributes –

-          The ideal candidate will be physically fit, self-motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated.

-          Practically minded

-          Good communication skills

-          Reliable and committed to be able to work with minimal supervision

-          Willing to work outside in all weathers

-          Flexible approach to working hours

-          Self-driven to achieve results

-          The ability to motivate and lead a team when necessary

Salary advertised covers a wide range, the lower end would be for candidates with minimal commercial livestock experience and the upper for individuals who can demonstrate 3+ years commercial livestock accompanied by either team leading capabilities or those who can demonstrate strong personal organisation and motivation in a previous role.

-          40hour (Mon-Fri) working week permanent contract however hours worked will easily average between 50-55 hours per week (all hours worked are paid for) which includes weekend work.

-          Weekend Work will either be a Saturday OR Sunday but not both.

-          Normal working hours are 7;30am – 4;30pm with these hours increasing from the spring as the laying season starts.

-          Salary is to be discussed at meeting and is paid by the hour Weekend work attracts a £ premium. Quality accommodation on site possible, in a modern house. 

Game Farm (Pheasants) / Poultry Assistant

We are a busy and progressive business breeding and rearing game birds (pheasants and partridges) currently requiring a practical and enthusiastic person to fill this position for a Farm Assistant.

Heart of England Farms Ltd over-winter large flocks of birds for breeding in the following season. These flocks are then paired or grouped in the Autumn and the following early Spring to be settled for the start of the breeding season. All birds undertake a health inspection and rigid vaccination programme to ensure their health and the ongoing health of their off-spring. Laying commences in early Spring when our hatchery starts producing the first day old chicks in mid April. Batches of chicks are kept week on week to be reared on to poults.

Initially you will be working within different teams and will help with the responsibility of our breeding birds. Sorting birds from their winter quarters, assisting with the vaccination programme, then placing into the breeding units. Then as the spring progresses you will assist with egg collecting and egg washing on a daily rota basis. Power washing duties will include, equipment used in the rearing of birds, buildings and hatchery on a weekly basis. You will work with the team on a 'bitting' gang, catching birds for sale and working with the staff responsible for the rearing of the birds.

To be suitable for this role you may have some livestock experience, this need not be in game birds but beneficial if you do. It is very important that you are prepared to take responsibility and able to work alone or as part of a team. You will ideally have worked in a similar environment and have prior experience of livestock management.

Salary is totally dependent upon your experience and will be discussed at interview. We are interested in seeing the details of both experienced people who can hit the ground running and are looking for high levels of responsibility or those who have little experience and would like to gain in their knowledge and grow into the role. We have opportunities for both levels of ability.

We offer a 40 hour working week contract (Mon - Fri).  However the actual hours worked will be between 48-55 per week inc weekends.  Weekend work (either a Saturday or Sunday NOT both) is required during busy times. Weekend work attracts an additional pay bonus.  We pay hourly not annually so all hours worked are paid for!

The successful applicant must be able to provide past employment reference contact details for us to follow up.