Live Management Trainee

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

Are you ready to launch your career as a future Hatchery Operations leader at Perdue? As part of our Hatchery Live Management Trainee (Pathways) Program, beginning in June 2027 you’ll embark on a 24-month leadership development journey designed to prepare the next generation of Hatchery leaders. Through hands-on learning, structured rotations, meaningful experiences, mentorship, and leadership development, you’ll gain real-world experience across hatchery operations and connected Live Operations functions while building the technical, operational, and leadership skills needed to make a lasting impact on chick quality, production performance, and live supply. During your first year, you’ll learn the operation from the ground up while developing increasing ownership of people, production, quality, equipment, sanitation, safety, and business results before transitioning into a full-time Assistant Hatchery Manager role at the 12-month mark. Your second year will accelerate your growth through on-the-job experience, personalized development, mentorship, cohort learning, career pathing, and targeted enrichment in areas such as continuous improvement, food and associate safety, leading teams, and presenting to leadership. This program is ideal for curious, hands-on, and driven individuals who are eager to learn, take on meaningful challenges, and build a rewarding career helping produce healthy, high-quality chicks while supporting reliable live supply, operational excellence, and strong business results at Perdue.

Benefits

• Participate in up to two (2) Regional Pathways Training events alongside fellow participants, including leadership development, networking, company tours, community service, social activities, and interaction with senior leaders.
• LMT I begins as an hourly, non-exempt position. At approximately six months, successful participants transition to LMT II as a salaried, exempt position, with an additional compensation progression at the 12-month placement point.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including transition bonus and relocation assistance for eligible participants.
• Opportunity to transition into an Assistant Hatchery Manager role upon successful completion of the first 12 months of the Pathways Program.
• Second-year development includes continued on-the-job learning, targeted enrichment, mentorship, and personalized career pathing.

Schedule: Department and shift assignments will vary throughout the rotational program and will be determined based on the participant’s assigned rotation and business needs. Specific schedules will be communicated prior to each rotation.

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

LMT I 0-6 months

• Complete structured rotations through core hatchery processes, including egg receiving, setting, transfer, incubation, hatching, chick processing, vaccination, quality evaluation, sanitation, and preparation for delivery to build an end-to-end understanding of hatchery operations.
• Learn how hatchery operations connect with Breeder Operations, Flock Advising, Feed Mill, Veterinary Services, Maintenance, Transportation, Processing, and other Live Operations partners.
• Develop foundational knowledge of incubation, hatchability, chick quality, production flow, environmental controls, biosecurity, poultry welfare, sanitation, and standard operating procedures.
• Work alongside hatchery associates and leaders to understand daily roles, staffing needs, work methods, production schedules, and how labor and equipment are coordinated to meet operational expectations.
• Learn the operation and basic care of hatchery equipment and systems, including setters, hatchers, tray-wash systems, separators, environmental systems, and material-handling equipment.
• Monitor key production and quality measures with guidance from experienced leaders; begin identifying trends and understanding how operating conditions affect hatchability, chick health, quality, service, and cost.
• Support established associate safety, food safety, biosecurity, sanitation, poultry welfare, quality, and regulatory practices while learning how leaders reinforce standards and address concerns.
• Build leadership fundamentals by communicating effectively with associates and cross-functional partners, participating in daily huddles, seeking feedback, and taking ownership of assigned tasks and development goals.
• Participate in Pathways learning, mentoring, business tours, leadership development, and cohort activities while demonstrating increasing knowledge, initiative, and readiness for greater responsibility.

LMT II 6-12 months

• Continue structured hatchery and Live Operations learning while taking increased ownership for day-to-day hatchery execution in preparation for transition into an Assistant Hatchery Manager role.
• Assist with coordinating daily production flow, staffing, labor, equipment, and work priorities to support schedule attainment, throughput, hatchability, chick quality, service, and cost expectations.
• Provide increasing front-line leadership to hatchery associates by communicating priorities, reinforcing expectations, recognizing performance, supporting training and development, and helping create a safe, respectful, accountable, and engaged work environment.
• Monitor production, hatchability, chick quality, sanitation, safety, inventory, equipment, and operating performance; use data to identify trends, troubleshoot issues, escalate concerns appropriately, and recommend practical actions.
• Support the execution and reinforcement of associate safety programs, biosecurity, poultry welfare, food safety, sanitation, quality requirements, standard operating procedures, and applicable regulatory expectations.
• Partner with Maintenance to support building and equipment reliability, understand maintenance priorities, reduce operational disruption, and help ensure equipment, parts, and supplies are available to support production.
• Develop working knowledge of hatchery inventory, production requirements, cost drivers, and budget expectations; assist leaders in identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and remain competitive.
• Apply hatchery knowledge across the operation and develop the versatility needed to understand and support essential hatchery functions when staffing or operational needs require additional coverage.
• Lead or take meaningful ownership of a continuous improvement initiative focused on safety, quality, hatchability, chick handling, sanitation, cost, efficiency, equipment reliability, or associate engagement; communicate findings, recommendations, and results to leadership.
• Demonstrate readiness for the Assistant Hatchery Manager role by making sound decisions within established guidelines, balancing people and operational priorities, coordinating across functions, and showing increasing accountability for team and business results.

LMT II 12-24 months

• Transition into the full-time Assistant Hatchery Manager assignment upon successful completion of the first 12 months and demonstrated readiness.
• Continue developing through on-the-job leadership experience, formal learning, mentorship, and personalized career pathing.
• Participate in cohort-based development focused on topics such as continuous improvement, food and associate safety, leading teams, business acumen, communication, and presenting to leadership.
• Apply Pathways learning directly to the full-time assignment while building the leadership judgment and operational capability needed for continued career growth at Perdue.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university completed within 24 months of the Pathways Program start date. Preferred degree concentrations include Feed Science and Management, Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Business Administration, Animal Science, Poultry Science, or a related field.
• Good customer service and relationship-building skills.
• Strong reading, math, written and verbal communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, hands-on operational environment.
• Ability to work effectively within a team setting as well as independently.
• Demonstrated leadership potential and ability to motivate and influence others.
• Ability and willingness to work schedules necessary to learn and support hatchery operations.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Must be physically able to work in hatchery and other Live Operations environments as required by the rotational learning plan.
• May be exposed to wet, damp, dusty environments, chick down, seasonal conditions, high humidity, noise, and chemicals used in poultry and hatchery operations.
• Must wear and use protective and safety equipment required for the job as directed by the Company.
• Must be able to travel throughout the operation and perform the physical requirements necessary to learn and support hatchery activities.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.