Job Description

The Opportunity:

The Breeder Services Technician is a specialized technical advocate responsible for optimizing breeder flock performance, hatching egg quality, animal welfare, and hatchability across Maple Leaf Foods' breeder network. Serving as the primary link between producers, hatcheries, veterinarians, breeding companies, and internal teams, the role provides expert guidance, performance analysis, and relationship management to drive continuous improvement and business results. Through their influence and expertise, the Breeder Services Representative helps ensure healthy breeder flocks, high-quality chicks, reliable supply, and sustainable productivity throughout the poultry production value chain.

Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online by September 30. Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

• Serve as the primary technical representative to breeder producers, providing expertise in flock management, animal health, biosecurity, welfare, hatchability, and egg quality.
• Provide training to external grower operations on water vaccinations, euthanasia, and egg grading on farms, ensuring sign-off and documentation as per Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chicken and Turkeys by the National Farm Animal Care Council.
• Communicate flock performance, fertility concerns, production trends, and egg grading on-farm to support forecasting and operational planning.
• Build strong partnerships with breeder producers and act as a trusted resource to drive adoption of best management practices and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor, analyze, and interpret flock performance data, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities to improve fertility, hatchability, egg quality, chick quality, and overall production efficiency.
• Provide recommendations and corrective actions related to flock health, nutrition, brooding, environmental management, disease prevention, vaccination programs, and breeder performance.
• Act as the liaison between producers, hatcheries, veterinarians, primary breeding companies, feed suppliers, laboratories, and internal operations teams to resolve technical and operational challenges.
• Support hatchery planning and supply continuity by communicating flock performance, production forecasts, fertility concerns, and emerging risks.
• Lead investigations and troubleshooting efforts related to bird health, egg quality, hatchability, chick quality, fertility, and flock performance issues.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on corporate animal welfare standards, biosecurity programs, industry regulations, CHEQ requirements, and provincial hatchery policies.
• Conduct farm visits, audits, welfare assessments, and producer reviews to ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and company standards.
• Coordinate and support vaccination programs, flock health initiatives, sample collection, diagnostic testing, and disease prevention strategies.
• Maintain accurate production, health, and compliance records while completing required SAP transactions, reporting, and documentation.
• Represent Maple Leaf Foods at producer meetings, industry forums, technical conferences, and stakeholder discussions, promoting innovation and industry best practices.
• Stay current on industry advancements, emerging technologies, genetics, nutrition, and breeder management practices, translating technical knowledge into practical solutions that improve business performance.
• Influence key business outcomes including breeder flock performance, hatchability, chick quality, animal welfare, producer success, supply reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across breeder operations by identifying opportunities to enhance flock performance, egg quality, hatchability, animal welfare outcomes, and producer effectiveness through the adoption of best practices and emerging technologies.
• Provide technical leadership and risk mitigation support by proactively identifying and addressing factors that may impact breeder flock health, egg supply, regulatory compliance, chick quality, or business continuity.

What You'll Bring:

• Degree or diploma in Agriculture, Animal Science, Poultry Science, Veterinary Technology, Agribusiness, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education and relevant poultry industry experience may be considered.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in poultry, breeder, hatchery, livestock, or agricultural production environments.
• Experience working with breeder flocks, hatching egg producers, animal health programs, or poultry production systems preferred.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting production data and translating findings into practical recommendations and business solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify trends, assess risks, and implement performance improvement strategies.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills with the ability to work effectively with producers, veterinarians, suppliers, and operational teams.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and SAP or similar business systems.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel regularly throughout the assigned region.
• Flexibility to support operational and flock health requirements outside of standard business hours, including occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays.

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.
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, 'speaker series' events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
• Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.