Grade: D1 

Department: Hatchery Operations 

Line Manager: Miguel Luis Calaca 

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: 

The Hatchery Manager is responsible for the hatchery in its entirety, including setting and implementing the hatchery strategy, leading all hatchery operations, and ensuring that production targets are achieved across spawning, settlement, weaning, grading and stock transfer activities, responsibility includes fault finding the system and adjusting the strategy to meet the envisoned target of 400 000 spat produced per month.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

•   Degree: BTech / BSc with a major in fish or wildlife management or biology, natural resources management, fish culture, agriculture, biological sciences, environmental sciences, conservation biology, animal science or related field. 

•  5 years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid professional employment in the field of aquatic biology, aquaculture, mariculture or fisheries management

•  2 years’ experience in a supervisory capacity in a multicultural environment

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Day-to-day Operations

•             Serves as a lead worker for line team(s); assists with operations in area(s) of responsibility.

•             Plans and directs operations in the area(s) of responsibility.

•             Procures the necessary supplies, services and equipment for the areas of responsibility

•             Oversees the compliance with abalone health and biosecurity requirements in the area(s) of responsibility.

•             Enforces hatchery regulations for safety, cleanliness and neatness.

•             Manages the spawning, rearing, weighing, counting, grading and size-grouping of abalone for transfer to the grow-out farm or ranching operations.

•             Maintains a knowledge of pests and diseases and an understanding of how they spread and how to treat them

•             Oversees the monitoring of abalone health.

•             Controls hygiene of equipment and tools in the hatchery.

•             Compiles data to develop operational reports detailing hatchery Performance.

•             Manages the preparation of abalone for transporting.

•             Controls and monitors inventory of equipment, materials and supplies.

•             Operates a variety of equipment necessary to maintain and monitor an abalone    hatchery. 

•             Ensures safety, legality and quality of product for sale.

•             Identifies business improvement opportunities within the organisation

•             Performs root cause analysis and resolve problems

•             Provide technical expertise to the team

•             Stays current and up to date on any changes that may affect the supply and demand of needed products and materials and advises others of any impact

•             Conducts risk assessments of processes and tasks in the department

•             Oversees algae culturing in the laboratory

•             Responsible for broodstock management and spawning.

•             Responsible for the complete production cycle from settling to weaning to transfer to grow–out.

•             Responsible for production planning and targets.

•             Responsible for water quality and animal health.

•             Responsible for stock programs, harvests forecasts and reports.

•             Responsible for maintaining the license & permit register for Hangana Abalone, completing and submitting applications

•             Must be willing to carry out any ad-hoc duties as requested by management and perform duties after hours as deemed necessary by management

Administration

•             Attends various meetings and action/communicate instructions

•             Types, compiles and prepares reports, presentations and correspondence

•             Mananges databases and filing systems.

•             Collates and verifies quotations\invoices and submit for payment

•             Prepares work reports, progress reports and time sheets.

•             Develops an annual departmenal operational plan.

•             Ensures implementation of the annual departmental operational plan

•             Maintains records concerned with all hatchery, and laboratory operations.

•             Maintains a departmental inventory of equipment, materials and supplies.

•             Develops and obtains procurement documents for the purchase of fixed assets in the area(s) of responsibility

•             Conducts research pertaining to business operations.

•             Upkeep of Transfer documentation and records

Human Capital Management

• Responsible for the recruitment and selection of reporting staff
• Motivates and coaches reporting staff
• Enforces discipline, policies and procedures
• Handling personnel offences
• Facilitates and directs personel and subordinate training and development
• Directs communication in the department (INVOCOMS)
• Sets departmental, personal and subordinate KPI’s and objectives and manages performance as per Performance Management System
• Identifies Key Positions for Succession Planning
• Consistently promotes high standards through personal example and roll out through the team so that each member of the team understands the standards and behaviours expected of them
• Reviews, implements and updates company records e.g. training matrices, performance reviews, risk assessments
• Periodically assesses departmental structure and reporting lines and motiveates adjusts as necessitated.
• Plans the work of team to ensure that they are aligned to the organisational goals.
• Supervises staff including the approval of leave and time reports.
• Compiles monthly payroll sheet and submit timeously
• Issues contracts and payroll paperwork

• Maintains and updates personnel records

Leadership Accountabilities

•             Communicates and embodies the company vision, mission and values

•             Implements and complies to standard operating procedures and policies

•             Ensures current government regulations concerning aquaculture activities are complied with

•             Protect the environment and maintain biodiversity by complying with environmental laws

•             Creates an environment which encourages individual team motivation and effectiveness

•             Oversees key projects, processes and performance reports, data and analysis pertaining to the area(s) of responsibility.

•             Applies health and safety standards in the area of responsibilty.

•             Ensures security measures in areas of responsibility are being adhered to

•             Communication: increases departmental effectiveness through active listening with both superiors and subordinates as well as strong written communication skills

•             Leadership: provides and seeks out continuing education opportunities to foster a growth mindset

•             Delegation: identifies the best person (or people) for a particular task and acts as a facilitator to motivate and direct the work

•             Time management: prioritizes tasks to ensure that projects are completed by deadlines, streamline processes to maximize productivity

•             Negotiation and mediation: finds opportunities to resolve conflicts efficiently and favorably

•             Decision-making: weighs the costs and benefits of various options to determine the best course of action to achieve departmental and company goals

•             Problem-solving: analyzes past and current performance and recommends objectives to improve productivity and profitability

•             Assists in the formulation, development and implementation of company and site-specific quality, production, administrative policies and procedures

Financial and Budget Control

•             Prepares annual departmental budgets (operational, manpower)

•             Provides input into the CAPEX budget for the business

•             Releases purchase and CAPEX requisitions

•             Controls departmental expenditure

•             Monitors and evaluates department performance against budget and key performance areas

•             Reports on cost center variances – actual vs. planned

•             Accrues for departmental expenditures

•             Responsible for biological asset and stock counts in area(s) of responsibility; assists as necessary

Strategy and Development

•             Provides input to the business unit’s strategic plans

•             Contributes to the creation and implementation of departmental vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve operational performance

•             Contributes to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on departmental activities

Due Date :  28 October 2026

 OL - Authentic, Caring & Passionate

Applicants meeting our requirements are invited to apply. OL Group of Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

    "This position is subject to a pre-employment screening and vetting process, and by applying for this position, applicants acknowledge that they are aware that the Company reserves the right to carry out screening and pre-employment vetting for all shortlisted applicants. Certificate of Conduct issued by the Namibian Police (not older than 6 months) may be required from all shortlisted applicants."

Requisition ID: 6123