Catcher Lead

Bell & Evans is seeking a Catch Crew Lead to lead and support catching crews responsible for the timely, safe, and humane loading of broilers, pullets, and breeders. This role plays an important part in ensuring our live production operations meet company standards for animal welfare, safety, biosecurity, product quality, and operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who communicates effectively, works well with others, and is comfortable working in a fast-paced agricultural environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and assist catching crews to ensure chickens are caught and loaded in a timely, safe, and humane manner.
• Maintain effective communication with catching managers, supervisors, live production personnel, transportation teams, growout personnel, company crews, contract crews, and contract producers.
• Train employees and ensure team members understand and consistently follow company catching, loading, animal welfare, safety, and biosecurity policies and procedures.
• Monitor catching and loading activities and immediately address any safety, quality, or animal welfare concerns.
• Ensure all standards for humane handling of birds are consistently followed.
• Plan, assign, and direct work while providing hands-on support to the catching crew.
• Address employee concerns, complaints, and operational issues and work to resolve problems effectively.
• Enforce company policies and procedures consistently.
• Promote positive relationships with employees, growers, contract producers, and other business partners through effective communication and professional conduct.
• Maintain open communication with Live Production and Transportation regarding loading operations and customer/supplier relationships.
• Work collaboratively with other Live Production departments to improve bird handling, loading practices, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure company biosecurity standards are followed, including proper movement and handling of crews and catching equipment.
• Assist with the maintenance and upkeep of catching equipment as needed.
• Transport fan trailers during warmer weather as required.
• Perform catching duties and other hands-on responsibilities as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervise and support the training and development of catching crew employees.
• Ensure employees are fully trained and capable of implementing Bell & Evans catching, loading, animal welfare, safety, and biosecurity policies and procedures.
• Provide direction and leadership to company and contract catching crews.
• Maintain strong working relationships with catching management, growout personnel, transportation team members, and contract producers.

Qualifications

• Ability to work 8–10 hours or longer as operational needs require.
• Approximately 8 hours of the workday may involve active catching operations.
• Previous supervisory, agricultural, poultry, livestock, or catching crew experience is preferred.
• Mechanical aptitude or mechanical experience preferred.
• CDL license preferred, or willingness and ability to complete training to obtain the appropriate endorsement.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Bell & Evans forklift certification.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a physically demanding, fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to animal welfare, employee safety, product quality, and company biosecurity standards.
• Ability to work collaboratively with employees, management, growers, and external partners.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a dependable and hands-on leader who takes pride in doing the job correctly. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, attention to animal welfare, effective communication, and a commitment to Bell & Evans standards.