Kaduna Hatchery Farm Manager at Laj Aquaculture and Farmacology

Laj Aquaculture and Farmacology is a scientific African catfish farm, training centre, and research institution. We are part of Lajj Impression Nigeria Limited, a company incorporated in Nigeria in 2012. The National Board accredits us for Technical Education as a Vocational Enterprise Institution. We are also approved for Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme training in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria. Our work combines: African catfish production, Hatchery and nursery management, Research and innovation, Student training, Vocational and technical education, Commercial fish farming

Our Kaduna Hatchery is a modern African catfish production facility with capacity for approximately 100,000 fingerlings every three weeks. The facility includes: 20 hatchery ponds, Aeration stones in each pond, Aquarium heaters, UV water filtration, Borehole water supply, Generator backup, 12 nursery ponds, 22 mature broodstock, Furnished three-bedroom staff accommodation, Written standard operating procedures for farm operations

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Kaduna Hatchery Farm Manager

Location: Narayi High Cost, Kaduna
Employment Type: Full-time

Purpose of the Role

• The Hatchery Farm Manager will manage the day-to-day running of the African catfish hatchery. The role includes managing broodstock, hatchery production, nursery ponds, fingerling grading, biosecurity, student training, and farm records.
• This is not only a practical farm role. It is also an academic, teaching, and leadership role because the farm is a research and training institution.
• This role is suitable for someone who wants to grow as a hatchery expert, farm manager, trainer, and future leader in scientific African catfish production.

The successful candidate must be able to:

• Manage hatchery production
• Follow written SOPs and farm policies
• Reduce mortality and waste
• Train students and junior staff
• Keep accurate records
• Support sales and revenue generation
• Read, study, and continuously improve their knowledge
• Work independently and report clearly to management

Main Responsibilities
Broodstock Care:

• You will be responsible for the daily care and management of broodstock. This includes: Feeding broodstock, Monitoring broodstock health, Checking maturity and breeding readiness, Following broodstock SOPs, Keeping accurate broodstock records, Recording spawning history, mortality, health problems, and productivity, Ensuring broodstock are handled safely and humanely

Hatchery Management

• You will manage the hatchery production process. This includes: Preparing the hatchery for breeding, Supporting induced breeding, Handling eggs correctly, Managing incubation and hatching, Caring for fry after hatching, Maintaining good water quality, Monitoring temperature and oxygen levels, Using aquarium heaters, aerators, and UV water filters properly. Following early fry care protocols, Using 4 ppt saline bath from day 4 post-hatching, where required by SOPs, Monitoring fry closely during the first 21 days after production, Recording hatch rate, survival rate, growth, deformities, and mortality

Grading, Sorting, and Nursery Transfer:

• You will grade and sort fry and fingerlings using the farm’s graders. This includes: Regular grading and sorting, Reducing cannibalism, Reducing size differences, Reducing avoidable mortality, Transferring fingerlings to nursery ponds from around 4 weeks, Monitoring fingerlings in nursery ponds, Preparing fingerlings and juveniles for transport and sale

Biosecurity and Incident Reporting:

• You must follow all farm biosecurity rules. This includes: Keeping hatchery and nursery areas clean, Preventing disease and contamination, Cleaning and disinfecting equipment, Monitoring fish health daily, Reporting abnormal behaviour, disease signs, mortality, or water quality problems, Reporting equipment failure or biosecurity breaches, Reporting all farm incidents to management within one hour, Keeping written records of incidents and actions taken

Production Planning and Efficiency:

• You will help improve production across the farm. You will be expected to reduce waste and improve efficiency in areas such as: Feed use, Labour use, Water use, Electricity use, Fish mortality, Grading and sorting, Equipment use, Production delays, Sales preparation,
• You should be willing to learn and apply ideas from:
  • Lean production
  • Toyota Production System
  • The Toyota Way
  • Continuous improvement
  • Standardised work
• The goal is to make farm operations more reliable, efficient, and profitable.

Financial Records and Accountability:

• You will support the farm's financial management by maintaining accurate records. This includes records of: Production, Fish numbers, Mortality, Feed use, Sales, Stock movement, Farm costs, Equipment use.
• You should understand, or be willing to learn:
  • Basic accounting
  • Cash flow
  • Profit and loss
  • Financial statements
  • Forecasting
  • Cost control
  • Farm profitability
• The role requires someone who understands that the farm must be scientifically strong and commercially sustainable.

Sales and Revenue Support:

• You will support the sale and marketing of farm products. These include: Fingerlings, Juveniles, Grow-out fish, Dried catfish and other processed products
• You will work with existing market partners in: Kaduna, Lafia, Abuja
• You will also help the farm achieve monthly revenue targets needed to cover overhead costs and support business growth.

Teaching and Student Training:

• This is an important part of the role. You will train and supervise: SIWES students from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Lafia, TVET students enrolled through our accredited vocational programmes, Junior farm workers and trainees
• You will be expected to: Deliver weekly lectures, Provide practical demonstrations, Teach online using Zoom, Google Meet, or similar platforms, Support recorded teaching sessions on the farm, Supervise students during practical farm work, Support student attendance, training records, and assessments, Help students understand hatchery, nursery, grow-out, and farm business operations, The successful candidate must therefore be comfortable with teaching, mentoring, and student supervision.

Research, Reading, and Continuous Learning:

• Because this is a scientific farm and research institution, the Hatchery Farm Manager must be willing to read and study regularly. You will be expected to: Read about African catfish hatchery production, Study aquaculture science and fish health, Learn about farm business management, Support research and farm trials, Collect useful production data, Help improve SOPs and training materials, Participate in continuous improvement projects, Carry out other duties assigned by management

Areas You Must Be Willing to Learn
Production and Operations:
You should be willing to study and apply knowledge in:

• Hatchery production strategy
• Nursery pond management
• Grow-out systems in Kaduna and Lafia
• Lean production
• Toyota Production System
• Waste reduction
• Mortality reduction
• Productivity improvement
• Standardisation of farm processes

Financial Management:
You should be willing to learn and apply:

• Basic accounting
• Cash flow management
• Financial records
• Financial statements
• Cash flow forecasting
• Cost control
• Profitability planning
• Tax and business documentation

Marketing and Revenue Generation:
You should be able to support strategies for:

• Selling fingerlings
• Selling juveniles
• Selling grow-out fish
• Marketing processed fish
• Developing customer relationships
• Working with farmers, traders, processors, and buyers
• Growing sales in Kaduna, Lafia, and Abuja

Person Specification

Essential Requirements:
The successful candidate must have:

• A Degree or HND in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Animal Science, Agriculture, Biology, or a related field
• At least 2 years’ experience in an African catfish hatchery
• Practical knowledge of broodstock care, induced breeding, fry care, fingerling production, grading, and nursery management
• Ability to follow written SOPs, policies, and procedures
• Good record-keeping skills
• Good reporting skills
• Good communication skills
• Ability to teach and supervise students
• Good understanding of biosecurity and fish health
• Ability to work independently
• Willingness to read, study, and undertake continuous professional development
• Commitment to ethical, scientific, and commercially sustainable fish farming

Desirable Requirements:
It would be an advantage if the candidate has:

• Experience training students, interns, or junior staff
• Experience with SIWES, TVET, or vocational education programmes
• Knowledge of lean management or production systems
• Basic farm financial management experience
• Fish marketing or sales experience
• Experience using Zoom, Google Meet, or other online teaching platforms
• Experience preparing fish for transport and market distribution

Training and Professional Development

• The successful candidate will be supported to complete relevant professional training.
• This may include the NBTE Quality Assessor and Manager training as part of the Federal Ministry of Education TVET programme.
• The company may also support suitable in-service training opportunities in Nigeria and, where appropriate, the United Kingdom. This will depend on business need, performance, eligibility, and company training policy.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be:

• Practical
• Reliable
• Honest
• Scientifically curious
• Commercially minded
• Good with records
• Good with students
• Willing to learn
• Able to work under minimal supervision
• Committed to high standards

Remuneration and Benefits
The role includes:

• Furnished accommodation
• Water bills covered
• Electricity bills covered
• Health insurance through the NHIA scheme
• Health insurance cover for the employee, spouse or partner, and up to two children
• Sponsored in-service training opportunities in Nigeria
• Possible training opportunities in the UK, subject to eligibility and company policy
• Possible work vehicle after the first year, subject to performance and achievement of agreed targets
• Opportunity to work in a scientific and research-focused aquaculture institution
• Opportunity to train students and contribute to vocational education
• Opportunity to help build a modern African catfish hatchery and training centre

Application Closing Date
14th May, 2026.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV and a brief covering email explaining their suitability for the role to: drajah@lajacademy.co.uk , psonthelegend@gmail.com using "Application for Hatchery Farm Manager Position" as the subject of the email.

Application Documents
Applications should include:

• Updated CV
• Brief cover email
• Evidence of relevant hatchery experience, where available
• Copies of relevant qualifications, if requested.