Field Trial & Greenhouse Evaluation Specialist

Position Title: Field Trial & Greenhouse Evaluation Specialist

Location: Watsonville, CA

Type: Full-time

 

Ohalo is seeking a Field Trial & Greenhouse Evaluation Specialist to lead the design, implementation, and analysis of trials for both true potato seed (TPS) and our Boosted™ development pipeline potatoes.

Based in Watsonville, CA, this role will oversee the execution of greenhouse and field evaluations, coordinate small teams or contractors as needed, and work cross-functionally with breeding, product, and data teams to inform pipeline advancement.  The ideal candidate is an agronomically skilled, data-savvy team player who thrives in hands-on environments and brings a proactive mindset to experimentation, data collection, and process improvement.

 

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, setup, and execution of field and greenhouse trials in Watsonville and other regions, with California focus.
• Manage trial logistics, including planting, maintenance, irrigation, pest management, and harvest activities.
• Coordinate with small internal teams or seasonal labor as needed for timely execution.

• Develop and maintain rigorous phenotypic data collection protocols across crop types and trial stages.
• Work closely with data science and breeding teams to analyze trial results, extract insights, and contribute to product selection and advancement.
• Utilize tools such as Excel, R, or Python for basic analysis and data QC; contribute to reporting and interpretation.

• Support the agronomic evaluation of both TPS and clonal systems, with a strong emphasis on practical performance, emergence, uniformity, and yield components.
• Develop comparative protocols to benchmark true seed against vegetative standards under commercial-like conditions.

• Document SOPs for trial execution, data management, and environment tracking.
• Suggest and implement improvements to increase efficiency, reproducibility, and data integrity.

 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Agronomy, Plant Science, Horticulture, or related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in field or greenhouse trialing of crops; potato experience preferred.
• Experience in designing and running replicated trials, including use of statistical tools and data collection platforms.
• Comfort working independently in outdoor/greenhouse settings and operating agricultural tools and equipment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with true potato seed (TPS) or other seed-based propagation systems in solanaceous crops.
• Proficiency in trial design software or data analysis tools (e.g., R, Python, Excel, FieldBook).
• Familiarity with environmental monitoring, irrigation control, and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA).

The anticipated pay range that we reasonably expect to pay for this role is $80,000 - $115,000 for Watsonville, CA. Individual compensation is based on various factors including experience, education, skillset, and other relevant qualifications. 

About Ohalo Genetics: 

Ohalo™ aims to accelerate evolution to unlock nature's potential. Founded in 2019, Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops to sustainably feed our population. Ohalo's breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. For more information, visit www.ohalo.com.

Notes: If you previously applied for a job at Ohalo Genetics, we encourage you to restate your interest in the position by submitting your application.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position at this time. 

No recruiters, please.