Production Manager

Position: Production Manager:  Gene Editing and Tissue Culture Production 

Location: South San Francisco, CA

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly driven Production Manager to lead multi-shift operations across gene editing, media formulation/production, and plant tissue culture. This role is responsible for delivering against ambitious throughput, turnaround time (TAT), and quality targets while building and developing strong frontline leaders.

You will oversee shift leads and technical teams, drive operational excellence, and ensure safe, compliant, and high-quality production at scale. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, biotech production environment.  You will be responsible for all aspects of day to day production operations as well as reporting KPIs to the organization. 

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What You’ll Do:

Lead & Develop High-Performing Teams

• Directly manage shift leaders and supervisors across multiple shifts
• Train, mentor, and hold leaders accountable to clear performance expectations
• Build bench strength through structured onboarding, skills development, and succession planning
• Foster a culture of ownership, urgency, quality, and continuous improvement
  
  

Drive Operational Execution

• Own daily production across gene editing, media formulation, and tissue culture workflows
• Deliver on throughput, TAT, yield, and quality targets
• Optimize labor, materials, and equipment utilization
• Identify bottlenecks and implement process improvements to increase capacity, and optimize resources and cost. 
• Report out KPIs weekly
• Partner with Engineering to define automation improvements and software to define MES tracking and dashboards requirements
• Build and Manage daily production trackers and lead standups across the organization

Ensure Quality, Compliance & Safety

• Maintain strict adherence to SOPs, quality systems, and biosafety standards
• Partner with Quality and EHS to resolve deviations and drive corrective actions
• Champion contamination control and operational discipline
• Build systems and trackers as needed to support and document compliance
  
  

Scale for Growth

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives (Lean/Six Sigma mindset preferred)
• Support process transfer, scale-up, and operational readiness initiatives
• Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality to bring new production processes online, provide input to MES, and assure all end to end production stability. 

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What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biotechnology, Plant Science, Bioengineering, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in Ag, biotech or life sciences manufacturing
• Experience leading multi-shift production teams
• Strong background in plant tissue culture, sterile workflows, or cell-based production
• Demonstrated success improving throughput and reducing turnaround time
• Data-driven mindset with strong operational discipline
• Proven ability to coach leaders and build accountable teams

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The anticipated base pay range for this role is $110,000 - $140,000 per year for our South San Francisco location, which represents multiple levels for this function.  The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

 

About Ohalo: 

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.

Ohalo is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Ohalo is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

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

This organization participates in E-Verify. Posters linked here. 

No recruiters, please.