--- title: 'Biotech Program Manager at Ohalo' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/biotech-program-manager-ohalo-south-san-francisco-kkmf971cb6wc' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-07' --- # Biotech Program Manager at Ohalo - **Company:** Ohalo - **Location:** South San Francisco, CA - **Posted:** 2026-02-20 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ohalogenetics/jobs/4664483005 ## Job description Position:  Biotech Program Manager Location: South San Francisco Type: Full-time Ohalo is hiring a Biotech Program Manager (PM) to lead one or several discovery, development, or production programs. You will manage and oversee programs focused on discovering molecules, or developing transformation or acceleration techniques, working at the molecular, cellular, and whole plant levels. This is a full-accountability leadership role: you will act as the general manager for a set of breakthrough technology programs, owning outcomes, defining strategy, and managing the work of cross-functional individuals from science, engineering, and operations. You will be responsible for setting deliverables, assigning work, developing and updating timelines, and ensuring on-time delivery of outcomes. This role requires a candidate who is competent with molecular or cellular biology or biochemistry (but is not necessarily a plant scientist), has experience designing, developing, and managing high throughput and automated lab workflows, has strong leadership and organizational skills, and is very capable and proven in leveraging AI tools to accelerate and scale work output. The ideal person thrives in a high-ownership, fast-moving environment and is excited by leading breakthrough scientific discovery efforts. Responsibilities: Program General Management & Accountability - Own program success for one or more programs focused on discovery, process development, or production workstreams. - Design high throughput and other technology-led methods for screening, discovery, and process engineering. - Drive alignment across stakeholders and executive leadership and ensure crisp decision-making, escalation, and accountability. - Own budgeting, forecasting, and analytics of managed programs. Cross-Functional Orchestration & Execution, Communications - Build and maintain integrated program plans that connect complex biological systems with, for example, hardware and software systems, ensuring dependencies and critical paths are explicit and managed. - Define program architecture at the “system level” (workstreams, interfaces, handoffs, validation strategy), and ensure teams execute to an integrated schedule. - Lead execution across science, engineering, lab and greenhouse operations, —coordinating interdependent projects into a single coherent program plan. - Directly manage and drive execution of cross functional program team members. - Proactively identify bottlenecks and unblock teams through clear prioritization, fast follow-through, and structured problem-solving. - Create clear communication artifacts for diverse audiences—from technical deep dives to executive summaries. Tech- and AI-Led Program Management - Use modern tooling—including AI—to accelerate planning, synthesis, execution, communication and documentation. - Promote practical AI adoption within the program team (e.g., structured decision logs, automated status synthesis, faster technical writing), while maintaining high standards for accuracy and traceability. Qualifications: - 2-8+ years experience leading complex, cross-functional programs or portfolios (R&D, biotech, agriculture, engineering, or related), with clear accountability for outcomes. - Strong technical foundation and systems thinking: comfort operating across biology + hardware + software/data and synthesizing ambiguity into executable plans. - Experience developing and utilizing high throughput automated screening and workflows. - Understanding of molecular biology, cellular systems, or plant biology. - Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional workstreams and deliver against timelines, milestones, and stakeholder commitments typical of program management roles. - Proven excellence in communication—able to influence without authority, negotiate tradeoffs, and create alignment across technical and non-technical stakeholders. - High ownership, intrinsically motivated leader who is energized by mission-driven work and holds a high bar for follow-through. - Tech savvy, with strong AI utilization habits and comfort adopting new tools quickly. - Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in life sciences, engineering, computer science, or similar is a plus. The anticipated base pay range for this role is $160,000 - $210,000 per year for our South San Francisco location, which represents several 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](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4172870-1&h=3148035140&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ohalo.com%2F&a=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.](https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf) No recruiters, please. ## About Ohalo ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Ohalo develops novel plant breeding systems, primarily its Boosted Breeding™ technology, to dramatically increase crop yields, resilience, and genetic diversity while reducing resource use for global agriculture. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series B) - **Headquarters**: South San Francisco, California, United States - **Founded**: 2019 - **Founders**: David Friedberg (CEO), Jud Ward (Chief Technology Officer) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Agricultural Biotechnology, Plant Breeding, AgTech - **Target customers**: B2B — global seed companies, commercial growers, and agricultural supply chain partners (e.g., strawberry, potato, almond, corn, and berry producers). - **Mission or purpose statement**: "Accelerating evolution to unlock nature's potential" — aiming to sustainably feed a growing population by shrinking the environmental footprint of agriculture through faster, more efficient plant breeding. ## Products & Services - **Boosted Breeding™**: A proprietary breeding platform that suppresses meiotic recombination, allowing offspring to inherit the complete genome from both parents (2x + 2x = 4x™). This creates "Boosted" plants that contain all beneficial traits from each parent, accelerating genetic gain and delivering predictable heterosis without multi-year selection cycles. - **Agile Breeding™**: A service that applies the Boosted Breeding platform across multiple crops to rapidly develop improved varieties. - **True Seed™**: A plant-breeding service delivering uniform, disease-free seedlings directly to growers — ready to sow, right out of the packet. Applied to crops like strawberries and potatoes. - **FruitionOne™**: The world's first self-fertile Nonpareil almond variety, eliminating the need for traditional bee pollination and cross-variety planting. - **Value-Added Traits**: Custom-developed traits (e.g., improved sustainability, better taste, longer shelf life, disease resistance) integrated into existing varieties for supply chain improvements. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed. - **Key Metric**: Total funding of approximately $100M (USD 99,999,969) across multiple rounds: - Seed (2019): Not disclosed - Early-stage venture (2021): $3.7M - Venture round (2024-01-25): $40.0M (2 investors) - Venture round (2024-05-01): $60.0M - Series B (2025-01-01): 1 investor - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Incubated by The Production Board (venture firm founded by David Friedberg). Partners include University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., Florida Strawberry Growers Association, and the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium. - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount grew 40% YoY to 85 employees (with 17 active job postings as of mid-2025). - Recognized on the "50 by 2050" list by Congruent Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank for climate tech innovation. - Launched FruitionOne™ (self-fertile almond) and the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium in 2025. - Expanding into Brazil and United Arab Emirates. - CEO David Friedberg has appeared on the All-In Podcast with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, signaling high-level policy engagement. ## Competitive Advantages - **Proprietary technology moat**: Boosted Breeding™ is a breakthrough approach that fundamentally changes plant reproduction — enabling entire genome inheritance from both parents. This is a patentable, hard-to-replicate scientific platform applicable to nearly every crop. - **Speed to market**: Traditional breeding can take decades; Ohalo's method can deliver improved varieties in a fraction of the time, with predictable outcomes. - **Broad crop applicability**: The platform works across potatoes, corn, berries, almonds, and more — not limited to a single crop. - **Strong investor & partner network**: Backed by The Production Board and partnered with major agricultural research institutions and grower consortia. - **Sustainability angle**: Higher yields with fewer inputs (water, land, pesticides) aligns with global climate and food security trends. ## Strategic Focus - **Commercial expansion**: Scaling the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium and potato programs, with plans to enter corn, berries, and other row crops. - **Partnership development**: Collaborating with seed companies, grower groups, and research institutions to license Boosted Breeding™ and distribute True Seed™. - **R&D pipeline**: Developing new self-fertile and disease-resistant varieties (e.g., FruitionOne™ almonds) and integrating value-added traits. - **Global footprint**: Building operations in Brazil and UAE to address international agricultural markets. - **Talent acquisition**: Actively hiring across engineering, plant breeding, commercial sales, and operations — with 17 open roles as of mid-2025. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven work**: Directly contribute to solving global food security and sustainability challenges through cutting-edge science. - **Innovative culture**: Described as "Farmers First," with a bias toward action, iteration, and finding truth — a fast-paced, science-first environment. - **Talent & team**: Employees come from top institutions (UC Davis, Iowa State, North Carolina State) and companies (Driscoll's, Zymergen, Inari). The team includes 29 researchers (26% of workforce) and 20 technical staff (18%). - **Growth trajectory**: 40% YoY headcount growth and $100M in funding signal a well-resourced, scaling company with career advancement opportunities. - **Diverse roles**: Openings range from Senior Full Stack Engineer and Quantitative Geneticist to Technical Sales Representatives and Greenhouse Technicians — appealing to both technical and commercial talent. - **Location & flexibility**: Headquarters in South San Francisco, CA, with remote roles available for some positions (e.g., Technical Sales Representatives across multiple US regions). Presence in Brazil and UAE offers global exposure. - **Perks**: Not explicitly listed, but as a well-funded private company, competitive compensation and equity are likely. The company emphasizes "improving the lives of farmers" and a collaborative, truth-seeking culture. ## Sources 1. [ohalo.com](https://www.ohalo.com/) 2. [ohalo.com/about](https://www.ohalo.com/about) 3. [Greenhouse Careers](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ohalogenetics) 4. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohalo_Genetics) 5. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ohalo-genetics) ## Other roles at Ohalo - [Product Manager - AI-Native Business Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-ai-native-business-systems-ohalo-south-san-francisco-zyfvp2sjy3dv) — South San Francisco, CA - [Greenhouse Maintenance Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/greenhouse-maintenance-technician-ohalo-watsonville-5as3swhxtpyj) — Watsonville, CA - [Field Technician – True Potato Seed Production](https://feeny.ai/job/field-technician-true-potato-seed-production-ohalo-watsonville-m0pbwqchnncx) — Watsonville, CA - [Global Crop Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/global-crop-product-manager-ohalo-south-san-francisco-6byvykwzefnx) — South San Francisco, CA - [Senior Greenhouse Facilities & Maintenance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-greenhouse-facilities-maintenance-manager-ohalo-watsonville-e5wetq8vy76w) — Watsonville, CA - [Executive Assistant to the President & Chief Operating Officer](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-to-the-president-chief-operating-officer-ohalo-south-san-qbkhy1hs25g4) — South San Francisco, CA - [Business Development Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-lead-ohalo-south-san-francisco-n1bc9tccc4ye) — South San Francisco, CA - [Greenhouse Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/greenhouse-technician-ohalo-watsonville-85xh750e2xbm) — Watsonville, CA