Food Program Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position Title: Program Manager
Location: South San Francisco, CA
Type: Full-time

Ohalo is hiring a Program Manager (PM) to lead strategic programs across the organization. You will manage and oversee cross-functional programs that span R&D, engineering, and operations, driving complex initiatives from concept through execution and delivery.

This is a full-accountability leadership role: you will act as the general manager for a set of high-impact programs, owning outcomes, defining strategy, and managing the work of cross-functional individuals across technical and business functions.

This role requires strong program and project management fundamentals, experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives, strong leadership and organizational skills, and proven ability to leverage AI tools to accelerate and scale work output. Experience in a technical, scientific, or engineering environment is a plus but not required.

The ideal person thrives in a high-ownership, fast-moving environment and is excited by leading complex, high-stakes initiatives from ambiguity to execution.

Responsibilities:

Program General Management & Accountability

• Own program success for one or more strategic, cross-functional programs.
• Design and implement scalable processes and methods for planning, execution, and tracking.
• Drive alignment across stakeholders and executive leadership and own 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, interdependent workstreams across teams and disciplines, 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.
• Make the call on trade-offs and escalations; drive alignment across scientists, operators, and executive leadership without waiting for consensus.
• Proactively identify bottlenecks and unblock teams through clear prioritization, fast follow-through, and structured problem-solving.
• Translate technical complexity into clear artifacts for audiences ranging from scientists to Ohalo's board
• Use AI tools as a working practice to accelerate your work and move faster than a traditional PM function, while holding a high bar for accuracy and traceability.

Qualifications:

• 6-8+ years experience leading complex, cross-functional programs or portfolios (R&D, technology, operations, or related), with clear accountability for outcomes.
• Strong systems thinker, comfortable operating across disciplines and synthesizing ambiguity into executable plans.
• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional teams and deliver against timelines, milestones, and stakeholder commitments typical of program management roles.
• Proven ability 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.
• First-principles thinker: breaks a problem down to what's actually true before accepting "that's how it's always been done"; isn't afraid to redesign a process or try a new approach
• Tech savvy, with strong AI utilization habits and comfort adopting new tools quickly.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or relevant certifications (PMP, Six Sigma, or similar) are a plus.
• Experience in a scientific, technical, or engineering environment is a plus but not required.

The anticipated base pay range for this role is $140,000 - $220,000 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.

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.

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