Associate Production Manager
About The Position
Join EarthOptics as an Associate Production Manager! Our mission is to be the leading soil information company, delivering maps that growers, farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders use to cost-effectively increase yields and improve soil health and the climate. We are creating a future where traditional sampling methods are obsolete. At EarthOptics,, we are combining cutting-edge genomic analysis, data science, microbiology, and remote sensing to revolutionize agriculture. Our mission is to help farmers and ranchers sustainably increase their yields and feed the growing world through all things soil. We are a growing company with a passion for soil health, innovative technologies, and supporting all within the food value chain. We currently have ~100 individuals spread across 20 states and 2 countries, and they come from all walks of life, industries, and experiences. We are deeply focused on building the future of AgTech and sustainability and helping the world see soil differently. Our Associate Production Manager will join our Soil Science team to impact our mission through people management responsibilities, supervising individual contributors and seasonal staff within a single laboratory location. The Associate Production Manager of our Raleigh lab will lead the daily operations of a soil processing facility, ensuring efficiency, safety, and compliance. This role oversees facility improvements, equipment setup, production operations coordinating and reporting, inventory management, and vendor negotiations while implementing standardized protocols for smooth operations. This role requires strong organizational skills, adaptability in a fast-paced environment, and cross-departmental collaboration to support sustainable and data-driven agricultural practices. Excellent communication skills are essential to ensure proper synchronization between their lab, other labs, and upstream and downstream departments. If you resonate with our values and goals, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every requirement. You could be the perfect fit for this role or future opportunities.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher in any scientific discipline
- 3-5 years of progressive lab experience with at least 1 year of experience managing the day-to-day operations of a production-scale wet lab, which includes inventory management, lab safety compliance and chemical handling
- Strong leadership and people management skills with ability to recruit, train, and develop both full-time and seasonal staff
- Excellent organizational and workflow management capabilities to coordinate production operations and meet quality/turnaround targets
- Strong communication skills for cross-departmental collaboration and daily status reporting
- Strong accountability mindset with commitment to immediately report production issues, equipment problems, or personnel concerns to supervisor
- Data-driven approach to monitoring lab performance metrics and ensuring on-time delivery
- Proficient in the effective use of modern AI tools to automate tasks and increase productivity
- Deep knowledge of soil chemistry analysis (incl. equipment maintenance/calibration), laboratory safety protocols, compliance regulations, and chemical handling procedures
- We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor or transfer visas at this time.
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience in a fast-paced, start-up environment
Responsibilities
- People Leadership & Staffing
- Owns hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and performance management for full-time and seasonal laboratory staff.
- Sets clear roles, responsibilities, and daily production expectations for the lab team.
- Provides ongoing coaching, feedback, and development support to ensure individual and team performance.
- Ensures team adherence to company policies, safety standards, and laboratory SOPs.
- Production & Laboratory Operations
- Accountable for daily soil sample processing operations, including production scheduling, staffing coverage, and throughput planning.
- Develops and maintains sample processing schedules for instrument operators and preprocessing staff to meet quality and turnaround targets.
- Monitors production performance and resolves operational bottlenecks to ensure timely, accurate delivery of soil analysis outputs.
- Provides hands-on operational support as needed, including equipment setup, calibration, and troubleshooting.
- Soil Library Management
- Accountable for the organization of our extensive soil library.
- Develops and maintains a rigorous soil library inventory management system.
- Ensures digital LIMS representation is in sync with the physical library.
- Quality, Safety & Compliance
- Ensures laboratory operations comply with all safety, regulatory, and quality standards.
- Develops, implements, and updates laboratory SOPs and safety protocols.
- Conducts regular safety audits and addresses corrective actions promptly.
- Ensures proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals and laboratory materials.
- Continuously monitors and improves quality metrics.
- Facilities, Inventory & Vendor Management
- Oversees laboratory facilities, including equipment functionality, maintenance schedules, and general lab environment.
- Manages consumables inventory systems to ensure uninterrupted lab operations.
- Coordinates with vendors for equipment, supplies, and services, including negotiating terms when appropriate.
- Oversees laboratory buildouts, expansions, or renovations as required.
- Cross-Functional Communication & Reporting
- Communicates daily production status, risks, and capacity updates to the Lab Operations Manager and cross-functional partners.
- Collaborates with upstream and downstream teams to align processing timelines and manage turnaround expectations.
- Escalates production, equipment, or staffing issues promptly with proposed solutions.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance - 90% funded by EarthOptics for benefit-eligible employees and 55% for dependents
- Company-paid LTD, STD, and Life Insurance
- Meaningful equity option grants
- 401k Plan + Employer Match up to 4%
- Pet Insurance
- 17 days of paid time off, plus 10 additional company holidays
- Parental Leave
- Professional Development Stipend + access to learning platforms
- Candidate Referral Program
- Above and Beyond Bonus Program
- Regular opportunities to give feedback on our benefits offerings
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
