Position Title: International Regulatory Operations Lead

Location: South San Francisco, CA

Time Type: Full Time

The Opportunity:

Ohalo™ is seeking an International Regulatory Operations Lead to be responsible for efficiently obtaining regulatory approvals and registrations required to bring Ohalo’s new seed and plant varieties to market internationally. This role will serve as the central driver of global regulatory filings, market entry strategies, and in-country execution—ensuring compliance with dynamic regulations while enabling rapid and scalable product launches. This is a unique opportunity to lead global regulatory operations at a high-growth, venture-backed company transforming agriculture. You will directly shape how Ohalo’s pioneering crops enter the world’s food supply—helping to lead efficient and legally compliant market entry around the world.

The role requires a hands-on go-to-market operator with a deep understanding of agricultural biotechnology and agriculture regulation (GMO/non-GMO classification, variety registration, seed laws, and food safety) and proven experience successfully obtaining approvals and registrations across multiple geographies. This leader must thrive in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, balancing scientific, legal, and commercial imperatives to deliver results.

Areas of Responsibility:

• Lead Ohalo’s global regulatory operations for seed and plant variety launches, with accountability for timely approvals, registrations, and compliance milestones across priority global markets (e.g., LATAM, India, Africa, Australia and the EU, once accessible).
• Design and execute efficient market-entry pathways, including seed variety registration, DUS/VCU testing, and non-GMO declarations where applicable.
• Serve as the primary project lead for regulatory submissions, coordinating with Ohalo’s Legal, Product Development, and Commercial teams, as well as external consultants, partners, CROs, and government authorities.
• Work closely with Ohalo’s Legal Team to monitor evolving global regulations governing gene editing, GMO classification, seed trade, and food/feed approvals, translating changes into actionable company strategies.
• Build and maintain standardized regulatory playbooks and SOPs that scale across crops and geographies, ensuring consistent and repeatable launch processes.
• Oversee material movement compliance (import/export permits, phytosanitary requirements, customs clearance) for seeds and plant materials used in trials and commercialization.
• Coordinate with commercial partners, CROs, and in-country growers to ensure regulatory approvals align with field trial and sales timelines.
• Interact with key regulatory bodies to shape and expedite GTM processes for new technologies, including true potato seed.
• Establish and manage metrics for regulatory efficiency, compliance success, and market launch readiness.

Candidate Profile:

• 5+ years of experience in agricultural biotechnology regulatory affairs, seed/variety registration, or agricultural product launches, with a proven record of securing approvals across multiple jurisdictions.
• Deep knowledge of global regulatory frameworks for gene editing, GMOs, seed laws, biosafety, and phytosanitary trade.
• Demonstrated success in managing international seed/plant approvals, including CRISPR-edited or biotech crops.
• Strong project leadership skills with the ability to move complex, cross-functional, multi-country initiatives forward quickly.
• Hands-on operator comfortable with the details of regulatory filings, trial logistics, and partner onboarding.
• Entrepreneurial, first-principles problem solver with a bias toward execution and speed.
• Exceptional written/oral communication and ability to interface with regulators, growers, and commercial partners.

The anticipated pay range for this role is $150,000 - $190,000 per year for our South San Francisco location. 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.

No recruiter submissions, please.