Associate Production Manager; Raleigh

Join Earth Optics 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 Earth Optics, 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.

• Job Type: Full‑Time, Non‑Exempt
• Work Location: This is an onsite position in our Raleigh, NC lab
• Travel: 10% of the time
• Compensation: $27‑$30 per hour

Your actual base pay will depend on your job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.
• 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.

• 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.

• 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…