Genotyping Panels Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

To Apply , please submit cover letter and resume via our Career Site Link: Job

About the Opportunity:

The Genotyping Panels Specialist will play a critical role in enabling high-throughput, production-scale genotyping to support predictive and molecular breeding at Driscoll’s. This role is responsible for end-to-end coordination of genotyping panel workflows, including proposing and implementing workflow improvements and new quality control measures, while also providing day-to-day coordination, knowledge transfer and operational oversight. The Panels Specialist will be a critical member of the production genotyping team: both as a technical and operational owner of multiple genotyping platforms and as a coordinator of vendors and diverse stakeholders to ensure quality data outcomes. They will also be responsible for mentoring and supporting junior coordinators and/or seasonal staff via knowledge sharing and providing day-to-day guidance.

Responsibilities:

Lead Genotyping Panel Operations:

• Own planning and execution of mid- and high-density genotyping panel workflows, from sample intake through data delivery.
• Coordinate high-throughput sample volumes across breeding programs to meet strategic timelines.
• Own panel schedules, priorities, and operational risk management.

Vendor & External Laboratory Management:

• Act as the primary liaison with external genotyping laboratories for panel-based projects.
• Manage forecasts, sample submissions, and ongoing communication to ensure alignment on scope, timelines, and quality.
• Track vendor performance metrics (TAT, data quality, and repeatability) and escalate issues as needed.

Data Quality, QC & Curation Oversight:

• Oversee quality control of panel data, including autoscoring, repeatability, and standard control performance.
• Partner with data scientists to ensure accurate annotation, ingestion, and curation of genotyping data into enterprise systems.
• Lead root-cause analysis for data quality issues and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Consistently and proactively seek out process improvements.

People Leadership & Coordination:

• Provide day-to-day guidance, mentorship, and workload coordination for support specialists, technicians, or seasonal staff.
• Support training, and knowledge transfer for genotyping panel workflows and SOPs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Serve as a key integration point between Breeding, Farming, Data Science, and external partners.
• Communicate status, risks, and deliverables clearly to internal stakeholders to support planning and decision-making.

Workflow Optimization & Documentation:

• Lead development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of SOPs for panel genotyping workflows.
• Support implementation of new panel technologies or workflow enhancements.

Reporting, Metrics & Operational Planning:

• Develop and maintain dashboards or reports to track panel throughput, turnaround time, QC outcomes, and volume.

Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree in Genetics, Plant Science, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience. 
• Experience coordinating genotyping workflows (mid- and/or high-density SNP platforms strongly preferred).
• Proven experience managing complex operational workflows with multiple stakeholders and external vendors.
• Strong understanding of genotyping data quality principles, QC metrics, and production-scale data workflows.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with genotyping workflows, Data QC, and Project Management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in high-throughput agricultural or biological operations.
• Demonstrated continuous improvement or process optimization experience.
• Experience with project management and tracking tools.
• Bilingual Spanish/English skills.

Compensation and Benefits:

The following information is provided in good faith as a general description of the salary range and benefits for the position posted. The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate is dependent upon experience, skills, education, work location, internal pay equity, and other objective job-related factors.

Salary Range estimated for the Genotyping Panels Specialist: $87,430.00/year to $113,660.00/year.

Driscoll’s is committed to a culture of care and offers an attractive benefits package that varies between our locations. Benefits may include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week (US). Other benefits may include: 401(k) with employer match, profit-sharing participation, paid sick time, paid vacation, paid personal and family care leave, and a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  More detailed information regarding the benefits package based on your geographic location will be shared during the application process.

About Driscoll's:

Driscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll's is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world. Driscoll's exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods - meaning, no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners.

Driscoll's is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.

To Apply , please submit cover letter and resume via our Career Site Link: Job