Location: South Carolina
Department: Operations
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports To: COO

We are addressing environmental, geopolitical, and supply chain challenges by recovering rare earth elements and other valuable materials from many difficult-to-recycle products of the modern world. We provide the market with a secure and regional supply of metals critical to the energy transition, and do so in an ethical, economically viable, and sustainable way.

With the global market for magnet rare earth elements forecast to increase dramatically by 2030, establishing new sources of these critical elements will be vital to support the electrification of transportation and energy across Canada, North America, and around the world. Cyclic Materials is positioned to be a key player in developing a circular economy to support the energy transition.

We are a passionate, driven group of people who bring a dedication to the entrepreneurial spirit paired with a desire to make a meaningful positive impact on the planet. Cyclic Materials believes in fostering a culture of respect and support across all our stakeholders.

Join our team and help build a global recycling cleantech company!

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead the development of a new, greenfield industrial facility in South Carolina—from site preparation and construction through commissioning, start-up, and steady-state 24/7 operations. This role owns safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people leadership for the site, and will be the single point of accountability for plant performance.

What You’ll Do

Phase 1: Greenfield Development & Construction

• Serve as owner’s representative throughout design and build; ensure constructability, operability, safety-in-design, and maintainability are embedded in all decisions.
• Partner with Engineering, EHS, and Project Management to deliver detailed design, permitting, procurement, construction, and utilities tie-ins to scope, schedule, and budget.
• Stand up site controls: site logistics, construction safety plans, lockout/tagout boundaries, contractor management, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC).
• Build the plant operating model (org structure, roles, training roadmap, shift pattern, SOPs, maintenance strategy, spares strategy) ahead of first equipment arrival.
• Lead risk registers, HAZOP/LOPA reviews, pre-startup safety reviews (PSSR), and readiness assessments.

Phase 2: Commissioning, Start-Up & Ramp

• Lead multi-disciplinary commissioning plans, FAT/SAT acceptance, and turnover from EPC/vendors to Operations.
• Establish control room standards, start-up procedures, and run rules; set initial operating envelopes and centerlines using Hub500 operations in Kingston and Spoke 1 as the initial baseline.
• Build and run the 24/7 shift organization (operations, maintenance, lab/QA, materials handling) and manage on-call response.
• Implement training & certification (operator qualification, LOTO, confined space, powered industrial trucks, first responder/Emergency Response Team).
• Set up production accounting, quality systems, and CMMS; launch tiered daily management (Tier 1–3), visual KPIs, and escalation protocols.

Phase 3: Steady-State Operations & Optimization

• Own safety culture and performance (Zero Harm mindset) and ensure regulatory compliance with SC OSHA and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) requirements.
• Deliver production, yield, quality, and cost targets; manage budget, inventory, utilities, and site services.
• Drive reliability: preventive/predictive maintenance (PdM), root cause analysis (RCA), and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) to maximize OEE.
• Lead continuous improvement; reduce downtime, waste, and variability; optimize throughput and energy use.
• Manage supplier performance and logistics for a 24/7 inbound/outbound operation; align with corporate supply chain and commercial teams.
• Work with Supply Chain Management, Strategic Partnerships and External Customers to optimize the feedstock and offtake and to explore new feedstock opportunities
• Represent the site with community, regulators, and company leadership; prepare clear performance reports and action plans.
• Work with Engineering and Capital Project on future site expansion projects including new Spoke facility and additional Hub 2000 expansions.

People Leadership

• Hire, coach, and develop a high-performing team; establish a positive, inclusive culture anchored in safety and accountability.
• Define staffing plans and shift schedules; ensure adequate coverage for a 24-hour operation (nights, weekends, holidays as needed).
• Conduct performance management, succession planning, and skills-matrix development; foster cross-training and advancement.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• TRIR/LTIR and leading safety indicators
• Commissioning and start-up milestones delivered to plan
• OEE, throughput, yield, and quality conformance
• Unit cost, energy intensity, and budget adherence
• Asset reliability (MTBF/MTTR) and planned maintenance compliance
• Employee engagement, retention, and training completion

What You’ll Bring

Required

• 10+ years in industrial/process manufacturing (e.g., chemicals, mining/metals, advanced materials, recycling) with 5+ years in plant leadership.
• Demonstrated success delivering greenfield/brownfield projects through construction, commissioning, and start-up into 24/7 operations.
• Deep knowledge of PSM/OSHA, EHS programs, and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC and local jurisdictions.)
• Proven people leadership across multi-shift operations, including union and non-union environments.
• Strong command of reliability, maintenance, and production systems (CMMS, LOTO, MOC, PSSR, SOPs, SPC/QA, batch/continuous processes).
• Financial acumen: budget ownership, cost control, and capex/opex prioritization.
• Ability to work on-site and respond to off-hours events in a continuous operation.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, or Electrical) and a diploma or degree in Business; or an equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Experience in circular economy, materials recovery, hydrometallurgy/pyrometallurgy, or advanced materials processing., CMRP, Six Sigma/Lean, NFPA/HAZWOPER would be an asset.

Work Environment & Schedule

• On-site role at the South Carolina plant. This facility operates 24/7/365; availability for off-shift coverage and on-call rotation is required.
• Ability to traverse industrial areas, climb stairs/ladders, and use PPE (respirators, hearing/eye protection) as needed.
• Travel up to 30% to vendors, other sites, or corporate offices during construction and commissioning.
• Willing to do international travel to support companies’ growth into Europe and Asia

Compensation & Benefits

We offer a competitive total rewards package commensurate with experience, including base salary, equity participation, and health & wellness benefits. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, experience, and location.