Lead Operator

The role

The Operator Lead oversees shift-level plant operations at the Joaquin, TX facility. This person directs a small crew of operators and monitors process equipment to meet quality, safety, and production targets.

What you will do

• Lead and coordinate the shift crew, assigning tasks and priorities.
• Conduct shift-start safety stand-downs and communicate priorities and hazards.
• Monitor and control process equipment via HMI and manual checks.
• Direct loading/unloading of trucks, cleaning of filter presses, and packaging of products.
• Respond to process upsets and abnormal conditions.
• Review shift logs, production data, and quality results.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to prioritize and schedule repairs and preventive maintenance.
• Perform and verify routine safety and housekeeping inspections.
• Train and mentor operators on procedures, safety protocols, and equipment operation.
• Support plant start-up, shutdown, and commissioning activities.

Required qualifications

• Minimum 2-4 years of plant or industrial operations experience.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, standard operating procedures, and equipment manuals.
• Comfortable working with industrial chemicals and process equipment, and following established safety protocols.
• Sound troubleshooting skills.
• Strong attention to detail with solid record-keeping and basic mathematical skills.
• Ability to work in an environment involving exposure to chemicals, fumes, dust, and varying weather conditions, using required PPE.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds and work in and around industrial equipment.
• The use of the following software could be required: Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook), Skype, Visio, Adobe (PDF), Share Point, SAP, Microsoft Project.

Nice to have

• prior experience directing or leading a small team
• Manufacturing, chemical processing, or industrial plant experience
• Hydrometallurgy experience
• Mining experience
• Battery material experience

About the company

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company. They aim to supply critical minerals for energy, AI, and defense technologies by combining industry expertise with advanced software and automation.