Metal Operations Manager

The role

The Metal Operations Manager leads day-to-day metallurgical operations to produce on-specification metals. This role manages an operations team and works with engineering and R&D using high-temperature and electrochemical processes.

What you will do

• Lead, train, and manage a team of technicians and operators conducting hot metal production.
• Plan and execute production runs to meet quality, throughput, and schedule objectives.
• Ensure consistent execution of startup, steady-state operation, shutdown, and turnaround activities.
• Allocate personnel, equipment, and materials to support production and experimental campaigns.
• Serve as the escalation point for abnormal operations and troubleshooting.
• Enforce safety procedures, PPE requirements, and lockout/tagout practices.
• Lead pre-job briefings, hazard reviews, and post-run debriefs.
• Promote a culture where unsafe conditions are identified, reported, and corrected.
• Contribute to the development, review, and continuous improvement of SOPs, work instructions, checklists, training materials, and qualification standards.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing operations in high-temperature or metallurgical environments.
• Strong understanding of operational safety in hot metal and electrically energized systems.
• Experience developing or maintaining SOPs and operational documentation.
• Direct experience with one or more of the following: Induction melting or vacuum furnaces, Metallothermic reduction, Electrochemical or molten salt processes.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.
• Ability to climb stairs, stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy.
• Ability to use personal protective equipment, including respirators.
• Ability to complete required fit testing.

Nice to have

• Experience in pilot plants, demonstration facilities, or early-stage commercial operations.
• Familiarity with process scale-up and experimental operations.
• Experience working under formal EHS, ISO, or regulated industrial systems.
• Hands-on troubleshooting experience with furnaces, power supplies, and thermal systems.

About the company

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. They serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive.