Plant Manager - South Carolina

Cyclic Materials Inc.

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Cyclic Materials™ is building a resilient circular supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical materials. Through our proprietary MagCycle℠ and REEPure℠ processes, we recover rare earths from end-of-life products and transform them into high purity materials used in the production of permanent magnets. These materials are critical to the modern economy, including the production of electric vehicles, electronics, AI infrastructure, wind turbines, defense, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials has rapidly progressed from technology development to commercialization. We currently operate facilities in Ontario and Arizona, with a new expansion underway in South Carolina. Backed by US$75 million in Series C financing led by T. Rowe Price, alongside strategic investors including Microsoft, Amazon, Hitachi Ventures, BMW i Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s InMotion fund, Energy Impact Partners, ArcTern Ventures, and Fifth Wall, we are scaling to meet growing global demand for a secure and sustainable rare earth supply. We have established commercial partnerships with global industry leaders such as Solvay, Vattenfall, Lime, and VACUUMSCHMELZE, enabling the deployment of recycled rare earth materials into real world supply chains. In 2025, Cyclic Materials was named one of the Top 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch by MIT Technology Review. We are growing quickly and building the industrial backbone required for a circular rare earth economy. Joining Cyclic Materials means working on complex and exciting challenges at scale, alongside a team committed to executing and delivering measurable impact. If you are motivated by building critical infrastructure and advancing the circular economy, join us and help accelerate the growth of rare earth recycling. 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.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.