Who We Are Looking ForAs we build toward operations in 2027 and 2028, we are beginning to meet with individuals who may be interested in joining Phoenix Tailings. We encourage interested candidates to apply, learn more about what we are building, and stay connected as we develop our facility.
Phoenix Tailings is looking for an experienced plant and operations leader who is looking to become the future Plant Director of our Rochester Freedom Facility, a commercial-scale rare earth separation operation designed to produce thousands of tons of separated rare earth oxides annually.
The Plant Director will build and lead the operating organization for the facility, with responsibility for preparing the site and workforce for startup and then leading site safety, production, quality, staffing, and overall plant performance once operations begin.
This is an opportunity for an experienced industrial leader to help build a major U.S. rare earth processing operation from the ground up and play a central role in developing the people, systems, and operating culture needed to run the facility successfully.
Key Responsibilities:- Build and lead the site operating organization, establishing departmental responsibilities, staffing plans, and leadership routines for startup and sustained operations
- Prepare the workforce and plant systems for commissioning and startup, coordinating readiness reviews and turnover with the capital projects organization
- Establish operating procedures, workforce training, maintenance coordination, and performance systems needed for safe and reliable continuous production
- Own site safety, environmental performance, product quality, and production results, ensuring operating priorities are supported by clear accountability
- Manage site budgets and staffing against the operating plan, using cost, uptime, throughput, and quality information to guide decisions
- Resolve production bottlenecks and reliability issues with operations, engineering, maintenance, and support teams, turning performance data into practical improvements
- Develop site leaders and a working culture of safe execution, accurate reporting, operator capability, and timely follow-through on operating problems
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Management, or a related field
- Significant leadership experience in chemical manufacturing, refining, mining, metals, specialty chemicals, or another continuous-process industrial environment
- Demonstrated success leading plant operations or a complex manufacturing organization with accountability for safety, quality, production, and operating performance
- Experience supporting commissioning, facility startup, operational readiness, or major production scale-up, including coordination with project teams and equipment partners
- Ability to build operating organizations, develop site leaders, and establish procedures and training systems for a growing workforce
- Working knowledge of industrial safety, environmental performance, process equipment, maintenance reliability, and the controls needed for consistent production
- Experience managing staffing and operating budgets and using production, cost, and reliability metrics to prioritize improvements in a developing facility
What We Offer:This pay range reflects best estimate for the total cash compensation which includes salary +
discretionary bonus for this role. Total package may vary based on experience and qualifications.
Pay Range: $192,000-$280,000 per year
• Healthcare: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee
• Stock Options: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.
• Time Off: Unlimited PTO.
• Learning: Learning and development opportunities to grow your skills and career.
At Phoenix Tailings, we have an open culture that values learning, and we are looking to grow
the team with enthusiastic individuals who share our vision of sustainable mining.
Please note: This posting is intended to help Phoenix Tailings connect with people interested in future opportunities at our Rochester facility. Hiring timelines, responsibilities, qualifications, and organizational needs may continue to evolve as the Freedom Facility progresses toward startup and operations.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
