Plant Manager, Demonstration PlantQueens Carbon | Stockertown, PA | Full-time, on-siteBuild the future of cement.We are building our 10-ton-per-day demonstration plant at an existing cement facility in Stockertown, Pennsylvania. We are seeking a
Plant Manager to lead commissioning, startup, and day-to-day operations of this first-of-a-kind facility.
This is a hands-on leadership role. You will build and manage a small operating team, establish safe and reliable plant operations, and work closely with R&D and Engineering to turn operating experience into the data and improvements needed for commercial deployment.
What You'll Do- Lead plant commissioning, startup, and transition to steady operations, working with engineering, contractors, and equipment suppliers to resolve installation and performance issues.
- Recruit, train, supervise, and develop a small team of operators and technicians, establishing clear responsibilities, shift schedules, and performance expectations.
- Manage daily plant operations and experimental campaigns, including production scheduling, process optimization, and operating performance.
- Lead operational safety, including equipment safety, lockout/tagout, hazard assessments, training, and compliance with applicable MSHA requirements and host-site procedures.
- Coordinate activities with the host cement plant, including utilities, maintenance, site access, environmental requirements, and shared safety responsibilities.
- Work closely with R&D and Engineering to execute test plans, collect accurate process data and samples, and translate operating results into improvements for commercial system design.
- Establish preventive maintenance, spare parts, and equipment inspection programs to improve reliability and minimize downtime.
- Maintain operating procedures, run logs, safety records, and equipment documentation, including updates to P&IDs and change records.
- Manage operating budgets, contractors, consumables, materials handling, and sample shipments.
- Track and report plant performance, including safety, throughput, energy consumption, reliability, and progress against operational milestones.
What You Bring- Industrial operations leadership: 10+ years of experience in cement, lime, minerals processing, chemicals, or related industrial operations, including direct supervision of plant personnel.
- Hands-on technical expertise: Experience commissioning, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting industrial process equipment, particularly solids handling, thermal systems, and plant utilities.
- Plant startup experience: Demonstrated ability to bring new equipment or production lines into operation, develop operating procedures, and establish reliable performance.
- Safety leadership: Strong industrial safety record and familiarity with MSHA requirements, lockout/tagout, hazard assessments, and operational safety programs.
- Technical capabilities: Ability to interpret P&IDs, mechanical drawings, operating data, and equipment documentation, with familiarity with PLC/HMI systems.
- Leadership and execution: Ability to manage people, contractors, daily priorities, and technical challenges in a fast-changing industrial environment.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent industrial operating and leadership experience.
Especially valuable experience: Cement manufacturing, continuous solids processing, first-of-a-kind industrial equipment, MSHA-regulated facilities, or experimental and demonstration plants. Familiarity with cement and SCM quality testing is a plus.
Don't meet every qualification? We welcome candidates from diverse industrial backgrounds who demonstrate strong technical leadership and experience bringing new technologies into operation.
Compensation & BenefitsThis position is based at our demonstration plant in Stockertown, Pennsylvania, with periodic travel to our R&D headquarters in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. The role is full-time and on-site, with occasional off-hours support during commissioning and test campaigns.
The position involves working in an industrial environment with required PPE and physical activities associated with plant operations.
We offer:
- Competitive base salary
- Equity ownership in Queens Carbon
- Competitive paid time off (PTO)
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Professional development and career growth opportunities
We're building an ambitious company around an ambitious mission, with the support and flexibility for our team to do their best work.
