Metal Operations Manager

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.

As the Metal Operations Manager you are responsible for leading day-to-day metallurgical operations to safely and reliably produce on-specification metals using high-temperature and electrochemical processes, including vacuum induction melting, metallothermic reduction, and electrolysis. This role manages an operations team and works closely with engineering and R&D to ensure consistent execution, continuous improvement, and a strong safety culture. 

The ideal candidate combines hands-on metallurgical experience with disciplined operations management and a deep respect for the hazards inherent to hot metal processing. 

This role begins in Durham, NC and is expected to move to Benson, NC upon completion of new facility.

Responsibilities  

• 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 both 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 without hesitation. 
• Contribute to the development, review, and continuous improvement of: 
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  • Work instructions and checklists
  • Training materials and qualification standards 

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business

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

Preferred 

• 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.