Director of Plant Development

PHNX Materials; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunity to shape and build environmentally focused facilities

Dynamic startup environment

Room for growth

Job summary

A leading clean-tech company in San Francisco seeks an experienced executive to lead the scale-up of ash processing technology from bench to commercial deployment. This role is crucial in establishing a pilot facility and collaborating with contractors for the first full-scale site. Candidates should have over 10 years of experience in industrial engineering, specifically in facility design and compliance, as well as a passion for sustainable solutions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in industrial engineering, manufacturing, or operations.
• Direct experience in design, buildout, and commissioning of processing facilities.
• Expertise in ash, waste, cement, or chemical processing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead setup and commissioning of pilot ash processing facility.
• Develop standard operating procedures and manufacturing protocols.
• Ensure compliance with EH&S standards during all project phases.

Skills

Industrial engineering

Project management

Facility design

Collaboration

Compliance

Education

Bachelor's / Master’s / PhD in Industrial Engineering or related disciplines

Job description

About PHNX Materials

PHNX Materials addresses the dwindling supply of fly ash—a key ingredient in concrete—by refining 23 billion tons of landfilled coal ash into ASTM‑grade fly ash and critical metals. Our cost‑effective, scalable technology delivers a triple win: helping utilities manage coal ash—a waste stream four times larger than plastic—providing concrete companies a cheaper, greener alternative to cement, and supplying industries with domestic sources of aluminum, rare‑earth elements and titanium. Founded by Stanford and Tesla alumni, PHNX is on a mission to mine this abundant domestic natural resource.

Position Overview

We are seeking a seasoned executive to lead the scale‑up of our ash processing technology from bench to pilot to commercial deployment. This role is pivotal in establishing our pilot facility and working closely with EPC contractors to deliver our first full‑scale site. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in industrial plant design, construction, and commissioning—ideally in ash, waste, or materials processing—and has a strong network of industry contacts. This is a high‑impact opportunity for a late‑career professional to shape a transformative clean‑tech solution at the infrastructure level.

Key Responsibilities

• Facility Development & Commissioning
  • Lead the end‑to‑end setup and commissioning of our pilot ash processing facility, aligning with project milestones, cost targets, and technical goals.
  • Serve as the point person for construction activities, including permitting, site preparation, utilities, and system commissioning.
  • Collaborate with EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractors to deliver the first full‑scale commercial facility, guiding design, execution, and transition to operations.
• Strategic Manufacturing Leadership
  • Provide technical and strategic guidance on facility layout, equipment selection, automation, and process flow, ensuring scalability and long‑term cost‑effectiveness.
  • Develop and refine standard operating procedures, quality controls, and manufacturing protocols.
  • Translate R&D and lab‑scale breakthroughs into commercially viable plant designs.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with R&D, engineering, and operations teams to ensure process integrity, manufacturability, and production throughput.
  • Integrate feedback loops from pilots and early production into ongoing design improvements.
• Vendor & Partner Management
  • Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with equipment suppliers, engineering consultants, and construction firms.
  • Leverage your industry network to accelerate timelines, reduce costs, and secure strategic partnerships.
• Safety & Compliance
  • Ensure rigorous compliance with EH&S (Environmental, Health, and Safety) standards across all project phases.
  • Lead or support audits, permitting, and community engagement around facility operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in industrial engineering, manufacturing, or operations, with a strong track record of scaling up emerging technologies into full‑scale production.
• Direct experience leading the design, buildout, and commissioning of at least one processing or chemical facility.
• Expertise in ash, waste, cement, or chemical processing industries is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience collaborating with or managing EPC contractors.
• Strong project management acumen, including budget control, Gantt scheduling, and risk mitigation.
• Deep understanding of equipment selection, process flow design, and utilities integration.
• Industry connections that can be leveraged for partnerships, technology evaluation, and equipment sourcing.
• Bachelor's / Master’s / PhD degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related disciplines.
• Passion for sustainability, circular economy, and building next‑generation infrastructure.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape and build a facility tackling major environmental challenges.
• Dynamic startup environment with mission‑driven team and room for growth.
• The chance to revolutionize heavy industries.

Note: We are unable to sponsor non‑U.S. citizens at this time. We welcome applicants on OPT.

PHNX Materials is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.