Director Technical & Performance

Sibelco Group

Spruce Pine (NC)

On-site

USD 90,000 - 120,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Community and collaboration

Growth and innovation opportunities

Commitment to sustainability

Job summary

A leading materials company in the United States is seeking a Technical Services Manager to lead strategic initiatives across operations. This role involves setting a technical roadmap, ensuring reliability in asset management, and overseeing process engineering to optimize operations. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership skills, a solid engineering background, and the ability to implement best practices. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and are committed to supporting individuals through the selection process.

Qualifications

Proven experience in managing technical teams and projects.
Strong understanding of process engineering and reliability principles.
Excellent communication skills to engage with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Set a 3–5 year technical roadmap aligned to the Operations strategy.
Lead reliability engineering efforts to reduce unplanned downtime.
Define and govern the capital portfolio and ensure stable performance.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Reliability engineering

Process optimization

Technical stewardship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

DCS/PLC/SCADA systems

LIMS

Job description

Location

SP Schoolhouse

About Sibelco

At Sibelco, we advance life through materials. For over 150 years, we’ve been a trusted leader in sourcing, transforming, and distributing specialty industrial minerals. Our work powers progress across industries as diverse as glass, ceramics, construction, coatings, polymers, and water purification. Beyond our materials, we’re proud of our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and empowering people from all walks of life to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Are We the Perfect Match?

At Sibelco, we believe building a successful career is a two-way journey. We’re looking for individuals who share our values and vision, just as much as you’re seeking a company that aligns with your aspirations. Together, we can shape the future.

Job Description

Strategy & Leadership
Set a 3–5 year technical roadmap aligned to the Operations strategy (safety-first, quality, throughput, yield, recovery, cost, and sustainability).
Build a high‑performance, cross‑functional Technical Services organization; coach leaders, develop successors, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
Establish technical standards and best practices for processing, asset care, controls/automation, and lab quality systems; ensure consistent adoption across sites.
Beyond good design, generate acceptance and effective implementation of the above.
Asset Management & Reliability
In harmony w/ the VP of Operations, own the Asset Management Strategy (policy, criticality analysis, lifecycle planning, spares strategy, CMMS data integrity).
Lead reliability engineering (RCM, FMEA, defect elimination, lubrication, precision maintenance, condition monitoring) to reduce unplanned downtime and extend asset life.
In concert with the VP of Operations, govern maintenance work management (planning & scheduling, backlog health, shutdown/turnaround readiness) in partnership with site Maintenance.
Process Engineering & Technical Stewardship
In combination with the process engineers provide technical direction for comminution, classification, flotation/leaching, thickening/filtration, thermal processes, water balance, and tailings treatment.
Stabilize unit operations (control plans, centerlines, bottleneck management) and deliver process optimization initiatives that improve recovery, yield, and energy intensity.
Own process safety and change management for technical changes (MOC), partnering with EHS and Operations.
Capital Projects & Portfolio Management
Define the capital portfolio (sustaining, compliance, debottlenecking, growth).
Govern stage‑gate processes (business case, FEL1–FEL3), cost/schedule controls, risk management, contractor management, and commissioning/start‑up (CSU) standards.
Ensure “design for operability, reliability, and maintainability” and hand over to Operations with stable performance guarantees.
Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
Lead the Environmental Manager and team to ensure compliance with permits, air/water/waste/tailings requirements, reporting, and audits.
Drive environmental risk mitigation, monitoring programs, and decarbonization/water stewardship roadmaps in alignment with corporate ESG commitments.
Interface with regulators and community stakeholders as the technical point of contact when required.
Automation, Data, and Digital
Own sitewide control system standards (DCS/PLC/SCADA), advanced process control (APC), and alarm management.
Partner with IT/OT on historian, data quality, PI/analytics, and cyber‑security for industrial control systems.
Advance digital initiatives (soft sensors, model‑based control, predictive maintenance, digital twins) that deliver measurable value.
Quality & Laboratories
Lead QC lab operations (sampling protocols, test methods, calibration, LIMS integrity) to ensure product quality, customer specs, and metallurgical accounting.
Oversee QA/QC programs, round‑robins/proficiency testing, and continuous improvement in analytical turnaround and accuracy (including TSSR team).
Financials & Governance
Own the Technical Services operating budget and the capital portfolio governance; delivery on cost, schedule, and benefits realization.
Provide monthly performance reviews, risk registers, and mitigation plans; ensure audit readiness across all technical functions.

Employee Type

Permanent

Why Join Us?

Sibelco is more than a workplace—it’s a community that encourages growth, innovation, and collaboration. Here’s what you can look forward to when you join our team: