Key Services & Transition Support Director

Socket.dev; Winnemucca (NV); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Lithium Americas seeks a Key Services & Transition Support Director to guide the transition of the Thacker Pass Plant from Execution to Operations and establish EHSQ systems. You will work with Operations, Supply Chain, ESG, Commercial, and Finance to ensure best-in-class processes and safety, environment, and quality practices.

Based in Winnemucca, NV, you will coordinate with multiple teams, manage regulatory compliance, and report to the Executive VP of Project and Operations while traveling

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in Operations, EHS, or Quality Management in chemical, mineral, or hydrometallurgical industries.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Technical field with strong knowledge of Operations, Safety, Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Quality Management systems.
• Proven leadership of operations, safety, environmental, and quality functions and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement long-term visions, policies, and management systems across multiple sites for the business.
• Oversee site services functions and programs to support startup of the Thacker Pass Plant.
• Ensure OSHA and MSHA compliance and regulatory permits management.
• Foster a proactive safety, environmental, and quality culture across sites.
• Lead and direct comprehensive support or transitional programs with project and operations teams.
• Maintain ISO standards implementation and regulatory compliance across the organization.

Skills

Exceptional communication

Problem solving

Organizational capabilities

Analytical skills

Collaboration and influence

Self-starter

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Technical field

Tools

ISO systems

QA/QC processes

OSHA/MSHA compliance

Job description

Lithium Americas is a North American resource and materials company focused on developing, building, and operating lithium deposits and chemical processing facilities. The company’s flagship asset, Thacker Pass, is located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada and is the world’s largest known measured lithium source and reserve. We are focused on safely and responsibly developing Thacker Pass to production to help strengthen national security and enable cleaner energy sources. We are committed to minimizing environmental impact, creating family-supporting jobs, and maximizing sustainable value for our stakeholders.

Key Services & Transition Support Director

Company Overview

Lithium Americas is a North American resource and materials company focused on developing, building and operating lithium deposits and chemical processing facilities. The company’s flagship asset, Thacker Pass, is located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada and is the world’s largest known measured lithium resource and reserve. We are focused on safely and responsibly developing Thacker Pass to production to help strengthen national security and enable cleaner energy sources. We are committed to minimizing environmental impact, creating family-supporting jobs and maximizing sustainable value for our stakeholders.

Lithium Americas is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and operates in the U.S., with offices in Reno, NV and Winnemucca, NV. The Company’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol LAC.

Our Purpose, Vision and Values

Our purpose, vision and values are the guiding principles that will serve as the cornerstone of our company’s future direction and operations, aligning our team and organization towards our common goals.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to safely and sustainably produce lithium from Thacker Pass to enable North America to reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals and drive value for our stakeholders.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be North America’s leading lithium producer to enable cleaner energy sources.

Our Values

Our values include Act with Integrity, Be Responsible and Act with Care, Commit to Excellence and Drive Innovation, and Be a Collaborative Partner.

Role

We are seeking a Key Services & Transition Support Director to support a transition of our Thacker Pass Plant from Execution to Operations, and the set-up of EHSQ (Environmental, Health, Safety, and Quality) systems for our company. In this role, you will support Lithium Nevada’s efforts in leading the strategy that ensures workplace safety with both OSHA & MSHA best practices, work closely with the operations teams to ensure an effective startup of the plant, set up environmental protection with regulatory compliance, and implement a top-tier quality management system across the organization. This role will work closely with the Operations, Supply Chain, Corporate ESG, Commercial, and Finance teams to ensure best in class processes and systems are implemented across the business. Functions reporting to this role will include Safety, Security, Environmental, and Quality for the Thacker Pass Site.

The role is based in Winnemucca, NV, and reports to the Executive VP of Project and Operations. Travel to other LAC offices, industry conferences, customer sites, project sites, vendor locations, and other will be required as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Design and execute long-term visions, policies, and management systems across multiple sites for the business.
• Site Leadership: This role oversees multiple site services functions and programs for our operations team to help guide us in setting up the programs and processes to ensure a successful startup of our Thacker Pass Plant.
• Support our Operations Site Director in ensuring our Commissioning, ramp up and operational programs are being safely executed on-track and budget. This may require leading certain Committees as directed by the Operations Director.
• Culture Building: Drive a proactive, behavior-based safety, environmental, and quality culture that engages employees at all levels and sites.
• Program Management: Design, implement, and direct comprehensive support or transitional programs with the Project and Operations Teams.
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain full compliance with local, state, and federal laws (such as OSHA, MSHA, EPA – NDEP, BLM, etc.), managing permits, inspections, and agency relations.
• Quality Assurance: Integrate quality control standards with safety protocols to ensure operational excellence and defect reduction.
• Customer Corrective Action System: Identify, lead, and implement customer resolution and improvement system for the company.
• Standards Implementation: Lead initiatives to certify sites under ISO standards (ISO-9001 Quality, ISO-1401 Environmental, and ISO-45001 Safety), mining standards such as RMI (Responsible Minerals Initiative) and IRMA (Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance), as well as others.
• Risk Management: Oversee risk assessments, hazard evaluations, and root-cause analyses following safety or quality incidents.
• Performance Tracking: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure injury rates, environmental impact, and quality metrics, reporting updates directly to executive leadership.
• Budget & Team Management: Direct departmental budgets, allocate resources, and supervise regional personnel or external contractors.
• Partner Interaction: Ensure consistent application of policies, procedures, and standards for safety, environmental compliance, and quality with LAC partners that provide service to Thacker Pass in mining, logistics, product handling, etc.
• Champion a positive culture of safety, environmental stewardship, quality, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Build trusted relationships across all teams and the community while championing a culture that reflects and supports our Purpose, Vision, and Values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Technical, or Equivalent with strong skills and understanding of Operations, Safety, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Quality Management systems.
• Key Skills: Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and organizational capabilities paired with knowledge of compliance regulations.
• 15 plus years of experience in Operations, EHS, or Quality Management within the chemical, mineral, or hydrometallurgical industries with demonstrated management of these functions.
• Proven ability to manage operations, safety, environmental, and quality and implement process improvements.
• Strong understanding of transitional management from commissioning, startup, and to continuous operations with chemical process engineering principles and unit operations.
• Familiarity with large-scale chemical, mineral, or hydrometallurgical processes preferred.
• Experience in an OSHA PSM facility and MSHA preferred.
• Knowing QA/QC and implementing ISO systems.
• Experience in working with Customers and implementing Corrective Action Systems and Processes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with ability to collaborate and influence teams.
• Self-starter with a strong commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, Quality, and operational excellence.
• Personal commitment to Lithium Americas’ Purpose, Vision, and Values

Working at Lithium Americas

At Lithium Americas, we believe our people are our most valuable asset. We offer a collaborative and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for long-term growth and skills development.

We are committed to building a diverse and respectful workplace and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Lithium Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, age, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.