Metal Operations Leader: High-Temp Metallurgy & Safety

Vulcan Elements; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements in Durham, NC is seeking a Metal Operations Manager to lead daily metallurgical operations, ensuring safe, on-spec production through high-temperature processes. The role collaborates with engineering and R&D to drive continuous improvement and a strong safety culture.

The position starts in Durham, NC and will relocate to Benson, NC once the new facility is ready, requiring hands-on supervision of technicians and operators and tight coordination with other departments to meet

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Materials Science, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Experience managing operations in high-temperature/metallurgical environments.
• Strong understanding of safety, PPE, and lockout/tagout practices.
• Experience developing SOPs and operational documentation.
• Experience with induction melting, vacuum furnaces, metallothermic reduction, or electrochemical/molten salt processes.

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 startup, steady-state operation, shutdown, and turnaround activities.
• Allocate personnel, equipment, and materials to support production and experiments.
• Serve as escalation point for abnormal operations and troubleshooting.
• Enforce safety procedures, PPE, 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.
• Contribute to SOPs, work instructions, and training materials.

Skills

Metallurgy experience

Operations management

Team leadership

Safety culture

SOP development

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Vulcan Elements in Durham, NC is seeking a Metal Operations Manager to lead daily metallurgical operations, ensuring safe, on-spec production through high-temperature processes. The role collaborates with engineering and R&D to drive continuous improvement and a strong safety culture.

The position starts in Durham, NC and will relocate to Benson, NC once the new facility is ready, requiring hands-on supervision of technicians and operators and tight coordination with other departments to meet