Metal Operations Manager

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 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.