Plant Operations Project Lead (Capital Projects)

USA Rare Earth; Stillwater (OK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

USA Rare Earth is seeking a Plant Operation Project Manager to oversee the full lifecycle of capital projects for our NdFeB magnet facility. This role drives project setup in Microsoft Business Central, detailed scheduling in Smartsheet, budget tracking, and executive-level project reporting to leadership.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of PM experience in manufacturing or capital projects, strong financial acumen, and ERP experience. PMP is preferred; magnet manufacturing exposure is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 3–5 years of project management in manufacturing or capital projects.
• Experience with ERP systems for project financials (Microsoft Business Central preferred).
• Demonstrated budgeting, cost tracking and financial reporting.
• PMP certification preferred; candidates pursuing may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain projects in Microsoft Business Central with codes, cost centers and budgets.
• Develop detailed project schedules using Smartsheet across engineering expansion and plant upgrades.
• Own project budget tracking and cost forecasting; provide variance reports for Finance.
• Lead vendor selection including RFP/RFQ, bid evaluation, and contract recommendations.
• Deliver clear status reports and executive dashboards for leadership review.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Operations, Finance, Procurement, EHS).
• Manage project scope, change orders, risk, and closeout documentation.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards.

Skills

Microsoft Excel

Smartsheet

Power BI

MS Office Suite

Financial acumen

Project reporting

Communication

Multi-project management

Leadership

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / CM

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Business Central

Smartsheet

Power BI

Job description

USA Rare Earth is seeking a Plant Operation Project Manager to oversee the full lifecycle of capital projects for our NdFeB magnet facility. This role drives project setup in Microsoft Business Central, detailed scheduling in Smartsheet, budget tracking, and executive-level project reporting to leadership.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of PM experience in manufacturing or capital projects, strong financial acumen, and ERP experience. PMP is preferred; magnet manufacturing exposure is a plus.