Quality Manager

Ucore Rare Metals Inc.; Alexandria (LA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. seeks an experienced Quality Manager based in Louisiana to oversee QA/QC for the Strategic Metals Complex. You will manage laboratories, monitor multi-stage solvent extraction QC, and ensure on-spec product with regulatory compliance.

You will lead audits, maintain QMS, and train staff in SPC and problem-solving, while coordinating with process engineers to optimize quality and safety across operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years of QA/QC experience in hydrometallurgy or mineral processing.
• Proven track record implementing ISO 9001 or similar standards.
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or ASQ Quality Engineer/Manager credentials preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee QA/QC systems to ensure high-purity REO product meeting specs.
• Lead analytical testing laboratories and instrumental QC programs.
• Manage audits, compliance, and QMS documentation.
• Mentor QA/QC staff and drive SPC and problem-solving training.
• Support process development and root-cause analysis for quality issues.

Skills

SPC

Mass balances

Liquid-liquid extraction

pH gradients

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry or related

Graduate degree preferred

Tools

ICP-MS

ICP-OES

XRF

GC/GC-MS

FT-IR

Karl Fischer

Laser PSD

XRD

Job description

The Quality Manager, reporting to the Plant Manager, will work independently and with other plant personnel to oversee the operation of the facility. This role will ensure the safe, efficient and compliant operation of the plant and is critical to meeting production goals, minimizing downtime and maintaining high-quality standards while ensuring a safe work environment.

The Quality Manager for UCORE's Strategic Metals Complex refining via RapidSX solvent extraction provides oversight to quality assurance and control systems while ensuring high-purity rare earth oxides meet strict customer and industrial specifications. Key duties include managing analytical testing laboratories, monitoring multi-stage separation circuits, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Selected candidates will also be involved with equipment installations, startup and the commissioning of manufacturing and facilities equipment. All tasks will be performed while supporting the policies, goals, and objectives of the organization.

Quality Manager: The role will be based in Alexandria, Louisiana, with frequent travel to Kingston, Ontario.

Primary Responsibilities

Process & Circuit Monitoring:

• Supervise quality checkpoints across complex, multi-stage solvent extraction cascades (extraction, scrubbing, and stripping) to prevent cross-contamination or emulsion breakdowns.
• Collaborate with plant process engineers and operations to understand the specific elements, compounds, ratios, and purity requirements for feed sources and product streams; track critical inputs and outputs to ensure accurate specification product packaging, approaching 100% first time, on-specification production.

Analytical Oversight:

• Elemental & Purity Verification: Supervise trace and major-element assays using ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and XRF across feed, intermediate, and final REO streams.
• Process & Circuit Control: Oversight of high-frequency testing using auto-titration (free-acid H+ & total REE), IC (inorganic impurities), and online/at-line PAT systems (pH, conductivity, and continuous/at-line XRF monitoring).
• Organic Phase Health: Manage routine checks via GC/GC-MS, FT-IR, Karl Fischer, interfacial tension, and centrifuges to monitor extractant degradation, moisture, entrainment/crud, and emulsion risks.
• Physical Characterization: Lead physical quality testing using Laser PSD, BET Surface Area, XRD, and C/S/O/N/H analyzers.

Quality Management Systems (QMS):

• Maintain and update ISO 9001, ISO14001 and other standards tailored to critical chemical and mineral processing operations. Apply and promote industry best practices in the implementation and sustainment of the Quality Management System (QMS).
• Establish and lead the internal audit program, including leading audit planning, execution, and reporting, and actively manage third-party certification and audit activities.
• Establish and execute the Management Review process, including definition of inputs, reporting, and record retention, in compliance with ISO 9001.
• Ensure the QMS is compliant with all required third party standards/requirements, primarily ISO 9001 certification.

Supply Chain & Raw Materials:

• Establish strict quality standards for incoming leachates, chemical reagents, and recycled feedstocks.

Team Leadership:

• Train, mentor and lead QA/QC technicians, shift chemists, and inspection staff. Develop and implement SPC training and Structured Problem-Solving training for all operations and engineering staff.

Budget & Inventory Control:

• Develop and manage annual operations budgets for the Quality Department.

Process Improvement:

• Lead root cause analysis of any processing issues including time to recovery.

Other:

• Any other tasks as directed by management

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical discipline. Graduate degree is preferred.

Experience:

Minimum 5-7 years of QA/QC experience in hydrometallurgy, chemical refining, petrochemicals, or mineral processing, with direct exposure to solvent extraction. Proven track record of implementing ISO 9001 or similar standards.

Technical Skills:

Deep understanding of liquid-liquid extraction chemistry, pH gradients, mass balances, and statistical process control (SPC).

Certifications:

Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or ASQ Quality Engineer/Manager credentials are strongly preferred.

Desired Requirements

Experience with solvent extraction metallurgy of Rare Earth Elements is considered an asset.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
• Ability to travel.
• Ability to respond to emergency callouts outside normal working hours.
• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods throughout a plant environment.
• Ability to climb stairs, platforms, and access elevated or restricted areas.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach as needed for inspections.
• Ability to visually inspect equipment, systems, drawings, gauges, and work areas.
• Ability to hear alarms, equipment sounds, and communications in a noisy environment.
• Ability to work safely around machinery, dust, noise, vibration, and temperature extremes.
• Ability to wear required PPE and comply with all plant safety requirements.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Ucore is a TSX-listed company commercializing its patent-pending RapidSX rare earth element (REE) separation technology through the advancement of its first commercial REE processing and rare earth oxide (REO) production facility in Alexandria, Louisiana. This facility, the Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex (SMC), is currently under development with engineering underway as of August 2026. Ucore also continues to enhance and demonstrate its technology at its RapidSX Commercialization and Demonstration Facility (CDF) in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

The company consists of a small team, with resources located globally and seeks to appoint Quality Manager to join its team. This role will contribute to leading the implementation of corporate initiatives. Regular travel within the USA and Canada will be required.