Site IT Lead: Infrastructure, OT & Cloud

USA Rare Earth, LLC; Wheat Ridge (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

USA Rare Earth, LLC is seeking a hands-on IT lead for our Wheat Ridge facility, overseeing a mixed corporate IT, lab, and OT environment. You will set priorities, manage relationships with third parties, and report to the Head of IT Upstream and SVP of Mining.

The role requires strong technical skills, autonomous work style, and on-site visibility across teams. The successful candidate will manage Windows/server and cloud infrastructure, administer M365, and drive site IT projects while ensuring

Qualifications

• 7+ years in hands-on IT support, systems administration or a generalist IT role.
• Proven experience as the sole or lead IT resource on a site, autonomously.
• Strong Windows Server and Windows desktop administration in a production environment.
• Hands-on Microsoft 365 administration and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrable experience managing vendors, MSPs and service providers to agreed SLAs.
• Track record of delivering IT projects on time and within budget.
• Experience working to central or group IT standards and policy.
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve local network, server and cloud infrastructure (Azure / AWS as applicable).
• Administer Microsoft 365 day to day across Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive and Entra ID, covering identities, licensing, mailboxes, permissions and MFA.
• Build, deploy and support Windows desktops and laptops to a consistent standard, and support industrial IT/OT applications and integrations (iPaaS, API gateway, EDI/AS2/VAN).
• Own ISP, managed service provider and hardware/software supplier relationships, holding them to account on SLAs, response times, service quality and value for money.
• Coordinate site visits, contractor access and third-party works with minimal disruption.
• Support contract renewals, quotes and purchasing, manage site IT spend and identify cost savings.
• Plan and deliver site technology projects – rollouts, upgrades, migrations and refreshes – managing scope, timelines, budget and risk while keeping stakeholders informed.
• Represent Wheat Ridge on wider USA Rare Earth programmes and Group IT initiatives, and scope new technology that improves site capability and productivity.
• Own the ticket queue end to end to meet SLAs, resolve escalated issues independently, run onboarding and offboarding, and be visible on the floor coaching users.
• Apply Group IT security and governance policy locally, escalating incidents promptly and maintaining the security of site data, systems and networks.
• Own local business continuity and disaster recovery, testing backup, recovery and continuity arrangements regularly.
• Support risk assessments, audits and compliance across SOX and NIST-aligned controls, and manage data in line with privacy requirements.

Skills

Lead IT

Vendor management

Windows Server

M365 administration

Cloud platforms

Project delivery

Security/compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT or related field

Tools

Azure

AWS

Microsoft 365

Job description

USA Rare Earth, LLC is seeking a hands-on IT lead for our Wheat Ridge facility, overseeing a mixed corporate IT, lab, and OT environment. You will set priorities, manage relationships with third parties, and report to the Head of IT Upstream and SVP of Mining.

The role requires strong technical skills, autonomous work style, and on-site visibility across teams. The successful candidate will manage Windows/server and cloud infrastructure, administer M365, and drive site IT projects while ensuring