Pilot Operations Manager

Greene Resources; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Greene Resources in Durham, NC seeks a Pilot Operations Manager to lead end-to-end pilot manufacturing for advanced materials. You will drive planning, safety, and on-time delivery, translating R&D into repeatable pilot workflows and coordinating material flow and testing.

This role combines process engineering with hands-on leadership to ensure materials meet specifications. The candidate will oversee KPI-driven performance, SOPs, and cross-functional collaboration to meet scale-up milestones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a materials-related field and US citizenship.
• 5+ years in advanced materials or pilot production roles.
• Proven experience leading pilot or production teams with safety and quality focus.

Responsibilities

• Own daily pilot manufacturing operations from planning through delivery.
• Translate R&D processes into robust pilot workflows and drive optimization.
• Oversee end-to-end material flow and scheduling to align with testing and delivery.
• Establish SOPs, workflows, and KPI tracking to drive performance.
• Ensure complete batch records and documentation for traceability.
• Lead a team of technicians with focus on safety and accountability.
• Collaborate with development, quality, and EHS for readiness milestones.

Skills

Pilot leadership

Process engineering

Materials coordination

Team leadership

SOP & KPI management

Education

Bachelor's in Materials Science

Related field degree

Job description

Position: Pilot Operations Manager

Location: Durham, NC

Pay: $120,000 to $170,000/year

Type: Full-time; Direct Hire

Greene Resources is seeking a Pilot Operations Manager to join a growing and dynamic team! The Pilot Operations Manager is responsible for end-to-end execution of pilot-scale manufacturing for advanced rare earth materials, serving as the critical link between development and full-scale production. This role combines production leadership, process engineering, and material coordination to deliver qualified materials safely, on specification, and on schedule.

Job Description

• Pilot Production Leadership: Own daily pilot manufacturing operations from planning through delivery, ensuring reliable, safe, and on-time execution of material and testing plans aligned with program and commercial priorities.
• Process Engineering & Scale-Up: Translate R&D processes into robust, repeatable pilot workflows; lead process optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement to improve yield, stability, and scalability.
• Material Coordination & Logistics: Oversee end-to-end material flow including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods; coordinate staging, inventory, and movement of sensitive materials to align production output with testing and delivery requirements.
• Operational Excellence & Scheduling: Establish and enforce SOPs, work instructions, and standardized workflows; coordinate production schedules, resource allocation, and equipment readiness; implement and manage KPIs (yield, throughput, quality, schedule adherence) to drive performance and accountability.
• Documentation, Testing & Traceability: Ensure complete and accurate batch records, material qualification traveler sheets, and process documentation; synthesize and communicate clear material testing summaries to support data-driven decisions and stakeholder alignment.
• Quality & Process Control: Maintain high-precision specifications through rigorous process control, in-process verification, and structured root cause and corrective action for deviations.
• Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop a team of technicians; establish clear expectations for execution, safety, and documentation; build a culture of accountability, precision, and continuous improvement.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with development, commercial, quality, and EHS teams to align on priorities, communicate progress and risks, and ensure readiness for customer requirements and scale-up milestones.
• Safe & Compliant Operations: Integrate EHS requirements into all aspects of operations, including SOPs, training, material handling, and facility practices, ensuring safe and compliant execution at all times.

Position Requirements

• Must be a US citizen.
• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in advanced materials, pilot production, or manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience leading pilot or production teams, with direct accountability for execution, safety, and performance.
• Hands-on experience working in pilot-scale or development environments, supporting process iteration, scale-up, and material qualification.
• Demonstrated experience in process engineering, pilot line operations, or scaling technologies from R&D to production.
• Strong track record of implementing SOP-driven operations, KPI management, and production documentation systems.
• Experience managing material flow, production scheduling, and cross-functional coordination.

Greene Resources is part of Array Corporation, the leading technology-enabled workforce solutions company whose mission is to fix how work is bought, sold and delivered to enable access to the American Dream.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff initive Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

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