What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sulfuric Acid Superintendent position at Lithium Americas?
Company Overview
Lithium Americas is a North American resource and materials company focused on developing, building and operating lithium deposits and chemical processing facilities. The company’s flagship asset, Thacker Pass, is located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada and is the world’s largest known measured lithium source and reserve. We are focused on safely and responsibly developing Thacker Pass to production to help strengthen national security and enable cleaner energy sources. We are committed to minimizing environmental impact, creating family-supporting jobs and maximizing sustainable value for our stakeholders.
Lithium Americas is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and operates in the U.S., with offices in Reno, NV and Winnemucca, NV. The Company’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol LAC.
Our Purpose, Vision and Values
Our purpose, vision and values are the guiding principles that will serve as the cornerstone of our company’s future direction and operations, aligning our team and organization towards our common goals.
Our Purpose is to safely and sustainably produce lithium from Thacker Pass to enable North America to reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals and drive value for our stakeholders.
Our Vision is to be North America’s leading lithium producer to enable cleaner energy sources.
Our Values include Act with Integrity, Be Responsible and Act with Care, Commit to Excellence and Drive Innovation, and Be a Collaborative Partner.
Role
We are seeking a Superintendent to join our Sulfuric Acid Plant team. In this role, you will be responsible for leading the safe, reliable, and effective commissioning, start-up, and operation of the Sulfuric Acid Plant and its associated utilities. You will oversee operations personnel, ensure compliance with environmental and safety requirements, and drive performance through continuous improvement and effective training programs.
This position will be based at our Winnemucca, NV office during construction and transition to the Thacker Pass Project site during commissioning and operations. The role reports to the Sulfuric Acid Plant Manager. Travel to other LAC offices, project sites, or vendor locations may be required.
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise and motivate Sulfuric Acid Shift Supervisors, operations crews, and relevant contractors; conduct performance evaluations and address personnel matters.
- Lead commissioning and start-up of the Sulfuric Acid Plant to safely achieve design capacity.
- Ensure consistent production output, product quality, and reliability of operations.
- Develop and implement procedures, processes, and training programs to maximize safety, compliance, quality, and productivity.
- Lead the development of Knowledge, Skills, and Assessment (KSA) testing and progression plans for Sulfuric Acid Plant staff.
- Monitor and report operational performance, including EHS compliance, production, and efficiency metrics.
- Coordinate activities with other departments, including maintenance, electrical, mobile equipment, and processing, to ensure alignment of plant performance.
- Review and continually improve systems, procedures, and operating standards to ensure best practices.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, NDEP, EPA, DOT, and other regulatory requirements.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives and promote a culture of innovation and accountability.
- Provide guidance to employees, contractors, and consultants to ensure corporate standards are applied and maintained.
- Builds and maintains trusted relationships across all teams while championing a culture that reflects and supports our Purpose, Vision, and Values
- Perform other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years of supervisory experience in the chemical industry, preferably in sulfuric acid production.
- Strong understanding of sulfur burning sulfuric acid principles, processes, and unit operations.
- Experience in greenfield or brownfield start-up environments, including staffing, training, and commissioning.
- Demonstrated ability to lead operations staff within a multi-discipline framework.
- Knowledge of business and management systems, including budgeting, workforce planning, and resource allocation.
- Strong focus on safety, compliance, and environmental stewardship.
- Proven ability to develop and implement new training programs, procedures, and systems.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills; ability to motivate and influence teams.
- Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and team-building skills.
- Ability to multitask and coordinate several projects in parallel while managing critical-path activities.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Project, Teams, etc.).
- Be a self-starter: highly motivated, able to work independently, with high energy.
- Personal commitment to Lithium Americas’ Purpose, Vision, and Values
Working at Lithium Americas
At Lithium Americas, we believe our people are our most valuable asset. We offer a collaborative and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for long-term growth and skills development.
We are committed to building a diverse and respectful workplace and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Lithium Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, age, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.