What are the responsibilities and job description for the Plant Manager position at R3 Lithium?
R3 Lithium operates North America's first commercial-scale lithium carbonate recovery facility, located in Covington, Georgia. Using a lithium-first extraction process, the company recovers, refines, and returns lithium carbonate from recycled black mass into the battery supply chain for energy storage systems, defense applications, and electric vehicles. Founded in 2026 and privately held, R3 Lithium is headquartered at 9176 Industrial Drive NE, Covington, Georgia. For more information, visit www.r3lithium.com.
The Plant Operations Manager is responsible for directing all production, maintenance, and operational activities within the facility. This role ensures safe, efficient, and compliant plant performance while leading cross‑functional teams, optimizing processes, and supporting long‑term operational strategy. The manager serves as the primary decision‑maker for plant operations and plays a key role in regulatory compliance, workforce development, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee daily plant operations, including production scheduling, analytical lab, equipment performance, and resource allocation.
- Lead and mentor operations, maintenance, and production teams, ensuring strong performance, accountability, and professional development.
- Ensure full compliance with OSHA, EPA, and other federal, state, and local regulations governing chemical manufacturing.
- Coordinate and implement safety programs, conduct audits, and drive a culture of zero‑incident performance.
- Optimize production processes to improve throughput, reduce waste, and enhance product quality.
- Manage plant budgets, including labor, materials, maintenance, and capital projects.
- Coordinate preventive and predictive maintenance to maximize equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
- Collaborate with engineering, quality, supply chain, and EHS teams to support operational goals.
- Lead root‑cause investigations and implement corrective actions for process deviations or safety incidents.
- Prepare operational reports, KPIs, and performance metrics for senior leadership.
- Support capital improvement projects, including equipment upgrades and process expansions.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
- 10 years of leadership experience in chemical manufacturing, petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, or related process industries.
- Proven experience managing plant operations, production teams, and maintenance functions.
- Strong knowledge of process safety management (PSM), hazardous materials handling, and regulatory compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams in a fast‑paced, high‑risk environment.
- Excellent problem‑solving, communication, and decision‑making skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Background in automation systems (DCS/PLC) and process optimization tools.
- Experience managing capital projects or plant expansions.