Plant Manager - COO - Lithium Materials/Chemical Engineering
Key Responsibilities
1. Engineering Scale-Up & Project Delivery
- Lead the scale-up of the company's proprietary recycling process from lab scale to commercial operations
- Translate pilot learnings into scalable, cost‑efficient engineering solutions
- Oversee EPCM partners and third‑party engineering consultants
- Set and maintain engineering quality, safety, and performance standards
2. Plant Setup & Execution
- Lead the full lifecycle of a semi-commercial facility: design, planning, construction, commissioning, and technology deployment
- Oversee process layout, utilities, and site infrastructure
- Define project scope, timelines, capital budgets (CAPEX), and resource allocation
- Coordinate with internal teams, contractors, and suppliers across all workstreams
3. Operations Leadership
- Build and manage Operations & Engineering teams (process, production, maintenance, logistics)
- Oversee day‑to‑day plant operations and material flow from input to output
- Drive KPIs including OEE, uptime, and cost-per-ton metrics
- Plan operational budgets and capital expenditure forecasts
4. Regulatory & Compliance
- Secure required Singapore permits and approvals (e.g., NEA, SCDF, MOM, PUB)
- Ensure compliance with chemical handling, safety, environmental discharge, and waste standards
- Develop scalable regulatory frameworks for future international markets
5. Technical Leadership & Mentorship
- Mentor junior engineers in plant design, vendor management, and commissioning
- Translate R&D insights into robust, scalable process specifications
- Lead process validation, performance testing, and troubleshooting during commissioning
6. Contractor & Vendor Management
- Identify, assess, and manage consultants, EPCs, and contractors
- Review engineering documents, designs, and safety deliverables
- Ensure adherence to quality, safety, and engineering standards
7. Cross-functional Collaboration
- Work closely with R&D, Operations, and senior leadership to ensure plant design supports long‑term technical and commercial goals
- Provide timely updates on project progress, risks, and key decisions
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Process, or Industrial Engineering (MBA or PMP is a plus)
- 8-15 years' experience scaling industrial processes or leading EPCM/plant projects, ideally in lithium, chemicals, or recycling
- Demonstrated success in taking technologies from pilot to full commercial scale
- Strong understanding of plant engineering design, commissioning, and manufacturing systems
- Experience in operations management, including material handling, SOPs, maintenance, logistics, and EH&S
- Strong understanding of Singapore's regulatory environment (NEA, SCDF, MOM) and chemical plant safety practices
- Experience mentoring engineering teams and working closely with R&D
- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication skills in English
- Familiarity with international (US/EU) environmental and industrial safety frameworks
- Preferred background in flow batteries, redox systems, electrochemical processes, or fuel cells
FAQs
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