Vice President, Operations - North America

Cyclic Materials is building a resilient circular supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical materials. Through our proprietary MagCycle and REEPure processes, we recover rare earths from end-of-life products and transform them into high purity materials used in the production of permanent magnets. These materials are critical to the modern economy, including the production of electric vehicles, electronics, AI infrastructure, wind turbines, defense, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials has rapidly progressed from technology development to commercialization. We currently operate facilities in Ontario and Arizona, with a new expansion underway in South Carolina. Backed by US$75 million in Series C financing led by T. Rowe Price, alongside strategic investors including Microsoft, Amazon, Hitachi Ventures, BMW i Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s InMotion fund, Energy Impact Partners, ArcTern Ventures, and Fifth Wall, we are scaling to meet growing global demand for a secure and sustainable rare earth supply. We have established commercial partnerships with global industry leaders such as Solvay, Vattenfall, Lime, and VACUUMSCHMELZE, enabling the deployment of recycled rare earth materials into real world supply chains. In 2025, Cyclic Materials was named one of the Top 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch by MIT Technology Review. We are growing quickly and building the industrial backbone required for a circular rare earth economy. Joining Cyclic Materials means working on complex and exciting challenges at scale, alongside a team committed to executing and delivering measurable impact. If you are motivated by building critical infrastructure and advancing the circular economy, join us and help accelerate the growth of rare earth recycling. The Role At Cyclic Materials, we are building the industrial backbone of the circular economy. We are looking for a Vice President, Operations – North America to lead our evolution from pilot-stage operations to a scaled, resilient manufacturing footprint across the region. You will shape and deliver our physical operations—from commissioning new production facilities to scaling output and designing closed-loop supply strategies that keep critical materials in circulation. This role is ideal for a leader who is energized by the complexity of early-stage manufacturing and equally committed to building disciplined, world-class operational systems that support long-term growth, reliability, and certification readiness. This role will require 50% travel to other sites. What You Will Do Cyclic Materials is at a critical growth moment. Two new facilities are ready for commissioning, a third is entering early execution, and additional sites are under consideration to support our North American expansion. As Vice President, Operations – North America, your immediate priority will be to safely and successfully launch our first two facilities to design capacity, while establishing the operational foundation required to support rapid, capital-efficient growth. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: Lead the end-to-end setup of initial production lines, including equipment procurement, installation, and facility commissioning. Own the safe operation of all sites, ensuring teams are trained, qualified, and operate to the highest safety standards. Drive the transition from pilot operations to 24/7 commercial-scale production, delivering against yield, throughput, and quality targets. Partner with procurement and logistics teams to design and execute circular feedstock and supply strategies. Collaborate with Strategic Partners (SP) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) to secure long-term, high-quality feedstock and offtake streams. Establish and maintain clear, rigorous performance metrics that provide transparency into operational readiness and ramp-up progress. Apply Lean and Six Sigma principles to circular material flows, reducing process inefficiencies in systems built to eliminate material waste. Implement and scale the operational technology stack—including IoT, ERP, and material tracking systems—to enable traceability, performance management, and certification requirements. Build and lead strong site-level leadership teams, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and alignment with Cyclic Materials’ circular economy mission. Manage relationships with local stakeholders, including municipalities, labor groups, and community partners, during facility development and ramp-up. Work closely with Capital Projects, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE), and Legal teams to ensure full compliance with environmental, zoning, and safety regulations (e.g., MOL in Ontario, OSHA in the United States). What You Will Bring 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, operations, and supply chain, ideally within cleantech, recycling, or industrial processing environments. Proven experience scaling operations beyond pilot stage, with the ability to build processes, teams, and systems in high-growth environments. Demonstrated success managing operational and regulatory complexity across Canadian and U.S. manufacturing environments. Hands‑on experience leading chemical process, recycling, or advanced materials facilities. Post‑secondary education in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical discipline; an MBA is strongly preferred. Deep understanding of circular economy principles, including mass balance, logistics-related carbon intensity, and life‑cycle assessment. Nice to Have: You see manufacturing sites not as standalone assets, but as interconnected nodes in a global circular materials ecosystem. You are comfortable moving between the production floor and the boardroom—discussing PLC automation one moment and Scope 3 emissions strategy the next. You bring a track record of stabilizing complex or delayed projects while preparing organizations for their next phase of growth. You have the resilience to manage a delayed plant startup early in the week and the strategic clarity to present a five‑year supply strategy to the executive leadership team days later. Why You Will Love Cyclic Materials At Cyclic Materials, we're dedicated to supporting our workforce on their unique career journey. We offer a competitive compensation package including Health and Dental coverage, RRSP (Canada)/401K (USA) contributions and a generous paid time off program that lets you recharge. We value diversity and are committed to maintaining a workplace where everyone is respected and recognized for their contributions. The base compensation offered is determined based on the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, and competencies and considers internal equity. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Cyclic Materials is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals have an opportunity to succeed. If you require accommodation at any stage of the interview process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io. Applicants for employment in the Canada and US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States or Canada and with Cyclic Materials (i.e., H1-B visa, F-1 visa (OPT), TN, L1-A visa or any other non-immigrant status). To all applicants, your interest and effort are sincerely appreciated. While we thank everyone for their application, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. #J-18808-Ljbffr ArcTern Ventures