Area Project Manager - Non-Process Infrastructure (NPI)

Job Overview Albemarle is hiring an Area Project Manager – Non-Process Infrastructure (NPI) for our Kings Mountain lithium mine project in Kings Mountain, NC. This hybrid, full-time role requires on-site presence during active construction phases. The NPI area project manager owns end-to‑end delivery of non‑process infrastructure that enables safe, on‑schedule construction and startup of the Mine, Concentrator, and Tailings areas. NPI scope includes high‑voltage power and substations, mine haul/access roads and site earthworks, raw and process water supply, stormwater and environmental containment, site buildings, telecoms/controls backbone, geotechnical and surveying programs, and third‑party utility coordination. What You Will Do Project Leadership & Execution Own scope, schedule, budget, and risk for all NPI projects supporting the Mine, Concentrator, and Tailings areas across FEL2–IFC, construction, commissioning, and handover. Develop execution plans, WBS, and integrated schedules aligned to the overall Kings Mountain master schedule and critical path. Control cost and change (Class 3 through completion) through estimates, commitments, contingency, change orders, and monthly performance reporting. Maintain risk and issue registers, drive timely resolution/escalation, and lead NPI stage‑gate readiness reviews to ensure FEL maturity before sanction and execution. Mining & Concentrator Infrastructure Expertise Lead greenfield hard‑rock mining infrastructure delivery: access/haul roads, earthworks, ROM pad interfaces, and overburden/stockpile enabling works. Translate concentrator needs (crushing, grinding, separation/flotation, dewatering) into coordinated NPI scope: power, water, compressed air, reagent/utility areas, and building envelope. Manage mine‑to‑plant and plant interface points with process, OEMs, and EPCM: equipment pads/foundations, utility tie‑ins, corridors, constructability, and commissioning utility readiness. Coordinate tailings infrastructure interfaces (ancillary works, return water, decant/pumping, access) with geotechnical and environmental teams. Engineering & Design Oversight Direct EPCM and specialty consultants across civil/structural, mechanical, electrical, I&C, and architectural disciplines for NPI scope. Review/approve key deliverables (site layout, grading, foundations/structures, electrical single‑lines, underground utilities) and guide routing decisions to ensure constructability and operability. Ensure all designs incorporate safety‑in‑design principles and satisfy requirements identified through HAZID, HAZOP, and constructability reviews. Ensure all open action items are formally closed prior to IFC issuance. Participate in or lead value engineering exercises to optimize NPI capital cost without compromising operability, maintainability, or regulatory compliance. Contractor & Supplier Coordination Manage interfaces with NPI contractors/utility providers and internal stakeholders; ensure scopes, RFPs, contracts, and changes capture technical and schedule requirements. Ensure commercial documents – RFPs, scopes of work, contracts, and change orders – fully capture NPI technical requirements and are aligned with the contracting & procurement team’s standards. Integrate OEM/vendor requirements into NPI execution (foundations, heavy‑haul access/laydown, pre‑install utilities, and commissioning readiness) and drive timely receipt of vendor data. Permitting, Land & Regulatory Maintain NPI permitting and land tracker (land disturbance, building, encroachments, utility agreements, environmental authorizations) and align construction sequencing to permit conditions. Oversee surveying/easements/right‑of‑way and geotechnical investigations to support design, manage subsurface risk, and enable construction. Reporting & Controls Implement project controls for NPI scope (baseline, progress, forecasting, and change) and communicate status, risks, and milestones to project leadership and key stakeholders. Safety & Compliance Champion safety‑first execution for NPI, embedding safety‑in‑design and ensuring contractor plans meet site requirements. Ensure compliance with MSHA/OSHA requirements and track closure of hazard review and PHA action items prior to construction. What You Bring Education B.S. in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering (Mechanical/Civil preferred for mining and concentrator infrastructure scope). PE strongly preferred; PMP a plus. Experience 15+ years capital project leadership, primarily in mining, mineral processing, or heavy industrial environments. Proven delivery of infrastructure for at least one greenfield/brownfield mine development or major concentrator project; EPCM/owner‑side delivery experience highly valued. Demonstrated NPI delivery in a mining context (earthworks/roads, HV power, water/stormwater, buildings, multi‑utility distribution) within a stage‑gate framework (FEL1–FEL3 / Class 5–2 estimates). Experience executing government‑funded or incentive‑supported capital projects (e.g., federal/state grants, DOE programs) is a plus. Working knowledge of concentrator equipment installation interfaces (crushing, grinding, flotation/separation, thickening/filtration, conveying) and associated utility/sequencing impacts. Experience in the lithium, borates, potash, or other specialty minerals industry a plus given the Kings Mountain project’s critical mineral mandate. Technical Skills Interpret and challenge key engineering documents (P&IDs, layouts, grading, single‑lines, structural and I&C drawings). Knowledge of MSHA requirements and proficiency with schedule/cost tools (Primavera P6, MS Project, or equivalent). Leadership & Interpersonal Lead and influence multi‑disciplinary teams in fast‑paced, greenfield mining construction environments. Communicate complex project status and risk clearly; operate with an owner’s mindset to protect schedule, cost, quality, and operability. Benefits Competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package to support your professional and personal growth. Albmarle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Albemarle Netherlands BV