Head of Technical Operations

Job Description

About Prime 6

Prime 6 turns biomass into high-purity biocarbon for steelmakers and other industrial customers that are working to cut their carbon footprint. We run a fleet of thermal processing furnaces around the clock, we are growing fast, and we build and fix things ourselves. This role makes sure the plant runs safely, reliably and legally, and that it is ready for the next furnace, the next line and the next customer.

The Role

You own the physical plant: the furnaces and thermal systems, the utilities, the buildings, the maintenance program, environmental health and safety, and the capital projects that expand all of it. You are the technical authority on site, and you are expected to be on the floor every day: diagnosing a failing system, reading a P&ID, walking a contractor through a job, or checking a permit deadline. You will also build the systems (maintenance planning, data, documentation) that let the plant run well without depending on any one person.

This is a hands-on leadership role. If you are more comfortable in a conference room than a control room, it is not the right fit.

What You Will Do

Safety and compliance

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• Lead the site EHS program and be accountable for its results: hazard assessments, lockout/tagout, incident investigation, training, emergency response, and a culture where people stop work when something looks wrong. You set the standard and know the details well enough to review, audit and challenge the work, whether it is done by you or by an EHS manager or specialist reporting to you (we may add that role).
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• Hold stop-work authority, with a direct line to the VP of Operations and leadership on any safety or compliance concern.
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• Own regulatory compliance and audit readiness with OSHA, EPA, state environmental agencies, the fire marshal and insurers, including air permits, emissions reporting, combustible dust and fire protection requirements.
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• Keep permits, inspections and certifications tracked, current and documented.
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Furnaces, equipment and maintenance

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• Keep the furnace fleet and supporting equipment (feedstock handling, conveying, burners and combustion systems, emissions control, packaging) safe, available and efficient.
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• Build and run the maintenance program: preventive schedules, spare parts, vendor contracts, and a CMMS that people actually use.
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• Move the plant from reactive to predictive maintenance using the data we already collect from furnace controls and sensors.
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• Lead root cause analysis on downtime and quality events, and close the loop with operations.
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Utilities and facilities

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• Manage plant utilities (electrical, natural gas, water, compressed air, HVAC) and the buildings, yards and infrastructure that support them.
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• Drive energy efficiency and utility cost reduction per ton produced.
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Capital projects and budget

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• Own the maintenance, facilities and EHS operating budget and the capital plan.
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• Scope, bid, manage and commission capital projects, from furnace additions and burner upgrades to infrastructure expansion, on time and on budget.
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• Select and manage engineering firms, contractors and equipment suppliers; negotiate contracts and service agreements.
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Team

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• Lead and develop the engineering, maintenance and EHS team currently 12 people, including hiring a dedicated EHS manager or specialist as the plant grows.
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• Work side by side with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain and Finance.
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What Success Looks Like

First 90 days: walk every system, baseline safety, downtime and maintenance data, audit open permits and compliance items, and deliver a prioritized plan.

First 12 months (targets to be set with you, from the baseline):

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• Zero serious injuries; recordable rate trending down quarter over quarter
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• No missed regulatory deadlines or permit exceedances
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• Measurable improvement in furnace availability and planned vs. reactive maintenance ratio
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• Capital and operating spend within agreed budget
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• A working CMMS with preventive maintenance schedules and parts inventory in place
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What You Bring

Required

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• 8+ years in industrial, process or heavy manufacturing operating a plant with thermal, combustion, kiln, furnace, boiler or similar systems, with at least 3 years leading maintenance, engineering, EHS or facilities teams
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• Demonstrated hands-on technical ability across mechanical, electrical and controls systems, and the judgment to know when to bring in a specialist
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• Track record of delivering capital projects from scope through commissioning
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• Solid, practical EHS knowledge, enough to lead and be accountable for a program: OSHA requirements and inspections, LOTO, incident investigation, safety training, environmental permitting, and fire and combustible dust standards (NFPA) as they apply to process plants
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• Comfortable with data: CMMS, PLC/SCADA/HMI systems, spreadsheets and dashboards; you use data to make decisions
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• Highly organized: you keep schedules, permits, documentation and vendors on track
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• Clear communicator who can work with operators on the floor and with executives and lenders
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Preferred

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• Engineering degree (mechanical, electrical, chemical or industrial), or equivalent experience
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• PE, CSP, CFM or Lean/Six Sigma certification
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• Experience in biomass, biochar, activated carbon, metallurgical, chemical or other thermal processing
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• Experience in a fast-growing or startup manufacturing environment
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Working Conditions

On-site role at a 24/7 industrial facility. Expect to work around furnaces, heavy equipment and outdoor yards, to wear PPE, and to respond to urgent plant issues outside normal hours. 

Compensation: $115,000 -175,000 plus bonus. benefits +401k.

Equal Opportunity

Prime 6 is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need an accommodation during the application process, please contact View email address on ziprecruiter.com