Objectives
The candidate will be responsible for:
- Timely project delivery: deliver key milestones on schedule and within approved capital expenditure plan
- Performance: improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), uptime, yield, and cost-efficiency versus plan
- Safety & compliance: ensure operational safety, and secure and maintain permits with the relevant regulatory authorities
- Operating system & team: build the Operations & Engineering organization and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Responsibilities
Engineering Scale Up & Project Delivery
- Lead the end-to-end scale-up of NEU's proprietary recycling process from lab-scale to commercial-scale
- Translate lab-scale and pilot insights into scalable, cost-efficient commercial engineering solutions
- Serve as internal owner for EPCM contractors or third-party engineering consultants
- Establish and enforce engineering quality, safety, and performance standards for commercialisation
Plant Setup & Execution
- Lead the design, planning, construction, commissioning and technological deployment of of NEU's semi-commercial facility
- Oversee process layout, utilities, and infrastructure development
- Define project scope, schedule, CAPEX, and resource plans, while ensuring delivery on time and within budget
- Coordinate with internal teams, contractors, and suppliers to ensure alignment across all workstreams
Operations Leadership
- Build, lead, and manage the Operations & Engineering departments across process, production, maintenance, and logistics
- Lead and oversee day-to-day operations of the plant
- Manage and own the full material flow, from feedstock intake to outboard materials
- Drive OEE, uptime, cost-per-ton, and other plant performance KPIs
- Plan and forecast operational budgets and capital expenditures
Regulatory & Compliance
- Secure all relevant Singapore permits and approvals (e.g. NEA, SCDF, MOM, PUB)
- Ensure compliance with chemical handling, safety, waste management, and environmental discharge standards
- Establish scalable frameworks for regulatory compliance applicable to international markets
Technical Leadership & Mentorship
- Guide and mentor junior engineers in plant design, vendor management, and commissioning
- Translate R&D insights into robust, scalable process specifications
- Support process validation, performance testing, and troubleshooting during commissioning
Contractor & Vendor Management
- Identify, evaluate, and manage engineering consultants, EPCs, and contractors
- Review engineering deliverables, drawings, and safety documentation
- Ensure quality, safety, and technical standards are met at all stages
Cross-functional Collaboration
- Collaborate closely with R&D, Operations, and Management to ensure plant design supports technical goals and long-term scalability
- Report project progress, risks, and key decisions to the leadership team
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Process, or Industrial Engineering MBA or PMP is a plus
- 8-15 years of experience in scaling industrial processes from lab-scale to commercial-scale, EPCM, or operations leadership, ideally within lithium, chemical, or recycling sectors
- Proven track record in taking technologies from pilot stage to full-scale operations, and EPCM or plant project management (concept to commissioning)
- Deep understanding of plant engineering design, commissioning, and manufacturing systems
- Strong operations management skills, including material handling, SOPs, logistics, maintenance, and EH&S
- Strong understanding of Singapore's regulatory landscape (NEA, SCDF, MOM) and chemical plant safety standards
- Experience mentoring engineers and working cross-functionally in R&D-heavy environments
- Possess good analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication in English
- Familiarity with international (US/EU) environmental and industrial safety frameworks.
- Good to have knowledge in any of these areas flow battery, redox flow processes, electrochemical processes, fuel cell
