1.2 Engineering Chief of Staff

About Phoenix Tailings

Phoenix Tailings is a rapidly-growing clean mining and metals production startup dedicated to sustainable and economic critical metals production. Our mission is to be the world's first fully clean mining and metals production company, producing the resources needed for the next generation of our economy.  

Why Phoenix Tailings 

At Phoenix Tailings, we believe that nothing great is ever accomplished alone or without the passion of people who push and motivate one another. If you are someone who shares our relentless pursuit of a better future, passion for innovation, and are excited about working with some of the top innovators in the world, then this is the place for you

Our Values

• You are only crazy if you are wrong, it's ok to be wrong - Say what you think even when it’s uncomfortable
• Lead with Compassion - Show up for your teammates, make the people around you better.
• Be Resourceful - Find a way with what you have, don't wait for more.
• Listen - Understand before you act, ask good questions before deciding.
• Hustle - Put your heart into every interaction, no matter how small.

Who We Are Looking For

Phoenix Tailings is looking for a Engineering Chief of Staff with extensive EPCM leadership and capital project management experience to drive the buildout of our Freedom Facility in Rochester, NY. You will own the integrated project execution plan, driving scope, schedule, budget, risk management, and delivery accountability across engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning. You will work closely with executive leadership to turn priorities into defined workstreams, resolve obstacles, and keep project teams and external partners aligned on commitments. The ideal candidate has delivered complex industrial facilities and combines rigorous project management with the technical judgment needed to advance a metals production facility into safe, reliable operation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the integrated project execution plan for the Freedom Facility, defining scope, work breakdown, deliverables, milestones, budgets, and accountable owners from engineering through operational handover.
• Establish and maintain the master project schedule, connecting engineering releases, permitting, equipment procurement, construction sequencing, and commissioning activities.
• Lead project controls, tracking committed costs, actual spending, forecast costs at completion, contingency use, and progress against approved budgets and schedules.
• Run project execution reviews that hold internal teams, EPCM partners, vendors, and contractors accountable for deliverables, decisions, and corrective actions.
• Manage the critical path and dependencies across workstreams, identifying delays early and driving recovery plans with clear owners and deadlines.
• Own project risk and change management, maintaining a risk register and evaluating scope changes for their effects on cost, schedule, safety, and facility performance.
• Direct EPCM partner execution and resolve interfaces among engineering disciplines, equipment suppliers, and construction contractors to prevent gaps, rework, and delays.
• Drive procurement and construction readiness, ensuring specifications, design packages, vendor documentation, site infrastructure, and long-lead equipment support planned installation dates.
• Provide executive leadership with concise project reporting, decision recommendations, and timely escalation of issues requiring additional resources or changes in direction.
• Lead commissioning and handover planning, establishing system completion criteria, startup milestones, acceptance requirements, and closure plans for outstanding work while integrating safety, environmental, and quality requirements.

Qualifications:

• Extensive leadership experience in EPCM and capital project management, with direct accountability for delivering complex industrial facilities.
• Demonstrated success managing project scope, schedule, budget, risk, and execution from engineering through construction, commissioning, and operational handover.
• Experience delivering facilities in metals processing, mineral processing, chemicals, refining, or similarly demanding process industries.
• Strong command of project controls, including work breakdown structures, integrated scheduling, critical-path analysis, cost forecasting, progress measurement, and change control.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams and hold EPCM firms, equipment suppliers, and construction contractors accountable for contractual commitments.
• Experience managing long-lead procurement, construction interfaces, resource constraints, and recovery plans on projects with interdependent workstreams.
• Practical understanding of plant engineering, constructability, equipment installation, utilities, commissioning, and operating requirements.
• Strong commercial and executive judgment, including experience evaluating change orders, contractor claims, project tradeoffs, and decisions requiring leadership action.

What We Offer:

This pay range reflects best estimate for the total cash compensation which includes salary + discretionary bonus for this role. Total package  may vary based on experience and qualifications.

Pay Range: $165,000- $215,000 total cash compensation plus equity
Healthcare: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee.
Stock Options: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company. 
Time Off: Unlimited PTO. 
Learning: Learning and development opportunities to grow your skills and career. 

At Phoenix Tailings, we have an open culture that values learning, and we are looking to grow
the team with enthusiastic individuals who share our vision of sustainable mining.

Phoenix Tailings, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity at all levels. All
qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color,
religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age,
disability or genetic information, or any other applicable protected characteristics, and these
characteristics will not be a factor for consideration of any work-related decisions (including but
not limited to hiring, firing, compensation, and discipline).