Area Project Manager – Non-Process Infrastructure (NPI)

About the role

This position is hybrid and located in Kings Mountain, NC. Full-time on-site presence is required during active construction phases.

Responsibilities

• 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): 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Implement project controls for NPI scope (baseline, progress, forecasting, and change) and communicate status, risks, and milestones to project leadership and key stakeholders.

• 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.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering (Mechanical/Civil preferred for mining and concentrator infrastructure scope).
• PE strongly preferred; PMP a plus.
• 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), including compliance, reporting, and audit readiness preferred but not required.
• Experience in the lithium, borates, potash, or other specialty minerals industry is a plus given the Kings Mountain project’s critical mineral mandate.
• Able to interpret and challenge key engineering documents (P&IDs, layouts, grading, single-lines, structural and I&C drawings).
• Knowledge of MSHA requirements and strong proficiency with schedule/cost tools (Primavera P6, MS Project, or equivalent).
• Leadership and interpersonal skills to lead and influence multi-disciplinary teams in fast-paced, greenfield mining construction environments.
• Communicate complex project status and risk clearly; operates with an owner’s mindset to protect schedule, cost, quality, and operability.

Skills

• Interpret and challenge key engineering documents (P&IDs, layouts, grading, single-lines, structural and I&C drawings).
• Knowledge of MSHA requirements and strong proficiency with schedule/cost tools (Primavera P6, MS Project, or equivalent).
• Leadership and interpersonal skills to lead and influence multi-disciplinary teams in fast-paced, greenfield mining construction environments.
• Communicate complex project status and risk clearly; operates with an owner’s mindset to protect schedule, cost, quality, and operability.

Benefits

Competitive compensation
Comprehensive benefits package
A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.