Facilities Manager

About the role

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future, serving critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive. As Facilities Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operation and maintenance of our R&D facility (~21,000 sq ft) and support facility readiness and startup activities at our Production Facility under construction in Benson, NC. This role balances ongoing operational support at an active site with forward-looking coordination on a greenfield facility.

Responsibilities

• R&D Facility (Operational)
  • Manage day-to-day facility operations, including building systems, grounds, and general upkeep
  • Respond to and troubleshoot facility system failures, coordinating repairs with internal staff or contractors
  • Manage vendor/contractor relationships (HVAC, electrical, janitorial, pest control, fire/life safety inspections, etc.)
  • Coordinate with landlord for communications involving parking, outages, and facility upgrades
  • Track facility-related budgets, PM contracts, and minor capital purchases
  • Prioritize and sequence facility upgrade projects based on production impact, urgency, and budget, particularly to support 24/7 production plans
  • Scope, budget, and manage facility improvement projects from initiation through completion, including contractor coordination and schedule tracking
  • Support space planning and layout changes as R&D needs evolve
  • Coordinate permits, inspections, and code compliance
• Production Facility (Construction / Startup Transition)
  • Serve as a facility-side point of contact during construction, coordinating with the project team (owner's rep, GC, commissioning agents) on facility-related turnover items
  • Review facility systems designs (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection) from an operations/maintainability perspective and flag concerns during design/construction
  • Participate in commissioning and pre-occupancy walkthroughs; track punch list items related to facility systems
  • Support development of a facilities staffing/organizational plan for the production site
  • Plan and stand-up facility operations at turnover: janitorial, waste management, landscaping, security, pest control, and other site services
  • Support the transition from construction warranty period into steady-state operations, including tracking warranty items and contractor callbacks
• Both Sites
  • Manage facility security systems (badge access, cameras, alarms) in coordination with IT/Security
  • Support EHS initiatives related to facility conditions (housekeeping, egress, signage, spill containment) in coordination with EHS team
  • Travel between R&D and Production sites as needed

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.

Requirements

• 5+ years of facilities management experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment
• Experience supporting a facility through construction/commissioning into operations is a strong plus
• Working knowledge of building systems: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection
• Experience managing outside contractors and service vendors
• Familiarity with OSHA, NFPA, and local building/fire codes
• Comfortable operating with some ambiguity, given the production site is still under development
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Regular presence on the production floor and ability to navigate all areas of the facility
• Ability to climb stairs, stand, and walk for extended periods
• Work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy
• Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and adherence to all applicable safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
• Ability to complete required fit testing, wear appropriate PPE for the duration of assigned tasks, and respond safely to changing conditions within the production environment