Air Quality, Auditing, Channel Strategies, Construction, Continuous Improvement, Corrective Action, Cross-Functional, Emergency Response, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Compliance, Environmental Health, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Work, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Federal Laws and Regulations, Forklift, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Manufacturing, Mine Operations, Mine Planning, Mine Safety and Health, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Mine Waste/Tailings, Mining Engineering, Mining Laws/Regulations, OSHA, Physical Demands, Project/Program Management, Regulations, Regulatory Requirements, Risk, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Root Cause Analysis, Safety Engineering, Safety Process, Safety/Work Safety, State Laws and Regulations, System Operations, Training Program, Waste Management, Water Quality Testing, Willing to Travel
Job Summary:
The Director of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) leads the development and execution of enterprise-wide EHS programs supporting solvent extraction processing and mining operations. This role ensures compliance with all applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations while proactively managing risk across hazardous chemical handling, extraction processes, and field-based mining activities. The Director serves as a strategic partner to operations leadership, driving a culture of safety, environmental responsibility, and operational discipline.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and continuously improve EHS programs across solvent extraction facilities and mining sites, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and operational risks
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, including those governing hazardous chemicals, air and water quality, waste management, and mine safety
- Develop and implement risk identification and mitigation strategies specific to solvent-based processing, chemical storage and handling, tailings management, and field operations
- Establish and standardize incident investigation protocols (e.g., near-miss, environmental release, occupational injury), including root cause analysis and corrective action tracking
- Provide technical oversight on environmental permitting, reclamation planning, spill prevention, and emergency response preparedness
- Partner with operations, engineering, and site leadership to integrate EHS considerations into process design, mine planning, and day-to-day execution
- Oversee environmental monitoring programs, including air emissions, water discharge, and soil/groundwater impacts
- Serve as the primary interface with regulatory agencies, inspectors, and community stakeholders, including managing audits and site inspections
- Develop and maintain EHS training programs tailored to both plant and field personnel, reinforcing a safety-first culture
- Build and lead a high-performing EHS team across multiple locations, driving accountability and continuous improvement
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of progressive EHS leadership experience in mining, chemical processing, solvent extraction, or similarly regulated industries
- Strong knowledge of regulations related to mining operations, hazardous chemical handling, and environmental protection (e.g., air, water, waste)
- Strong familiarity with OSHA, MSHA and TCEQ
- Demonstrated experience managing EHS programs across both fixed processing facilities and field-based operations
- Expertise in incident investigation, process safety, and environmental risk management
- Experience with permitting, inspections, and regulatory engagement at the state and federal level
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional leadership and drive a culture of safety in complex, high-risk environments
- Willingness and ability to travel to and spend time at remote mining and processing sites. Initially up to 50%
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, move, sit, carry, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, lift, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel and talk and hear. May be required to lift and move boxes or packages not exceeding 20 pounds in weight. Some work stress inherent to the position and extended work hours may be required.
Work Environment:
The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, laboratory space, and construction site.
Noise level:
Exposure will vary and include normal office noise, typical laboratory sounds (e.g., ventilation systems, equipment operation), manufacturing floor noise (e.g., machinery, forklifts), and construction site noise depending on project phase and location.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporate reporting structure.
USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities
USA Rare Earth's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and will provide reasonable accommodations according to applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.