Pilot Plant Supervisor

Marianaminerals
San Francisco HQ
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have hands-on industrial operations experience and a background in process safety.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with supervisory experience in minerals processing or related industrial fields
    — “2+ years of experience in a supervisory or lead role
  • Individuals who excel in both operational execution and safety protocol development
    — “Demonstrated leadership in core plant safety work processes such as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), hot work permitting, confined space entry, and safe work permitting systems
  • Professionals with technical expertise in chemical processes and plant software systems
    — “Experience using human–machine interfaces (HMIs) and plant software systems to monitor, control, and adjust process operation

Things to consider

  • Commitment to on-call availability during evenings and weekends is necessary
    — “Provide off-hours support on evenings and weekends to plant upsets and high priority projects
  • This role demands physical stamina and ability to handle heavy lifting
    — “Climb stairs, stand for extended periods of time, and safely lift up to 50 lbs

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in bridging R&D and operations in your resume and interviews
    — “bridging R&D and Operations, ensuring processes are robust, safe, cost-effective, and suitable for commercial production
  • Showcase your ability to manage and develop operations teams effectively
    — “Serve as the direct lead for a team of high performing operations technicians
  • Emphasize your background in creating and maintaining safety and compliance programs
    — “Create and sustain EHS programs and policies regarding chemical handling, hazard assessment, high risk activities, PPE and waste management compliance
  • Demonstrate your experience with data capture and documentation in plant environments
    — “Ensure high-quality data capture from the plant via sampling, basic laboratory measurements, instrument uptime, and MarianaOS usage
  • Demonstrate your knowledge of engineering documents like PFDs and P&IDs
    — “Experience using engineering documents such as PFDs, control narratives, and P&IDs
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • overseeing a team of technicians
  • driving performance reviews and training
  • operating and monitoring chemical processes
  • creating and sustaining EHS programs
Typical background
supervisory role in minerals processingoperations management in chemical or biotech industry

Skills & requirements

Required

Supervisory ExperienceOperations ManagementMinerals ProcessingChemical HandlingSafety ProgramsData CaptureEquipment InstallationTroubleshootingProcess ChemistryEngineering Documents

Preferred

AI IntegrationSoftware Automation

Stack & domain

Lockout/tagout (loto)Hot Work PermittingConfined Space EntrySafe Work Permitting SystemsHuman–machine Interfaces (hmis)Plant Software SystemsEngineering DocumentsPfdsControl NarrativesP&idsBasic Process ChemistryLeadershipCommunicationMinerals ProcessingChemicalsSpecialty MaterialsOil & GasBiotech

About the role

Original posting from Marianaminerals via Ashby

ABOUT MARIANA MINERALS

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

THE ROLE

Mariana Minerals is looking for a highly motivated Operations Supervisor to join our San Francisco Pilot Plant team. You will oversee a team of high performing technicians who support the design, deployment, and operation of first-of-its-kind refining processes for critical minerals, while also supporting development of software for automated plant optimization. This position is highly hands-on and will play a critical role in bridging R&D and Operations, ensuring processes are robust, safe, cost-effective, and suitable for commercial production.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Serve as the direct lead for a team of high performing operations technicians
  • Help drive performance reviews, scheduling, training, and hiring
  • Collaborate with engineers, R&D scientists, and the technicians to operate and monitor mineral extraction chemical processes
  • Provide off-hours support on evenings and weekends to plant upsets and high priority projects
  • Create and sustain EHS programs and policies regarding chemical handling, hazard assessment, high risk activities, PPE and waste management compliance
  • Ensure high-quality data capture from the plant via sampling, basic laboratory measurements, instrument uptime, and MarianaOS usage
  • Own plant cleanliness and organization, ensuring work areas, tools, and equipment are well-maintained and ready for operations
  • Create and maintain procedures, experimental records, shift reports, and other critical operations documents

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • 2+ years of experience in a supervisory or lead role
  • 5+ years of experience operating pilot plant or commercial scale industrial equipment in the minerals processing, chemicals, specialty materials, oil & gas, biotech, or similar industry
  • Demonstrated leadership in core plant safety work processes such as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), hot work permitting, confined space entry, and safe work permitting systems
  • Experience using human–machine interfaces (HMIs) and plant software systems to monitor, control, and adjust process operation
  • Experience overseeing hands-on equipment installation, modification, and troubleshooting
  • Knowledge of basic process chemistry (pH, reaction stoichiometry, etc)
  • Experience using engineering documents such as PFDs, control narratives, and P&IDs
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Climb stairs, stand for extended periods of time, and safely lift up to 50 lbs

OUR CULTURE IS BUILT ON FOUR PRINCIPLES:

Everyone Gets Home Safe. We never put speed or cost ahead of people.

Extreme Ownership. We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions.

Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate. We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale.

Share Your Legos. We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!

Source: Marianaminerals careers (Ashby)

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