Plant Manager, Rare Earth Processing Facility - #231467

For nearly 80 years, Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has helped shape Canada’s innovation economy. As the country’s second largest research and technology organization, SRC is recognized nationally for advancing applied research, commercialization and industrial innovation across mining, energy, agriculture, environmental stewardship and advanced materials.

Today, SRC is leading some of Canada’s most important initiatives in critical minerals, rare earth processing, battery materials and nuclear development — positioning Saskatchewan as a global innovation hub and strengthening Canada’s industrial future.

To support this momentum, SRC is seeking an exceptional leader to join the organization as Plant Manager, Rare Earth Processing Facility.

This is a rare opportunity to lead projects of strategic national importance — translating advanced technologies into commercial reality and helping build Canada’s future critical minerals infrastructure.

Saskatchewan Research Council is seeking a Plant Manager, Rare Earth Processing Facility to lead the safe, reliable and efficient operation of SRC’s first-of-its-kind, fully integrated rare earth processing operation in North America. Located in Saskatoon, this complex 24/7 facility includes hydrometallurgy, separation, metal smelting, utilities, feed and chemical handling, and supporting infrastructure. As SRC transitions from construction and commissioning into commercial operations, the Plant Manager will play a defining role in establishing the operating model, building operational readiness, and creating the systems, standards and disciplined practices required for long-term success.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Plant Manager will provide leadership across production, safety, maintenance coordination, workforce capability, regulatory compliance, process performance and continuous improvement. The role will work closely with project, commissioning, technical and maintenance teams to support final commissioning, lead start-up and ramp-up, optimize throughput, recovery, quality and cost performance, and develop a high-performing team of supervisors, operators, trades and technical professionals. This is a rare opportunity to help bring one of North America’s most advanced rare earth processing facilities into stable commercial operation while contributing directly to Canada’s critical minerals supply chain.

The ideal candidate is a credible, visible and practical industrial operations leader with experience in complex 24/7 processing environments such as chemical processing, mining, metallurgical operations, resource extraction or other heavy industrial settings. They will bring strong safety leadership, operational discipline, technical judgment, people leadership and the ability to work effectively across operations, engineering, maintenance, commissioning, regulatory and stakeholder groups. A degree in engineering or a related technical discipline is preferred, although equivalent technical education and significant industrial operations leadership experience will be considered.

Based in Saskatoon, this role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully at the intersection of innovation, commercialization and nation-building infrastructure — while enjoying the exceptional quality of life, collaborative business environment and growing global profile of one of Canada’s most dynamic research and resource centres.

To explore this opportunity further, please click Apply.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Please note that we will only be in contact with those individuals moving forward with our client.