Plant Manager, Demonstration Plant

Queens Carbon | Stockertown, PA | Full-time, on-site

Build the future of cement.

About Queens Carbon

Queens Carbon is developing a new way to produce cementitious materials from limestone and clay—the same widely available feedstocks the cement industry uses today—with best-in-class economics competitive with traditional cement and a fraction of the CO₂ emissions. No incentives or green premium required.

We are building our 10-ton-per-day demonstration plant at an existing cement facility in Stockertown, Pennsylvania. We are seeking a Plant Manager to lead commissioning, startup, and day-to-day operations of this first-of-a-kind facility.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will build and manage a small operating team, establish safe and reliable plant operations, and work closely with R&D and Engineering to turn operating experience into the data and improvements needed for commercial deployment.

What You'll Do

• Lead plant commissioning, startup, and transition to steady operations, working with engineering, contractors, and equipment suppliers to resolve installation and performance issues.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and develop a small team of operators and technicians, establishing clear responsibilities, shift schedules, and performance expectations.
• Manage daily plant operations and experimental campaigns, including production scheduling, process optimization, and operating performance.
• Lead operational safety, including equipment safety, lockout/tagout, hazard assessments, training, and compliance with applicable MSHA requirements and host-site procedures.
• Coordinate activities with the host cement plant, including utilities, maintenance, site access, environmental requirements, and shared safety responsibilities.
• Work closely with R&D and Engineering to execute test plans, collect accurate process data and samples, and translate operating results into improvements for commercial system design.
• Establish preventive maintenance, spare parts, and equipment inspection programs to improve reliability and minimize downtime.
• Maintain operating procedures, run logs, safety records, and equipment documentation, including updates to P&IDs and change records.
• Manage operating budgets, contractors, consumables, materials handling, and sample shipments.
• Track and report plant performance, including safety, throughput, energy consumption, reliability, and progress against operational milestones.

What You Bring

• Industrial operations leadership: 10+ years of experience in cement, lime, minerals processing, chemicals, or related industrial operations, including direct supervision of plant personnel.
• Hands-on technical expertise: Experience commissioning, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting industrial process equipment, particularly solids handling, thermal systems, and plant utilities.
• Plant startup experience: Demonstrated ability to bring new equipment or production lines into operation, develop operating procedures, and establish reliable performance.
• Safety leadership: Strong industrial safety record and familiarity with MSHA requirements, lockout/tagout, hazard assessments, and operational safety programs.
• Technical capabilities: Ability to interpret P&IDs, mechanical drawings, operating data, and equipment documentation, with familiarity with PLC/HMI systems.
• Leadership and execution: Ability to manage people, contractors, daily priorities, and technical challenges in a fast-changing industrial environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent industrial operating and leadership experience.

Especially valuable experience: Cement manufacturing, continuous solids processing, first-of-a-kind industrial equipment, MSHA-regulated facilities, or experimental and demonstration plants. Familiarity with cement and SCM quality testing is a plus.

Don't meet every qualification? We welcome candidates from diverse industrial backgrounds who demonstrate strong technical leadership and experience bringing new technologies into operation.

Compensation & Benefits

This position is based at our demonstration plant in Stockertown, Pennsylvania, with periodic travel to our R&D headquarters in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. The role is full-time and on-site, with occasional off-hours support during commissioning and test campaigns.

The position involves working in an industrial environment with required PPE and physical activities associated with plant operations.

We offer:

• Competitive base salary
• Equity ownership in Queens Carbon
• Competitive paid time off (PTO)
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Professional development and career growth opportunities

We're building an ambitious company around an ambitious mission, with the support and flexibility for our team to do their best work.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Queens Carbon is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.