Technical Program Manager
Vulcan Elements · Benson, NC, United States
About The Role
<p><span data-contrast="none">Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Integrity.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">As a Technical Program Manager, you will contribute to the full lifecycle of a massive </span><span data-contrast="none">1.1 million square foot manufacturing facility</span><span data-contrast="none"> expansion—specifically leading the overarching master schedule and integration of all manufacturing engineering workstreams. You will be the central hub connecting all engineering disciplines to ensure equipment design, procurement, installation, and commissioning occur on time. This is a high-impact, high-ownership role requiring deep technical fluency and exceptional leadership presence.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span data-contrast="none">Responsibilities</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Build, connect, and maintain the comprehensive program timeline for the 1.1M square foott facility. Integrate feedback and timelines from Process, Equipment, Industrial, Controls, and Factory Engineering teams into a single, cohesive source of truth.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Track every piece of critical path equipment from initial design concepts to vendor RFQs, Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), Site Acceptance Tests (SATs), and final production commissioning.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Proactively identify critical path items and technical bottlenecks that could push the program timeline. Predict delays before they happen and work with engineering teams to develop recovery plans.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Manage and lead weekly leadership program reviews. Synthesize highly complex, technical engineering data into clear, simple, and actionable visual updates for executive stakeholders.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Act as the connective tissue across all engineering departments. Understand the technical dependencies between a facility utility hookup, a machine's electrical panel build, and a process engineer's trial schedule.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Master Gantt charts, Critical Path Method (CPM) networks, and milestone tracking dashboards.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Program Risk Registers, escalation matrices, and milestone-gated PFMEA timelines.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Weekly executive summary reports, department OKR tracking, and vendor delivery schedules.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><em><span data-contrast="none">Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.</span></em></p>
<p><strong><span data-contrast="none">Qualifications</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Management, or a related technical discipline with </span><span data-contrast="none">5+ years</span><span data-contrast="none"> of experience.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Proven experience as a program manager in a high-volume, large-scale manufacturing environment. You must possess the technical depth to understand </span><em><span data-contrast="none">what</span></em><span data-contrast="none"> the engineers are building, not just tracking dates on a calendar.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Expert-level proficiency in </span><span data-contrast="none">Smartsheet, Microsoft Project,</span><span data-contrast="none"> JIRA, and other enterprise-level project management and roadmap software.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Exceptional ability to distill complex engineering hurdles and machinery delays into simple, transparent executive summaries for leadership.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Proven track record of gathering timeline deliverables from stubborn or highly loaded technical teams and holding them accountable to project milestones without direct reporting authority.</span>  </li>
</ul>
<p><em><span data-contrast="none">Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.</span></em> <span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span data-contrast="none">Preferred Qualifications</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":276}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Experience specifically in massive-scale facilities, heavy industrial manufacturing, or automotive/aerospace gigafactories.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">PMP (Project Management Professional) or Agile/Scrum certifications.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Experience with physical equipment FAT/SAT execution and managing international equipment vendors.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Experience in highly regulated industries such as Defense (DoD), Aerospace (AS9100), or Automotive (IATF 16949).</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Physical and Environmental Requirements</strong></p>
<p>The position requires regular presence on the production floor and the ability to navigate all areas of the facility. Candidates must be able to climb stairs, stand and walk for extended periods, and work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy. The role also requires the use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and adherence to all applicable safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Employees must be able to complete required fit testing, wear appropriate PPE for the duration of assigned tasks, and respond safely to changing conditions within the production environment.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
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