VP / Senior Manager, Operations and Engineering

Overview

Founded in 2021, NEU Battery Materials is a Singapore-based climatetech company that developed the world’s first patented electrochemical redox recycling method to recycle used lithium batteries. The company focuses on extracting critical lithium from lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries that are found in electric cars and energy storage systems, which will be key in developing a circular supply chain. NEU aims to be the largest, cleanest, and most neutral source of recycled lithium globally. NEU’s contribution to electrification and circularity has been recognized by the likes of the Temasek Foundation, BloombergNEF, Forbes Asia, and many others.

This is a contract role with the potential to convert to a permanent position based on performance and fit. We are looking for an experienced VP / Senior Manager of Operations and Engineering, to join our engineering team during a critical scale-up phase.

Please send your resume to [email protected]  

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Objectives

The candidate will be responsible for:

• Timely project delivery: deliver key milestones on schedule and within approved capital expenditure plan
• Performance: improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), uptime, yield, and cost-efficiency versus plan
• Safety & compliance: ensure operational safety, and secure and maintain permits with the relevant regulatory authorities
• Operating system & team: build the Operations & Engineering organization and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs).

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Responsibilities

Engineering Scale Up & Project Delivery

• Lead the end-to-end scale-up of NEU’s proprietary recycling process from lab-scale to commercial-scale by coordinating in-house development, external collaborations and EPCs
  Oversee process layout, utilities, and infrastructure developmentDefine project scope, schedule, CAPEX, and resource plans, while ensuring delivery on time and within budgetTranslate lab-scale and pilot insights into scalable, cost-efficient commercial engineering solutions
• Serve as internal owner and coordinator for EPCM contractors or third-party engineering consultants
  Identify, evaluate, and manage engineering consultants, EPCs, and contractorsReview engineering deliverables, drawings, and safety documentationEnsure quality, safety, and technical standards are met at all stages
• Establish and enforce engineering quality, safety, and performance standards for commercialisation
• Translate validated R&D insights into robust, scalable process specifications

Local Operations

• Coordinate with internal teams, contractors, and suppliers to ensure alignment across all workstreams
• Manage and own the full material flow, from feedstock intake to outboard materials
• Drive OEE, uptime, cost-per-ton, and other plant performance KPIs
• Lead process operating cost and identify potential cost reduction opportunities for future commercial plant design
• Lead and support process validation, performance testing, and troubleshooting during commissioning
• Manage all relevant Singapore permits and approvals (e.g. NEA, SCDF, MOM, PUB)
• Ensure compliance with chemical handling, safety, waste management, and environmental discharge standards
• Establish scalable frameworks for regulatory compliance applicable to international markets
• Guide and mentor junior engineers in plant design, vendor management, and commissioning

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Process, or Industrial Engineering; MBA or PMP is a plus
• Minimum 8 years of experience in scaling industrial processes from lab-scale to commercial-scale, EPCM, or operations leadership, ideally within lithium, chemical, or recycling sectors
• Proven track record in taking technologies from pilot stage to full-scale operations, and EPCM or plant project management (concept to commissioning)
• Deep understanding of plant engineering design, commissioning, and manufacturing systems
• Strong operations management skills, including material handling, SOPs, logistics, maintenance, and EH&S
• Ideally experienced in mentoring engineers and working cross-functionally in R&D-heavy environments
• Possess good analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication in English
• Familiarity with international (US/EU) environmental and industrial safety frameworks.
• Good to have knowledge in any of these areas; flow battery, redox flow processes, electrochemical processes, fuel cell