Project Manager (Supplier/Customer Interface & Technical Project Management)

Neo Performance Materials Helps Build Technologies of Tomorrow

Neo is fast-forwarding the green energy transition by manufacturing the critical building blocks of modern, sustainable technologies. Our advanced industrial materials—including magnetic powders and magnets, specialty chemicals, metals, and alloys—enhance efficiency and performance in everyday products and next-generation innovations.

The business of Neo is organized along three segments: Magnequench, Chemicals & Oxides and Rare Metals. Neo is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; with corporate offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado, United States; Singapore; and Beijing, China. Neo has a global platform that includes manufacturing facilities located in Canada, Estonia, China, Germany, Thailand and the United Kingdom, as well as a dedicated research and development center in Singapore.

This position plays a key role in managing projects in the field of minor and specialty metals. As Project Manager, you will coordinate cross-functional technical-commercial initiatives related to both minor metals (e.g. tantalum, niobium, hafnium, etc.) and rare earth materials used in advanced industrial, aerospace, semiconductor, and automotive applications. With your process engineering background, you will act as a technical counterpart to strategic suppliers or buyers and support internal project teams through the full lifecycle of supplier or customer development and improvement, feed/product qualification, process adaptation, and commercial scale-up of new processes and/or products.

This is a 24-month contract with possibility for extension or move to permanent role

The role is designed for a professional with a good understanding of chemical, metallurgical or material science-based processes. Your expertise will contribute to securing and expanding supplier/customer relationships, enabling the successful scale-up of process and product development and ensuring that projects meet both technical and commercial objectives.

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ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Leadership & Process/Product Development

• Serve as the Project Management lead to bring new processes or products to market. You will be supported by technical and commercial specialists, either internal or external, who execute specific skill-based tasks related to their competency.
• Understand supplier, Neo and customer process specifications and translate them into internal project tasks, owners and schedules (incl. feasibility study and supply chain market needs -business applications).
• Further develop and champion a world-class environment for Process Development and Project Management within the Rare Metals and Chemicals & Oxides divisions of Neo Performance Materials.
• Framing/pitching new product and process development ideas and justifying new initiatives by collecting, organizing and presenting preliminary supporting techno-economic analysis in collaboration with both the commercial and technical team representatives.
• Manage all phases of project execution, from initial RFQ and sampling to customer qualification, process/product validation, and scale-up/ramp-up in Neo factories.
• Coordinate between internal departments (production, R&D, quality, commercial, legal) and external partners/contractors to ensure timely and successful delivery.

Technical Project Management & Expertise

• Manage, with technical input from internal SMEs, the Scope of Work that needs to be executed internally by Neo Production or R&D teams, 3rd-party vendors, consultants, and/or technology providers in support of R&D/production project initiatives for business growth.
• Support suppliers in selecting the right materials and process routes for their product to be compatible with Neo processing applications (automotive, energy, electronics, etc.). Do the same for Neo’s product being compatible with our customer processing applications.
• Assist in scaling lab solutions to industrial production with consideration of cost, quality, and compliance. You will be supported by a specialist (either internal or external).

Project & Commercial Integration

• Track project milestones, risks, and resource planning in alignment with Neo business priorities. Create and sustain the team spirit.
• Serve as the main communication interface between 3rd-party technology teams, vendors, consultants, tolling/JV partners, or technology providers and multi-disciplinary internal SMEs & engineers.
• Support business case development efforts with technical input and cost/benefit assessments.
• Contribute to the development of customer proposals and pricing strategies.
• Present project updates and technical solutions internally and externally in a clear and structured manner.

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Education and/or Experience:

• B.Sc. or B.Eng. degree in Process Engineering (e.g. Chemical/Metallurgical or Material Science) or a related field would be an asset for this position. Although not a requirement, advanced degrees (M.Sc., M.Eng. or PhD) would be a plus.
• Three-Four years of experience in project management within an engineering environment for the advanced materials and metals producing industry. A proven track record in managing complex B2B projects with cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of minor metals (e.g. tantalum, niobium, hafnium, etc.), rare earths and their processing methods is helpful, but not a requirement.
• Experience working with suppliers/customers in the chemical/metallurgy/process engineering industry that serves the automotive, aerospace, electronics or energy sector is a strong plus.

Qualifications:

• Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with all levels of administrative, technical and commercial/financial staff.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills in technical and commercial contexts.
• Technical understanding of process engineering and industrial production standards.
• Structured and analytical approach to problem solving and decision making.
• Hands-on mentality combined with strategic thinking and business orientation.

Language Skills & Additional Eligibility:

• English – fluent (mandatory).
• This role is based in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada site (in office full-time). Relocation assistance may be available (evaluated case-by-case).
• Available for national and international travel to other Neo sites and partner sites for testing & development globally, as required (15-25%).

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Salary Range: CAD 75,000 – CAD 90,000 annual

AI tools may be utilized for portions of the review process such as screening applications; however all final decisions are made with human judgement. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable employment laws.

Neo is committed to equal opportunity employment. Accommodation is available upon request from people with disabilities during the recruitment and selection process. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted