Plant Director

Plant Director

Niron Magnetics Sartell, Minnesota, United States

Niron Magnetics is commercializing the first new magnetic material in decades powered by its breakthrough material formulation and advanced manufacturing process. The company’s proprietary magnet technology based on Iron Nitride enables magnets that are inherently high magnetization, free of rare earths and other critical materials, and solve supply chain reliability challenges, will drive innovation in various industries. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Niron Magnetics is comprised of a team of professionals with a desire to make a positive impact on the global community.

We were named one of “America's Top Green Tech Companies” for 2024 and 2025 by TIME Magazine and the “Innovation of the Year” at the 2025 mHUB Fourth Revolution Awards.

Our team is made up of people who think big, dare to innovate, and strive to impact the planet through technological innovation for our customers. Ready to work alongside amazing people, solve complex problems, and leave a legacy? Join our team.

Niron Magnetics is seeking a hands‑on, execution‑driven Plant Director with proven leadership experience in a chemical or process manufacturing environment to lead operations at our new Sartell, MN manufacturing facility. This role will begin as a key leader supporting plant start‑up and commissioning and will transition into full ownership of site operations once the facility is operational. You will play a critical role in building the foundation of the plant and then leading it to sustained, high‑performance execution.

• Partner with start‑up and engineering teams to support commissioning, equipment installation, and production ramp.
• Help stand up core operational systems, including safety programs, SOPs, maintenance plans, and production workflows.
• Recruit, onboard, and train the initial operations team in preparation for launch.
• Ensure readiness across staffing, processes, and systems to enable a successful transition to production.
• Support knowledge transfer from pilot operations into scalable plant execution.
• Assume full ownership of day‑to‑day plant operations, including production, maintenance, and materials flow.
• Deliver against production targets for output, yield, and on‑time delivery.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to drive operational performance and accountability.
• Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks to ensure consistent throughput and efficiency.

• Build and sustain a world‑class safety culture from start‑up through steady‑state operations.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, and company safety standards.
• Own plant quality systems to ensure products meet all specifications and customer requirements.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions to address safety and quality issues.
• Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing plant team across operations, maintenance, and support functions.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance management systems.
• Reinforce Niron’s culture, values, and mission as the site scales.
• Partner with the People Team on workforce planning, engagement, and retention.

• Implement lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives across the plant.
• Drive improvements in efficiency, cost, yield, and cycle time.
• Standardize processes and ensure disciplined execution of operating procedures.
• Champion a data‑driven approach to decision‑making and performance management.

• Stand up and optimize plant systems, including ERP, MES, and maintenance programs.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions.
• Ensure robust preventive and predictive maintenance programs are in place.
• Build scalable infrastructure to support future growth and capacity expansion.

• Partner closely with engineering, R&D, and start‑up leadership to ensure successful process transfer and ramp.
• Collaborate with supply chain to ensure material availability and…