Environmental Health Safety & Sustainability Manager

USA Rare Earth and the Serra Verde Group are building the world's leading rare earth enterprise—a pioneering global company that excels at every stage of the value chain, from the earth to the magnet and beyond. We operate upstream mining and processing operations in Brazil and the USA, midstream metal-making operations in the UK and France, and downstream magnet-making facilities in the USA.

Our vision is to be "The Critical Elements of Progress. Delivered Responsibly. At Global Scale." We are committed to delivering a secure, sustainable supply of rare earths and critical materials that power the modern world, with an uncompromising commitment to responsible practice. The organization operates a devolved model designed for rapid, scalable growth and the development of entrepreneurial leaders.

Our organizational model is based on the principle of clear accountability and the creation of entrepreneurial enclaves which define business units reflecting the natural components of our supply chain. Each Business Unit retains a profit motive and the responsibly to deliver shareholder returns. However, this cannot occur at the expense of overall Group value.

At USA Rare Earth, we are pioneers and problem solvers, technologists and team players. Together, we:

The Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability EHSS role is based at our Round Top site and will also support other Business Unit facilities in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of site‑level EHS programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations as well as company policies. This role partners with operations, HR, and leadership to drive a strong safety culture and reduce risk across all functions.

• →Regulatory Compliance & Oversight: Ensure unconditional compliance with MSHA regulations for open-pit and heap leach operations, alongside OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) standards for chemical processing units.
• →Radioactive & Hazardous Waste Management: Architect, maintain, and manage Radioactive Material Licenses (RML) and permits required for naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM/TENORM) associated with rare earth mineral concentration and waste streams.
• →Texas State Permitting: Oversee all Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) environmental programs, including Title V air permits, Industrial and Hazardous Waste (IHW) management, and Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) water mandates.
• →Environmental Management Systems (EMS): Design, deploy, and continuously improve a rigorous EMS structured under ISO 14001 (Environmental) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety) frameworks.
• →Transportation & Logistics Safety: Manage chemical logistics safety and compliance under US DOT and TxDOT regulations for hazardous materials, inbound processing chemicals, and outbound rare earth oxides.
• →Sustainability & ESG Leadership: Drive corporate sustainability metrics, waste minimization strategies, zero-harm safety cultures, and arid-region water conservation initiatives.

• Support the development and execution of EHS policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory bodies.
• Conduct routine inspections, audits, and risk assessments to identify hazards and recommend corrective actions.
• Assist in preparing and maintaining required regulatory documentation, permits, and reports.

• Support incident investigations, root‑cause analysis, and corrective action tracking. HOP Operational Learning Team involvement and facilitation.
• Maintain incident records and contribute to trend analysis for safety improvements.

• Deliver and track safety training (lockout/tagout, hazard communication, PPE, emergency response, etc.).
• Promote a proactive safety culture through effective communication, coaching, and employee engagement.

• Participate in safety committees, kaizen events, and EHS improvement projects.
• Support the implementation of environmental programs including waste management, recycling, sustainability, and chemical management.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, or a related technical discipline. Experience may substitute
• Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive EHS leadership experience spanning both heavy civil mining (MSHA) and chemical manufacturing/refining environments (OSHA PSM).
• Specialized Expertise: Proven track record executing radioactive material waste licensing, NORM/TENORM management, and radiation safety officer (RSO) level protocols.
• Regional & Systems Mastery: Deep operational familiarity with TCEQ frameworks and hands-on experience building or auditing certified ISO 14001/45001 systems. 
• Language Skills: Professional proficiency in English is required; bilingual capability (English/Spanish) is highly desirable for the regional El Paso workforce landscape.
• Ability to work multiple/varying shifts and travel up to 20%

• Safety mindset
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Collaboration and influencing
• Attention to detail
• Continuous improvement mindset

The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, construction site, and active mining site. This work will be performed on-site at Round Top Mountain, including on drilling pads, and in the on-site core storage facility.    

Exposure will vary and include normal office noise, mining site noise (i.e. drilling activity and heavy equipment noise), and construction site noise depending on project phase and location.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporate reporting structure.

USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

If you require assistance with the application process due to a disability, please contact people@usare.com to discuss reasonable accommodations.