Phoenix Tailings · 23 hours ago
VP of Exploration
Burlington, MA
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$170K/yr - $250K/yr
10+ years expPhoenix Tailings is a rapidly-growing clean mining and metals production startup dedicated to sustainable and economic critical metals production. The VP of Exploration will lead the identification and acquisition of high-value rare earth tailings resources worldwide, focusing on sourcing, evaluating, and securing strategic resources essential for clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Advanced MaterialsCleanTechIndustrialManufacturingMiningSustainabilityWaste Management
Responsibilities
Develop and execute a targeted exploration strategy to identify tailings sources with high concentrations of rare earth elements and other critical metals
Lead on-the-ground investigations and testing programs to confirm resource composition, grade, and potential recovery methods
Build and maintain a robust pipeline of rare earth tailings projects that align with Phoenix Tailings’ growth and sustainability goals
Negotiate and secure favorable agreements with site owners, government agencies, and industry partners to gain long-term access to strategic resources
Establish and track exploration KPIs & OKRs to measure progress, quality, and economic potential of sourced sites
Navigate regulatory frameworks, permitting processes, and community engagement to ensure responsible and compliant project development
Collaborate with internal technical teams to integrate exploration findings into processing and production planning
Qualification
Required
10+ years of experience in mineral exploration, with a strong track record in rare earths, critical metals, or similar commodities
Proven success in sourcing and securing large-scale resource projects, preferably involving tailings or secondary sources
Bachelor's degree in geology, mining engineering, metallurgy, or a related field
Strong legal and commercial acumen
Startup or growth-stage leadership experience in mining, industrial, or advanced materials sectors
Exceptional ability to develop strategic relationships with governments, industry leaders, and community stakeholders
Highly detail-oriented with excellent project management and organizational skills
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
Deep commitment to advancing sustainable, clean metals production for a better future
Preferred
Advanced degree in geology, mining engineering, metallurgy, or a related field
JD or experience in contract negotiation and permitting
Benefits
Healthcare, we care about you and your family: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Stock: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.
Family Focus: Parental leave and flexibility for families.
Time Off: Flexible vacation policy to encourage people to get out and see the world.
Team Fun: Regularly scheduled events, and celebrations.
Learning: Learning and development Opportunities to grow your skills and career.
Great team: Working with fun, hard-working, kind people committed to making a difference!
Flexible culture: We are results-focused. We don’t work at the office every day.
Company
Phoenix Tailings
Phoenix Tailings is a metals-refining company that transforms mining waste (“tailings”) into usable rare earth and critical metals.
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Phoenix Tailings has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
2024 (3)
2023 (1)
2022 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$104.24MKey Investors
ARPA-EEnvisioning PartnersMassVentures
2025-12-25Series B
2025-12-04Grant· $1.6M
2025-04-30Series B· $33M
Leadership Team
Nicholas Myers
CEO & Co-Founder
Anthony Balladon
Chief Commercial Officer & Co-Founder
Recent News
2025-12-30
2025-12-29
Company data provided by crunchbase