Head of Recycling

Ascend Elements (AE) is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.


Driven by the legislation in US and North America and general drive for sustainability within the automotive sector AE is seeing a dramatic growth in new business & strategic collaboration opportunities. We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to serve as the Head of Recycling. This position will lead all recycling operations across North America and Europe, including oversight of AE’s joint venture in Europe. The role will be responsible for full P&L management, feedstock sourcing, byproduct sales, strategic planning, import/export compliance and permitting and expansion initiatives, including M&A and investments.


Primary Responsibilities



  • Build and manage a high performing team that effectively operates within a matrix organization throughout AE and affiliated entities.

  • Oversee the implementation of recycling operations processes.

  • Generate and leverage a network of relationships with EOL battery collectors and production scrap decision makers.

  • Deliver profitable and stable stream of feedstock for US and EU operations.

  • Develop by-product off-take arrangements and contracts.

  • Develop and execute a strategy for recycling operations growth.

  • Oversee operations in NA and EU, including delivering and reporting P&L.

  • Develop and maintain permitting compliance for hazardous material (feedstock and Black Mass) shipments between NA, EU and Asia regions.

  • Develop and execute business and financial models.

  • Lead or support negotiations for key commercial agreements, including feedstock supply, byproduct offtake, partnerships, and service contracts.

  • Work with the strategy team to support expansion activities including Joint Ventures and M&A initiatives.

  • Lead annual budgeting and long-term revenue forecasting.


Qualifications & Experience:



  • Extensive experience in a business development leadership role within battery material or battery recycling sector.

  • Demonstrated success in feedstock sourcing and byproduct commercialization.

  • Experience with regulatory permitting, logistics, and supply chain optimization.

  • Proven experience with full P&L ownership and operational scaling.

  • Skilled in contract negotiation and developing commercial agreements.

  • Experience with financial modeling, business case development, and strategic planning.

  • Knowledge of M&A processes and investment evaluation preferred.

  • Hands-on, detailed oriented leader who promotes a lean culture oriented towards action and results delivery.

  • Experience developing and managing a team in an ever-changing environment.

  • Experience and track record of performance for a start-up / scale up organization would be an advantage.

  • Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in an occasionally high-pressure environment.

  • Proactive, solution-orientation with exceptional judgment and creativity. Ability to think strategically, appropriately weighing commercial, financial and business objectives.

  • Experience collaborating across departments (operations, sales, R&D, and supply chain) to ensure operational goals align with recycling strategy.

  • Excellent oral and written communication, as well as interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.


Work Environment



  • Fast-paced, hands-on, start-up type environment.

  • Frequent travel throughout North America and occasional travel to Europe. (25-30%)



Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


Our Hiring Process

Benefits and Culture

From health and wellness to employee engagement and professional development, our goal is to foster a thriving workplace culture. Check out our benefits and culture section to learn more about our various programs and initiatives.

We are committed to supporting a company culture that will positively impact your quality of life and contribute to your professional success – making Ascend Elements somewhere you’ll want to stay for a long time.

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Who We Are

We are made up of an impressive variety of talented employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

United States Veterans
Ascend Element United States Veterans — From serving our country to joining the Ascend Elements Team. Find your new home with a strong and proud group of fellow veterans.

"Ascend Elements is an opportunity to join a purpose-driven company at the ground floor, where your well-earned technical and leadership skills can have a direct impact on our growth and progress in a pioneer US industry. Ascend Elements provides a work environment and culture all too familiar with veterans; like-minded individuals (including many veterans) from diverse backgrounds and skills working towards a common goal through commitment and collaboration."

Ben Pope

Construction Program Manager, United States Marine Corps

“Similar to the reason why most veterans joined the military, employees at Ascend Elements feel a sense of purpose and meaning beyond themselves. It's not just a job here, it's everyone at Ascend marching in the same direction with the end goal of keeping America at the top of cutting-edge technology in the battery materials industry and preserving rare Earth metals.”

Cory Radcliffe

Construction Program Manager United States Marine Corps and Air Force

"You can apply skills learned in the military like teamwork and critical thinking every day to solve problems in an environment where your background is welcomed. In the same vein as my time in the Army, I get to provide meaningful contributions to real world problems alongside a group of people committed to a collective goal."

Andrew Walther

Construction Program Manager, United States Army

Interns to Full Time
Interns can journey to full-time team members. From interns to full time employees. Hear how their experience drove them to join the Ascend Elements Team permanently.

“Being an intern at AE allowed me to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application in engineering. Working on projects at the pilot facility brought my academic knowledge to life, deepening my understanding of engineering concepts. Choosing permanent employment at AE post-graduation was driven by the company's rapid growth, ensuring diverse experiences across multiple engineering domains and avoiding monotony in tasks."

Alexis Clark

Chemical Engineer

"Being an intern at Ascend Elements opened many doors for me and helped me to land several interviews both inside and outside AE prior to joining full time. The experience I accrued as an intern helped to guide my thinking and to realize what career path I wanted to pursue. You will not find a more dedicated and passionate team than Team Ascend!"

Matt Eggert

Associate Scientist

Passion for Communities 
& Sustainability
Want to make a difference? From sustainability to community advocacy, our employees have a passion for making the world a better place.

“Ascend Elements’ investment and commitment in Hopkinsville will be a game changer for our community for generations to come. The Ascend Elements leadership is dedicated to not only upcycling, but also the culture of growth within the organization.”

DeeAnna Sova

Equity Program Manager

"Ascend Elements is a company that is going to change the carbon footprint on the earth by recycling EV batteries. We are always working on ways to change the future of an EV batteries in the world. AE has found a process to keep batteries out of landfills and to recycle them back to a battery grade product that can be reused and/or recycled."

Kay Dixon

Sales Order Specialist

Similar Jobs

Senior Plant Cost Accountant

Ascend Element is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.


Senior Plant Cost Accountant – Covington, GA – Ascend Elements is currently experiencing growth and therefore is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Plant Cost Accountant to join our team at our Covington manufacturing facility. The Senior Plant Cost Accountant will play a critical role in overseeing all financial activities at the plant level, providing valuable insights to drive business performance, and ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures. The role reports to the Corporate Controller and collaborates with and supports the Covington Plant Leadership team. This position is on-site at our Covington, GA, office.


Key Responsibilities:



  • Manage financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting for the Covington facility.

  • Perform the monthly closing activities for the Covington facility, including the preparation of monthly journal entries and collaboration with the corporate accounting and financial planning and analysis teams to provide accurate and timely financial data and support ad-hoc reporting requests.

  • Responsible for the accuracy of the standard costs starting with the bill of materials and item costs, labor routings, labor rates, as well as overhead assignments.

  • Develop and maintain standard costs and prepare variance analysis reports for inventory, manufacturing costs, and standard cost variances.

  • Analyzes and models changes in product design, raw materials, overhead, manufacturing methods, etc., for effects on production costs.

  • Analyze and report manufacturing efficiency variances and determine corrective action requirements. Ensures items are correctly classified and all reporting is prepared in accordance with GAAP.

  • Responsible for estimating, tracking, and reporting costs associated with new product development and contract manufacturing partners.

  • Proactive analysis of plant performance metrics and variances (budget/forecast vs. actuals) and communication of issues and opportunities to operations management.

  • Develops additional metrics and tracking system for major cost drivers.

  • Communicate/educate internal and external stakeholders regarding the cost data.

  • Partner with Plant Manager to develop and implement strategies to optimize operational efficiency and profitability.

  • Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements.

  • Provides independent oversight of inventory management to ensure accurate physical levels and alignment with the accounting systems and reported amounts.

  • Work with manufacturing and logistics teams to conduct cycle counts and year-end physical inventory.

  • May perform other duties as required.


Ideal Profile:



  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field; CPA, CMA, or advance degree preferred.

  • Minimum of five years of experience in a similar role within the manufacturing industry, experience in a start-up company and/or in the chemical sector is highly desirable.

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems, experience with SAP (Cloud4/Hana) required.

  • Strong understanding of cost accounting principles and experience with manufacturing cost analysis.

  • Results oriented focused, excellence in execution approach.

  • Proven track record of driving process improvements and implementing best practices in financial management and cost accounting.

  • Excellent analytical skills with the ability to translate financial data into actionable insights.

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams.

  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.

  • Ability to prioritize and work independently on a variety of assignments with minimal supervision.

  • Ability to accurately determine deadlines.

  • Commutable distance within the Covington/Atlanta area (5 days / week in office)



Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


Environmental, Heath, and Safety (EHS) Specialist 

Ascend Elements is a fast-growing organization that is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials for electric vehicles. Recognized as a climate technology leader, the company elevates the value of recycled elements and engineers’ sustainable battery materials to support the global clean-energy transition. The company’s patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis technology produces new, sustainable cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in improved performance and lower carbon emissions. Ascend Elements is taking sustainability in the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.


The Environmental, Heath, and Safety (EHS) Specialist will be responsible for providing full time EHS support to the operations teams in compliance with applicable policy and regulatory requirements at our Covington, Georgia facility. The individual in this position will support the Corporate EHS team in the coordination of training programs to establish and promote a safe, accident free, and healthy workplace, and maintain compliance with federal and Georgia environmental regulations.


Responsibilities include but not limited to:



  • Develop, maintain, and audit environmental, health, and safety programs and systems.

  • Support compliance with all federal, state, and local EH&S regulations.

  • Provide support regarding routine environmental compliance sampling requirements (e.g., stormwater, air, wastewater).

  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement and safe workplace habits.

  • Assist with coordination of Safety Committee Meetings, lead meetings, when needed.

  • Support air, water, wastewater, and hazardous waste permitting and compliance.

  • Assist in the development and updating safety standards, instructions, codes, and formalize them into company documented practices, as required.

  • Assist in the development of facility specific EHS procedures for safe work practices and equipment operation.

  • Audit the implementation of inspection policies and procedures, and a schedule of routine inspections.

  • Verify proper safety protocols are in place and being followed.

  • Create and facilitate safety and hazard training courses.

  • Assist in training managers and staff to identify unsafe behaviors and at-risk conditions.

  • Participate in Root Cause Analysis on incidents and near misses.

  • Coordinate with all local, state, and federal AHJs to ensure proper completion and filing of all required reports, inspections, and documentation, as required.

  • Facilitate emergency response drills and foster relationships with local emergency first responders.


Education and Other Qualifications:



  • Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years of EHS experience in a relevant science and engineering field

  • Experience with manufacturing/chemical processing knowledge preferred.

  • 40-hour HAZWOPER training preferred

  • Experience implementing EHS systems

  • Experience with process safety, chemical safety, audits and inspections, and risk management

  • Ability to function in a fast-paced environment in a growing company

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

  • Knowledge of EHS, OSHA, DOT, RCRA, GA EPD, and shipping laws and regulations

  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software

  • Ability to speak and write English

  • Ability to wear an air purifying respirator and other company-required personal protective equipment

  • Able to lift 50 pounds


Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


Head of Recycling

Ascend Elements (AE) is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.


Driven by the legislation in US and North America and general drive for sustainability within the automotive sector AE is seeing a dramatic growth in new business & strategic collaboration opportunities. We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to serve as the Head of Recycling. This position will lead all recycling operations across North America and Europe, including oversight of AE’s joint venture in Europe. The role will be responsible for full P&L management, feedstock sourcing, byproduct sales, strategic planning, import/export compliance and permitting and expansion initiatives, including M&A and investments.


Primary Responsibilities



  • Build and manage a high performing team that effectively operates within a matrix organization throughout AE and affiliated entities.

  • Oversee the implementation of recycling operations processes.

  • Generate and leverage a network of relationships with EOL battery collectors and production scrap decision makers.

  • Deliver profitable and stable stream of feedstock for US and EU operations.

  • Develop by-product off-take arrangements and contracts.

  • Develop and execute a strategy for recycling operations growth.

  • Oversee operations in NA and EU, including delivering and reporting P&L.

  • Develop and maintain permitting compliance for hazardous material (feedstock and Black Mass) shipments between NA, EU and Asia regions.

  • Develop and execute business and financial models.

  • Lead or support negotiations for key commercial agreements, including feedstock supply, byproduct offtake, partnerships, and service contracts.

  • Work with the strategy team to support expansion activities including Joint Ventures and M&A initiatives.

  • Lead annual budgeting and long-term revenue forecasting.


Qualifications & Experience:



  • Extensive experience in a business development leadership role within battery material or battery recycling sector.

  • Demonstrated success in feedstock sourcing and byproduct commercialization.

  • Experience with regulatory permitting, logistics, and supply chain optimization.

  • Proven experience with full P&L ownership and operational scaling.

  • Skilled in contract negotiation and developing commercial agreements.

  • Experience with financial modeling, business case development, and strategic planning.

  • Knowledge of M&A processes and investment evaluation preferred.

  • Hands-on, detailed oriented leader who promotes a lean culture oriented towards action and results delivery.

  • Experience developing and managing a team in an ever-changing environment.

  • Experience and track record of performance for a start-up / scale up organization would be an advantage.

  • Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in an occasionally high-pressure environment.

  • Proactive, solution-orientation with exceptional judgment and creativity. Ability to think strategically, appropriately weighing commercial, financial and business objectives.

  • Experience collaborating across departments (operations, sales, R&D, and supply chain) to ensure operational goals align with recycling strategy.

  • Excellent oral and written communication, as well as interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.


Work Environment



  • Fast-paced, hands-on, start-up type environment.

  • Frequent travel throughout North America and occasional travel to Europe. (25-30%)



Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


Senior Project Controls Manager

Ascend Elements (AE) is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.


The Senior Project Controls Manager is responsible for overseeing and leading all aspects of project controls across multiple or large-scale capital projects. This includes planning, scheduling, cost control, progress measurement, change management, forecasting, and reporting. This role ensures that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget, while aligning with company objectives and client expectations.


Primary Location: Nashville, Tennessee.


Key Responsibilities:



  • Develop and maintain integrated project schedules using tools such as Primavera P6 and MS Project.

  • Establish and manage project budgets, cost control systems, cash flow, and earned value analysis.

  • Lead and supervise a team of schedulers, cost analysts, and document control professionals.

  • Coordinate closely with project managers, engineering, procurement, construction, and finance teams to ensure accurate and timely reporting.

  • Identify and analyze project risks, trends, and deviations; recommend mitigation strategies.

  • Implement and maintain project controls procedures, systems, and tools in alignment with company standards.

  • Support project setup including WBS, coding structures, baseline development, and resource loading.

  • Lead change management and change order processes; ensure all changes are properly documented and incorporated into cost and schedule baselines.

  • Prepare and present executive-level progress reports and dashboards to internal stakeholders and clients.

  • Support proposal development and provide input on execution plans, schedules, and budgets during bid phase.

  • Coach and mentor junior staff; promote a culture of continuous improvement.

  • Liase with AE FP&A to forecast cash required to support multiple ongoing projects.


Education and Qualifications:



  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or a related field. Master’s degree or PMP certification is a plus.

  • 10+ years of experience in project controls with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior management role.

  • Strong expertise in project planning and cost control methodologies, including earned value management (EVM).

  • Proficient in scheduling and cost management software: Primavera P6, MS Project, Excel, and cost systems such as Deltek, EcoSys, or similar.

  • Experience working in PMC, EPC, EPCM, or industrial capital projects (e.g., oil & gas, infrastructure, power, chemicals, or renewables).

  • Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.

  • Ability to work across time zones and manage global teams, if required.

  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.



Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


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