Head of Recycling

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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.


This position reports to the SVP Commercial.


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.


Apply Now

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

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.


This position reports to the SVP Commercial.


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.


Learn more

Instrumentation and Electrical Technician

Ascend Elements® 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 greenhouse gas emissions. The results are lower cost, better performing batteries, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. This closed-loop process also allows for fewer end-of-life batteries being discarded in landfills. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.


Job Summary: The Instrumentation and Electrical Technician will be responsible for the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of instrumentation, electrical systems, control systems, and computer data systems. This role requires a versatile technician with expertise in multiple disciplines to ensure the efficient operation of our facilities and systems.


Key Responsibilities:





    • Install, maintain, and repair electrical, instrumentation, and control systems equipment.

    • Perform routine inspections and preventive maintenance on electrical systems.

    • Troubleshoot and resolve electrical and instrumentation issues.

    • Ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.

    • Monitor and adjust control systems to optimize performance.

    • Diagnose and repair control system malfunctions.

    • Collaborate with engineering teams to implement control system upgrades.

    • Install, configure, and maintain computer hardware and software systems.

    • Monitor network performance and troubleshoot connectivity issues.

    • Ensure data integrity and security through regular backups and updates.

    • Provide technical support to end-users and resolve IT-related issues.




Desired Qualifications:


Education:



  • Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Instrumentation Technology, or a related field.

  • Technical Diploma in Electronics or Electrical Systems.


Certifications:



  • Certified Instrumentation Technician (CIT): Demonstrates expertise in installing, troubleshooting, calibrating, and repairing instrumentation systems.

  • Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST): Focuses on control systems and their maintenance.

  • Electrical Technician Certification: Covers electrical principles and safety procedures.

  • PLC Programming Certification: Provides knowledge in programmable logic controllers, which are essential for control systems.

  • CompTIA A+ Certification: Validates skills in computer hardware and software, useful for maintaining computer data systems.


Additional Qualifications:



  • Apprenticeship Program: Practical experience through hands-on training.

  • Safety Training: Knowledge of safety standards and regulations.


Physical Requirements:



  • Capable of wearing task specific personal protective equipment which may include dust mask, air purifying respirator (i.e., half and/or full faced), safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection.

  • Capable of meeting OSHA standards for manual lifting guidelines: < 50lbs

  • While performing the duties of this job it is required to stand, walk, and use hands to operate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands or arms; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch when necessary for job activity.

  • Ability to work at height, in man lifts, climb ladders, and stand and/or walk for extended periods.

  • Must be able to work in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures.


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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.



Learn more

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