Senior Director, CEPS bei MP Materials

Company Overview:

MP Materials (NYSE: MP) is rebuilding American industrial capability for a new era of autonomy, robotics, and electrification.

We are the only U.S. company with a fully integrated rare earth supply chain—from mining and refining to advanced metal and magnet manufacturing. Our products include both the critical materials used to make permanent magnets and the finished magnets themselves—enabling next-generation technologies in robotics, automation, aerospace, transportation, defense, and energy systems. These materials are the foundation of physical AI—the convergence of computation, movement, and control.

We hire ambitious, mission-driven people who want to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of strategic industries. Our culture is rooted in teamwork, resiliency, and integrity, with a deep commitment to operational excellence and national purpose. MP is rapidly evolving from a materials producer into a leading U.S. manufacturer—and our people are driving that transformation.

Position Overview:

MP Materials is seeking a strategic and results-driven Senior Director of CEPS (Cost, Estimating, Planning & Services) to lead a critical function within a newly established business unit focused on manufacturing rare earth alloys and magnets—key components for advancing U.S. autonomy, robotics, and electrification.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Capital Projects, this role will collaborate closely with Corporate Leadership and site-based teams to drive the successful execution of MP Materials’ capital project portfolio. The Senior Director will be responsible for delivering robust scope definition, cost estimation, scheduling, and risk analysis from early project development through execution.

This leader will empower decision-makers by providing accurate forecasts, risk-informed sensitivity analyses, and ensuring alignment with MP Materials’ governance frameworks and standards. A strong background in PMO reporting design and implementation is essential, as this role will partner with peers—such as the Senior Director of Performance & Analytics—to embed cost and planning insights into enterprise dashboards and reporting tools. This is a high-impact, on-site leadership role based in Fort Worth, TX.

Championing best practices and lessons learned across all projects.

Driving continuous improvement in capital project planning and controls.

Ensuring integration of cost and schedule data into strategic decision-making.

Responsibilities:

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position; it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

• Comprehensive project leadership while working closely with corporate leadership teams.   
• Direct all functional leads in CEPS on all project phases including engineering, procurement, construction, project management, and operations teams to define project scope, boundaries, interfaces.
• Develop preliminary estimates of capital projects in early stages (including bid estimation); update estimates and forecasts through the life cycle of each project.
• Incorporate escalation, Project Management allowance, contingency, and risk adjustments into overall cost estimates; perform scenario risk analysis and workshops.
• Develop and maintain project schedules; perform critical path analysis, schedule risk assessment.
• Monitor project execution vs plans: track cost, schedule, scope changes; forecasts, and report variances; suggest corrective actions.
• Support the stage/gate or phase-review process, preparing required deliverables.
• Create, maintain and improve estimating tools, databases and processes; keep benchmarking data and cost indices.
• Participate in risk workshops, contractor bid reviews, change management.
• Ensure compliance with MP Materials standards, safety/environmental/regulatory requirements.
• Facilitate communication among stakeholders; ensure clarity of roles/interdependencies.
• Be an active leader in building a respectful, collaborative, mission-driven, unwavering culture.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or similar). Master’s Degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in capital projects, especially in Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Energy Industries. Experience in both upstream & downstream.
• 10+ years of experience in cost estimating, project controls, schedule development & risk analysis.
• Experience with industry tools for estimation, benchmarking, scheduling, risk.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering projects within budget and schedule.
• Project planning / scheduling expertise; knowledge of critical path method, schedule risk analysis.
• Organizational skills; ability to manage multiple tasks / projects.
• Skilled in creating and delivering clear, concise executive-level briefings, presentations, and communications for internal and external communications.
• Analytical, strategic, and structured thinker with entrepreneurial drive.
• Proactive, resourceful, self-motivated, and possessing exemplary interpersonal skills.
• Ability to drive action and results within a matrixed organization across multiple sites.

Desired Qualities:

• Experience in manufacturing, mining, logistics, or industrial environments.
• Strong analytical skills; ability to work with quantitative data, forecasting, cost models.
• Excellent understanding of capital projects (cost, schedule, risk).
• Familiarity with cost estimating and planning tools / software.
• Good communication skills: able to explain estimates, plans, risks, trade-offs to varied audiences (engineers, management, contractors).
• Ability to work cross-functionally and deal with ambiguity / changes.

MP Materials is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Underrepresented groups/Women/Disabled/Veterans are encouraged to apply. Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet the position’s requirements will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.

Your Right to Work – In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification document form upon hire.

For Assistance with Application - Alternative methods of applying for employment are available to individuals unable to submit an application through this site because of a disability. Contact Human Resources Department at 702-844-6111; dial 7 when prompted for HR; 1700 South Pavilion Center Dr. 8th Floor, Las Vegas, NV 89135 to discuss reasonable accommodation.