Vice President Operations
1 day ago
Tampa
About the Company: American Circular Solutions (ACS) is an AI-enabled IT asset disposition (ITAD) and electronics recycling startup launching in Tampa Bay. We combine computer vision sorting, robotic disassembly, and certified data destruction to serve enterprise clients who need compliant, auditable, and sustainable IT asset disposition. We are building the first AI-enabled, military-grade ITAD facility in the Tampa Bay region. The Opportunity: We’re looking for a VP of Operations who can build and run our recycling facility from day one. This is a founding-team-level hire — you’ll design the physical operation, lead the R2 certification process, manage the facility buildout, and oversee all processing, logistics, and compliance functions. The ideal candidate comes from the ITAD or electronics recycling industry, has hands-on experience with R2-certified facility operations, and can translate that expertise into building a next-generation AI-enabled processing facility. You’ll be the operational backbone of the company — the person who ensures that when sales brings in enterprise clients, we deliver flawless execution on data destruction, material processing, chain-of-custody documentation, and regulatory compliance. Key Responsibilities Facility & Operations: • Lead the buildout of ACS’s Tampa Bay processing facility, including site selection, layout design, equipment procurement, and operational workflow configuration, • Design and implement processing workflows for device intake, data destruction, disassembly, material sorting, and commodity output, • Manage the deployment and calibration of AI sorting systems (computer vision, conveyor, robotic disassembly) in coordination with technology vendors (AMP Robotics, EverestLabs, or similar), • Oversee daily facility operations including receiving, processing throughput, quality control, inventory management, and shipping/logistics, • Hire, train, and manage the operations team: processing technicians, logistics coordinators, warehouse staff, and drivers, • Establish and manage relationships with downstream processors, refiners, and commodity buyers for recovered materials (copper, gold, silver, palladium, rare earths) Certifications & Compliance: • Lead the R2v3 certification process from application through audit, ensuring facility, processes, and documentation meet all R2 requirements, • Implement and maintain NIST 800-88 compliant data destruction processes with full digital chain-of-custody tracking, • Manage all environmental compliance (EPA, Florida DEP) including hazardous material handling, reporting, and permitting, • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all processing, safety, and compliance functions, • Prepare the facility and processes for future ITAR registration (Year 2 target) for defense/government contracts Safety & Quality: • Establish and enforce safety protocols for all facility operations, including hazardous material handling, equipment operation, and ergonomic standards, • Implement quality assurance processes to ensure enterprise SLAs for data destruction verification, processing turnaround, and documentation accuracy, • Manage relationships with insurance carriers, auditors, and regulatory agencies Target Outcomes (First 12 Months): • Month 1–3: Facility secured and buildout underway; R2 certification application submitted; initial team of 3–5 processing technicians hired; manual processing capability operational for early revenue, • Month 4–6: AI sorting cell deployed and calibrated; processing throughput ramping; NIST 800-88 compliant data destruction fully operational with digital chain-of-custody, • Month 7–9: R2v3 certification achieved; facility processing 100+ devices/day; downstream commodity relationships established and generating material recovery revenue, • Month 10–12: Facility operating at scale supporting 7–10 enterprise accounts; ITAR registration process initiated; operational costs optimized for profitability trajectory Qualifications Required: • 7+ years of operations management experience in ITAD, electronics recycling, e-waste processing, or a closely related environmental services industry, • Direct, hands-on experience with R2 (or e-Stewards) certification processes — ideally having led or significantly contributed to a facility achieving certification, • Deep working knowledge of NIST 800-88 data destruction standards and chain-of-custody documentation requirements, • Experience managing a processing facility: workflow design, throughput optimization, staffing, safety, and quality control, • Familiarity with EPA and state environmental regulations governing electronics recycling and hazardous material handling, • Proven ability to build and lead operations teams (10+ direct and indirect reports), • Strong project management skills — comfortable managing facility buildout, equipment procurement, and vendor relationships simultaneously Strongly Preferred: • Prior experience at a recognized ITAD or recycling operation (Sims Lifecycle Services, ERI, All Green Electronics Recycling, Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, Iron Mountain, or similar), • R2 Lead Auditor qualification or direct audit preparation experience, • Experience with AI-enabled or automated sorting/processing systems (AMP Robotics, ZenRobotics, TOMRA, EverestLabs), • ITAR compliance experience or familiarity with defense contractor requirements, • Florida-specific regulatory knowledge (FL DEP, local permitting), • Experience at a startup or early-stage company where you built operations from scratch Compensation: Base salary competitive with market for VP-level operations leadership in Tampa Bay. Performance-based incentive compensation tied to operational milestones (R2 certification, throughput targets, cost optimization). Meaningful equity stake reflecting the founding-team nature of this role. Specific compensation package will be discussed with qualified candidates. Why This Role: • Build a next-generation recycling facility from the ground up — combining your industry expertise with cutting-edge AI sorting technology, • Equity participation in a high-growth venture in the $27.7B ITAD market, • Tampa Bay has no AI-enabled, R2-certified ITAD processor — you’ll be building the first, • Work alongside co-founders with deep industry experience (Iron Mountain background) and technical expertise (former AWS), • Massive market timing: Windows 10 EOL, corporate AI hardware refresh, and Florida regulatory tailwinds all converging, • Direct line to co-CEOs with real decision-making authority and operational autonomy, • American Circular Solutions, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
