Business Development and Special Projects Manager

About Alta

Alta Resource Technologies (Alta) is a next generation mining company that uses synthetic biology to separate critical minerals from conventional and unconventional resources, including e-waste. Founded in 2023, the company is expanding its team in Boulder, CO. The exponential growth of new tech industries, as well as the information technology sector, are driving historic growth in mineral demand and stressing existing supply streams. Meeting new demand, diversifying the supply chain, and producing minerals in a more sustainable manner requires the rapid development, deployment and scaling of new technologies. This mineral challenge represents a historic opportunity for technology development and value creation. Alta is proud to be at the vanguard of this mega trend. 

This role is in Boulder, CO. Hybrid/In-person preferred; remote will be considered. 

Role Summary

As Business Development & Special Projects Manager, you'll sit at the intersection of Alta's commercial strategies and early-stage projects. The role is split between two priorities: (1) working with colleagues from project origination to contract execution, and (2) leading special projects that require cross-functional coordination, independent judgment, and direct ownership of outcomes on behalf of leadership.

Working closely with leadership and the technical team, you'll help quantify the commercial value of Alta's technology across feedstocks and end markets, support financial modeling and decision-making, and take on discrete, high-priority initiatives that don't fit neatly into any one function.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced professional with technical experience, strong financial and analytical skills, and cross-functional communication skills who wants to operate across both strategic analysis and hands-on execution in a high-impact, early-stage environment.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development (~50%)

• Build and maintain financial, discounted cash flow, and sensitivity that combine CAPEX and OPEX forecasts from existing techno-economic modeling with revenue projections, and cost of capital projections to forecast relevant return on investment scenarios (e.g., IRR, NPV, etc.)
• Develop business analyses for pilot and commercial-scale deployments, incorporating capital expenditure estimates, operating cost structures, and development & production timelines. This work will require strong collaboration with the technical and engineering teams
• Support the evaluation of new feedstock and partnership opportunities by modeling economic outcomes under varying technical and market assumptions
• Conduct competitive and market analysis for rare earth separation, recycling, and adjacent critical mineral technologies
• Assist in preparing investor materials, white papers, project finance packages, and government proposals by contributing quantitative analysis and clearly communicating technical-financial tradeoffs
• Contribute to executing the go-to-market strategy, including analysis of licensing and joint venture structures
• Support the analysis of new critical mineral market segments, value propositions, competitive landscapes, pricing structures, and partnership ecosystems

Special Projects (~50%)

• Collaborate with technical staff to track milestones that translate experimental results into updated commercial projections and KPIs
• Drive cross-functional projects from scoping through execution, coordinating with engineering, finance, and external partners as needed
• Own project management for time-sensitive initiatives, including defining scope, timelines, and success metrics, and reporting progress to leadership
• Step into ambiguous or undefined problems and structure them into actionable work streams
• Represent the company in select external engagements (partner meetings, government/agency interactions, diligence processes) as directed by leadership

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, or business 
• 5+ years of professional experience in management consulting, corporate finance, operations, or a similar analytically intensive role, ideally including experience leading independent projects or work streams 
• Proficiency in financial modeling, including discounted cash flow analysis, scenario modeling, and sensitivity analysis 
• Ability to read and interpret process flow diagrams, mass balance tables, and engineering cost estimates 
• Experience with development or due diligence of project finance structures and execution plans 
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives independently, with minimal oversight, in ambiguous or fast-changing situations 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to present technical-financial analysis to both engineering and business audiences 
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, early-stage environment with limited structure 
• Interest in critical minerals, biotech, or national security supply chains
• Remote roles: Ability to work core business hours in Mountain Time
• U.S. citizenship is required for this role; a valid U.S. passport is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to mining, hydrometallurgy, chemical processing, or bioprocess industries 
• Experience with government funded projects or familiarity with federal acquisition processes 
• Familiarity with critical mineral markets (rare earth elements, gallium, uranium, etc.), pricing benchmarks, or critical mineral supply chain dynamics 
• Prior experience in a chief-of-staff, strategy & operations, or special projects capacity at a startup or high-growth company

Key Competencies

• Strong operational and financial leadership
• Initiative and a bias for action 
• Data-driven decision making
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment
• Strong collaboration and project management capabilities

What We Offer

• The opportunity to lead a breakthrough program redefining U.S. supply chain resilience in critical materials.
• A mission-driven, high-trust team operating at the intersection of innovation, national security, and sustainability.
• High Impact & Visibility: direct interaction and reporting to executive leadership.

Compensation & Benefits 

The starting annual pay range for this position is $150,000 to $175,000, commensurate with educational background and work experience. 

Benefits include:

• 401(K)
• Medical, Dental, Vision plans (or equivalent) 
• Flexible Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Company Holidays

EOE

Alta Resource Technologies is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We believe that varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds strengthen our team and drive better outcomes for our clients and partners.

We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and the needs of the business. Alta participates in e-Verify for all positions. 

If you require accommodations at any point in the hiring process, please let your recruiter know.

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