General Counsel - US/Canada

Posted 2 Days Ago
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2 Locations
In-Office or Remote
Expert/Leader
Energy • Renewable Energy
The Role
The General Counsel will lead legal strategy, create governance frameworks, interpret regulations, negotiate agreements, and manage legal functions as Cyclic Materials expands globally.
Summary Generated by Built In

Cyclic Materials™ is building a resilient circular supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical materials. Through our proprietary MagCycle℠ and REEPure℠ processes, we recover rare earths from end-of-life products and transform them into high purity materials used in the production of permanent magnets. These materials are critical to the modern economy, including the production of electric vehicles, electronics, AI infrastructure, wind turbines, defense, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials has rapidly progressed from technology development to commercialization. We currently operate facilities in Ontario and Arizona, with a new expansion underway in South Carolina. Backed by US$75 million in Series C financing led by T. Rowe Price, alongside strategic investors including Microsoft, Amazon, Hitachi Ventures, BMW i Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s InMotion fund, Energy Impact Partners, ArcTern Ventures, and Fifth Wall, we are scaling to meet growing global demand for a secure and sustainable rare earth supply.

We have established commercial partnerships with global industry leaders such as Solvay, Vattenfall, Lime, and VACUUMSCHMELZE, enabling the deployment of recycled rare earth materials into real world supply chains. In 2025, Cyclic Materials was named one of the Top 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch by MIT Technology Review.

We are growing quickly and building the industrial backbone required for a circular rare earth economy. Joining Cyclic Materials means working on complex and exciting challenges at scale, alongside a team committed to executing and delivering measurable impact. If you are motivated by building critical infrastructure and advancing the circular economy, join us and help accelerate the growth of rare earth recycling.

We are seeking a strategic, hands‑on General Counsel to build and lead Cyclic Materials’ legal function during a pivotal phase of global expansion.

This is a true builder role. As Cyclic’s first General Counsel, you will architect the legal foundation that supports innovative circular business models, cross‑border materials flows, and long‑term commercial partnershipsall while navigating evolving regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

In the circular economy, materials can shift legal classifications at different points in the value chain. This role requires someone who is equally comfortable advising the board on strategic risk as they are diving into regulatory nuance, drafting contracts that anticipate change, and translating complex legal realities into practical business solutions.

What You Will Be Doing: 

Strategic Legal Leadership & Governance

  • Serve as a trusted legal advisor to the Executive Team and Board on legal, commercial, and strategic risk.
  • Shape Cyclic’s global legal strategy to support growth across multiple jurisdictions and regulatory regimes.
  • Establish governance frameworks, policies, and internal processes appropriate for a scaling, international company.
  • Support the company’s long-term path to a potential IPO, helping build the governance, compliance, disclosure, and legal foundations required for public-company readiness when the business is prepared to pursue it.

Regulatory & Circular Economy Expertise

  • Interpret and translate evolving environmental, materials, and circularity regulations into actionable guidance for the business.
  • Advise on cross‑border movement of circular materials, including compliance frameworks governing transboundary shipments.
  • Navigate emerging regulatory regimes such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), “Right to Repair,” and product labeling and marketing laws.
  • Support permitting, materials classification, waste‑to‑value determinations, and carbon‑related legal frameworks as they apply to Cyclic’s technologies and operations.
  • Ensure all sustainability, environmental, and performance claims meet anti‑greenwashing standards across jurisdictions.

Commercial & Corporate Matters

  • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
    • Feedstock and offtake agreements
    • Product‑as‑a‑Service and long‑term supply arrangements
    • Technology licensing, joint development, and IP protection
    • Procurement, construction, services, and government or grant agreements
  • Design contract structures that account for regulatory volatility, including robust change‑in‑law and risk‑allocation provisions.
  • Support equity and debt financings, strategic investments, and potential M&A activity.
  • Oversee contract management systems to ensure consistency, efficiency, and institutional knowledge as the company scales.

 External Counsel & Internal Build‑Out

  • Build and manage a network of specialized external counsel across North America, Europe, and Asia.
  • Balance high‑quality legal advice with pragmatic, cost‑conscious decision‑making.
  • Develop the long‑term vision for an in‑house legal team as Cyclic grows.

Corporate & Board Support

  • Support corporate secretarial and governance matters, including board materials, resolutions, and equity administration (with flexibility to scale or delegate these responsibilities over time). 

What You Bring

  • Dual-qualified lawyer with a JD or LLB, membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario, and admission to one or more U.S. state bars.
  • 10+ years of legal experience, with significant exposure to cross‑border commercial and regulatory matters.
  • Experience working in sustainability‑driven industries such as advanced manufacturing, cleantech, infrastructure, energy, or materials.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate across jurisdictions and legal systems; international experience is highly valued.
  • A practical, business‑oriented mindset with the ability to translate legal complexity into clear, actionable guidance.
  • A genuine passion for sustainability and circular economy solutions.

Nice to Have

  • Deep comfort operating in regulatory “grey areas” where law, agency interpretation, and enforcement intersect.
  • Ability to understand technical, engineering, or materials science concepts and their legal implications.
  • Exceptional contract negotiation and redlining skills, with strong attention to detail.
  • Experience supporting fast‑growing, venture‑backed or scale‑up companies.

Why You Will Love Cyclic Materials  

  • At Cyclic Materials, we're dedicated to supporting our workforce on their unique career journey
  • We offer a competitive compensation package including Health and Dental coverage, RRSP contributions and a generous paid time off program that lets you recharge
  • We value diversity and are committed to maintaining a workplace where everyone is respected and recognized for their contributions

The base compensation offered is determined based on the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, and competencies and considers internal equity.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Cyclic Materials is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals have an opportunity to succeed. If you require accommodation at any stage of the interview process, please email [email protected]. Applicants for employment in the Canada and US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States or Canada and with Cyclic Materials (i.e., H1-B visa, F-1 visa (OPT), TN, L1-A visa or any other non-immigrant status).

To all applicants, your interest and effort are sincerely appreciated. While we thank everyone for their application, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Top Skills

Legal Expertise
Regulatory Compliance
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The Company
HQ: Toronto, Ontario
75 Employees
Year Founded: 2021

What We Do

Cyclic Materials transforms yesterday’s waste into tomorrow’s critical materials. We’re creating a circular supply chain for the rare earth elements and critical materials that power our global economy, without compromising quality or environmental impact. Our proprietary two-phase process is unlocking value from discarded waste. Our MagCycle℠ technology simplifies the separation of rare earth magnets and critical metals from end-of-life electric vehicles, consumer electronics, wind turbines, and MRIs. Then our REEPure℠ technology restores those valuable materials back to their raw form, unlocking new revenue streams for metal buyers and feedstock companies. We are the only high-tech recycling company offering a scalable, efficient, and low-carbon recycling solution that complements mining on both quality and cost, and mitigates the risks associated with extraction. Cyclic Materials is setting a high bar for sustainable resource recovery. We’ve solved the barriers to creating a circular economy for rare earths, and our transparent, data-driven approach ensures the highest standards of sustainability and traceability, including rigorous Scope 3 carbon tracking and water efficiency. With USD $83.5M in funding, including USD $53M in Series B funding backed by partners like Microsoft and BMW i Ventures, we’re scaling our recycling infrastructure across North America and Canada to meet global demand. Cyclic Materials is establishing a more resilient, domestic supply chain for rare earths and critical metals, providing opportunity and value for global industries.

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