Chief Metallurgist – Sandfire Motheo

The Chief Metallurgist role is a key role of the Process Plant team and will oversee all technical aspects of mineral processing, reagent management and metallurgical aspects of the operation.  The role is accountable for the management of Motheo’s metallurgical accounting processes, production forecasting and annual budget activities. The position is also responsible for proactively reviewing and improving metallurgical performance of processing operations.

Key Performance Areas:

• Provide technical support to the metallurgical and processing teams to assist achievement of production budgets.
• Review, manage, and improve metallurgical performance to meet targets.
• Responsible for metallurgy team’s timely metallurgical accounting and reporting.
• Responsible for metallurgy team’s timely and accurate plant equipment failure recording and reporting.
• Ensure expenditure on production consumables, reagents and laboratory operations is in line with the operating cost budget.
• Close liaison and cooperation with maintenance and processing personnel to ensure optimum performance of the plant.
• Manage the assay laboratory contract ensuring that it is efficient, cost effective and accurate.
• Manage process control system and advanced process control automation systems though the utilisation of specialised contract groups.
• Coordinate and maintain production planning (medium term and life of mine) to provide accurate detailed forecasts.
• Assist with the implementation of optimisation and expansion projects as appropriate.
• Ensure that the processing technical team capability and performance is maintained through appropriate selection of personnel; setting of clear accountabilities for direct reports; effective performance management.
• Development of direct and indirect reports within department for career progression and to satisfy succession planning.
• Minimise company risk exposure and liabilities by monitoring production activities to ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory and licensing requirements.
• Demonstrate personal safety commitment and promote a culture of safety awareness and commitment through effective visible leadership.
• Development and continual improvement of safe work procedures.
• Be proactive in identifying and reporting potential hazards and eliminating risk taking behaviours or actions.
• Report all incidents and injuries.
• Conduct regular facility safety and environmental inspections to ensure compliance with expected standards.
• Ensure compliance with environmental procedures and standards.
• Actively promote continuous improvement across all disciplines to improve safety, improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs.
• Develop a trust and responsible atmosphere within the department.
• Liaise with corporate Technical Services.

Technical Competencies:

• Advanced knowledge of metallurgical principles, mineral processing and floatation circuit design.
• Solid working knowledge of key production drivers required.
• Experience supervising technical activities and departments required
• Proven experience with mentoring and development of metallurgical teams.
• Experience with metallurgical accounting applications such as DATAMINE or similar desired.
• Experience in metallurgical simulations such as METSIM, BRUNO, JKSIMMET and JKSIMFLOAT desired.
• Proven track record of process improvement and/or cost savings project implementation will be highly regarded.
• Excellent data analyses and problem-solving skills for identifying shortfalls, bottlenecks and implementing metallurgical testing.
• Familiar with advanced process control systems.

Behavioural Competencies:

•  Finding innovative solutions through creative thinking and problem solving
• Should have analytical skills to be able to evaluate information and solve complex problems.
• Proven leadership skills with demonstrated competencies
• Be actively involved in employee engagement.
• Excellent skills in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Project and Excel
• Must be able to communicate about technical issues both orally and in writing

Qualification & Experience:

• BSc, BEng or B-Tech (Chemical Engineering or Metallurgy) or related field.
• Registered engineer or the ability to become registered.
• Minimum 10 years post qualification experience in mineral processing, with a minimum 5 years in a leadership role in operations, technical or project management.
• Base metal flotation experience is essential, copper flotation experience desired.