Senior Metallurgist (Ref:224)

03-Feb-2025

Plant

Motheo Copper Mine, Ghanzi, BOTSWANA

The Senior Metallurgist is responsible for providing technical and metallurgical support to the process plant.

Reporting to the Technical Superintendent, the Senior Metallurgist is responsible for providing technical and metallurgical support to the process plant. This position will mainly manage plant operational, oversee the metallurgical accounting and production reports, and work on process improvement projects.

Key Performance Areas:
• Actively participate in all Safety, Health, and Environmental aspects of Motheo Copper Mine and assure all safety procedures and programs are effectively being followed
• Provide high-quality and clear technical support to the operational team
• Coordinate the operating supervision in the output of the daily strategy in relation to plant performance, bottlenecks, threats, and risks
• Supervise the metallurgical technician and operator in operation, calibration, and maintenance of online stream analyser equipment
• Oversee the quality, inventory, and consumption of process consumables i.e. grinding media, reagents, and operational consumables (filter media, screen panel, cyclone, mill liner)
• Conduct daily ore review with geologist, and recommend/issue guidelines to operation to optimize metallurgical performance based on upcoming ore blend profile
• Supervise equipment inspections (SAG mill, ball mill, cyclones, flotation cells, screen panels, crusher liners) during plant shutdown and work with maintenance personnel to address the identified issue
• Provide process statistical data analysis as requested by operation stakeholders; many deliverables completion will require advanced Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and preferred has experience with material balance/process simulation software proficiencies such as METSIM, JK Simmet / Simfloat, HSC Sim, AlgoSys.
• Mentor, coach, and train metallurgists, graduate metallurgists, and technicians
• Assist in the development of the plant budget, forecast, plan, including production and cost model development
• Complete mid-month and end-of-month reconciliation and business reporting
• Prepare and present technical reports to different stakeholders
• Coordinate with operation/maintenance on tailing deposition compliance and water management
• Advise/participate in the application of best practice methods in minimizing unit costs by understanding cost/performance relationships and setting operating parameters that maximize plant efficiency
• Lead simultaneous projects with competing priorities in various execution phases on a wide variety of areas within the mine site i.e. from concept to design, implementation, and commissioning
• Recommend short to long-term continuous improvement projects to improve/overcome operational issues by utilizing internal and external expertise
• Initiate and implement projects focusing on metallurgical performance and reliability, contributing to the rolling quarterly plant production schedules to meet annual budgets
• Undertake scoping study level trade of evaluation on process alternatives with respect to improving unit process functionality and/or equipment
• Participate in the identification, definition, and business case analysis of value-added projects across the mine value chain
• Undertake process plant performance investigations and implement improvement actions in consultation with the operations team, engineering, and maintenance team
• Develop mineral processing test work programs (flotation, fraction sizing, settling test, bond work index, abrasion index), technical analysis, interpretation, and recommendation to the operational team to increase safety throughput, recovery, and product quality
• Supervise/perform plant and laboratory test work to optimize and troubleshoot operational issues
• Manage onsite lab operations (commercial and metallurgical laboratories), ensuring compliance to industry standard lab practices, development of procedures, PTO’s, QA/QC programs
• Coordination of external test work program with external partner and vendor laboratories
• Perform other duties as required

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Technical Competencies
• A detailed understanding of the metallurgical accounting system, budget/forecast model, and the life of mine planning process and available reporting systems
• High regard and ambassador for HSE culture
• Advanced understanding of Metallurgical processes and ability to find innovative solutions to complex metallurgical problems
• Excellent stakeholder management, strong verbal and written communication skills at required levels (management, technical, operational)
• strong leadership skills, including the ability to manage a diverse team to leverage effectively skillset and provide additional support where necessary
• Registered with ERB or ability to register
• Project management skills
• Technical analysis and reporting

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Behavioural Competencies
• Capacity to work in a self-directed manner and possess good time management skills
• Organisational ability to manage multiple tasks with clear accountability and independence
• Valid driver’s license
• The ability to work as a team

Qualification & Experience
• Degree in Mineral Processing, Extractive Metallurgy, Process Engineering, Chemical engineering, or related engineering discipline
• 7+ years’ experience, specifically with base metal (Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn) flotation production plant, including crushing, milling, flotation, thickening, filtration, and tailing management
• Strong track record of successfully completing projects in the mining industry
• Familiarity with the latest mineral processing technologies and robust problem-solving capability
• Experience in copper flotation plant production planning (budget and forecast development)
• Experience with online metals analyser (OSA, MSA, or similar)
• Strong track record in metallurgical accounting and material balancing
• Experience with Microsoft Office (advanced Excel proficiency) and process simulation software e.g. METSIM, JKSimMet, and equivalent
• Knowledge of process control and optimization
• Competent with metallurgical laboratory practices and technology, including laboratory management, metallurgical test work planning and interpretation