At First Quantum, we free the talent of our people by taking a very different approach which is underpinned by a very different, very definite culture – the “First Quantum Way”.
Working with us is not like working anywhere else, which is why we recruit people who will take a bolder, smarter approach to spot opportunities, solve problems and deliver results.
Our culture is all about encouraging you to think independently and to challenge convention to deliver the best result. That’s how we continue to achieve extraordinary things in extraordinary locations.
Job description:
Overall, Job Purpose
- Perform mass balance calculations and prepare daily, weekly, monthly production and reconciliation reports.
- Conduct metallurgical test works and reporting.
- Liaise with procurement to ensure a timely supply of consumables (Reagents and grinding media)
- Liaise with commercial to ensure concentrate dispatches meet receiving smelter quality specifications (Blending strategy)
Specific Job Responsibility
- Apply state of the art techniques relative to metallurgical accounting
- Work in a safe, accurate and timely manner
- Preparation and Publication of the daily and monthly report
- Preparation and Publication of the weekly and monthly production forecast reports
- Preparation and Publication of the weekly and monthly reconciliation reports
- Follow up of the reagent and grinding media consumption in order to predict supply requirement
- Daily meeting with commercial people relative to the optimum concentrate blending before dispatching
- As an end user collaborate to the effort of maintaining sampling system working well and available.
- Ensure all safety incidents are addressed & reported promptly;
- Maintain a very high standard of Laboratory housekeeping;
- Consistently deliver and exceed the main KPI’s of timely (sampling, analysis and reporting) and accurate metallurgical analysis;
- Prioritize workloads and deliver analyses turnaround time obligations;
- Directly participate in the daily to monthly work activities of the processing plant to provide feedback and recommend further test work to enhance plant performance;
- Ensuring that duties are performed according to accepted standards and regulations.
- Providing a day-to-day management support to the business.
- Ability to co-ordinate events whenever necessary.
Job Specific Competencies.
- Identify potential improvement test work through the personal inspection of plant condition and performance;
- Plan and execute test work according to Processing and Project requirements, providing quality technical insights on the results;
- Maintain a user-friendly, exhaustive and up-to-date database of all test-work;
- Review metallurgical test-work procedures, and develop new procedures as
- Maintain Laboratory QA/QC system and timeously investigate all deviations;
- Monitor, control and report on Metallurgical Laboratory performance;
- Manage the interaction with the Processing Operations teams to ensure high compliance to customer requirements;
- Maintain and execute the short and long term equipment maintenance plans and schedules to deliver the required equipment availability and precision;
- Collect samples and manage external service providers of test work;
- Implement the structure, manning levels and resources to deliver metallurgical test work;
- Lead the Metallurgical Laboratory team to consistently deliver and exceed expectations;
- Maintain staff development and training programs, particularly skills transfer and coaching of lab technicians.
- Contribute to the annual Technical section budget/forecasts;
- Control and reduce operational costs;
- Implement FQM Way culture – “Smarter, Bolder, driven;” Perform any other duties as assigned by the Senior metallurgist.
Key Job Attributes
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to work long hours.
- Potential to resolve problems efficiently.
- Must be responsible, focused and self-motivated.
Experience required to perform in this job
The Metallurgist Lab & Accounting has knowledge, skills and experience in the following areas:
- Proficiency in Microsoft office.
- Excellent computer literacy
- Very good supervision skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- At least 5 years’ experience as metallurgist in a base metal concentrator.
- Working experience in the process plant.
- Knowledge in Excel.
Qualifications
- Grade twelve (12) certificates.
- B.Sc. Degree in Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering or related
- Registered as a member of the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ).
- All qualifications must be certified by ZAQA
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Skills Required
- Minimum of 2 years' experience in mineral processing plants
- Experience as a metallurgist
- Exposure to copper and nickel sulphide flotation and large automated plant operations
- Grade twelve (12) certificate
- Degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related
- Registered member of the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ)
- All qualifications certified by ZAQA
- Strong understanding of complex metallurgical processes, process improvement and control strategies
- Good cognitive and analytical skills for identifying process shortfalls and implementing metallurgical testing
- Ability to supervise, direct and train metallurgical engineers and technicians
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to produce clear operational reports
- Familiarity with SCADA/PCS 7 and PI ProcessBook (added advantage)
- Ability to participate in shutdown inspections, troubleshoot crushing, milling and flotation issues
What We Do
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. is a global mining company producing copper and nickel, as well as gold and cobalt. Our growing portfolio of operations and projects spans four continents and employs around 20,000 people. We are well-known for our ‘can do’ attitude and specialist technical, project management, engineering, construction and operational skills, which allow us to develop and successfully run complex mines and minerals processing plants. We strive to go beyond the goals set by other companies. After 25 years of operations we are now one of the world’s top 10 copper producers and we focus on providing a tangible benefit from everything we do for employees, investors and the many communities that host our operations. From our initial operation reprocessing tailings facilities in Zambia, to the recently completed giant Cobre Panama operation, we have recorded many significant commercial and technical achievements over the past two decades. By 2021, the combined output of our mines will be more than 800,000 tonnes of copper per year.
