Senior Metallurgist Comminution

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

• As a key member of the Processing Technical team and reporting into the Superintendent Technical, the Senior Metallurgist Comminution is accountable to define, implement, monitor & report on the Comminution plant process strategy to optimise metallurgical performance;
• Essentially the ‘technical process’ owner of the Comminution section;
• The role has a focus on daily-weekly-monthly optimisation.  

Specific Job Responsibility

• Understand and execute accountabilities of legal appointment under Zambian Mining Regulations;
• Maximizing throughput, optimize energy efficiency, achieving the target grind size for optimal downstream process – sulphide flotation, and minimize liner wear and media consumption.
• The role has accountability for the optimisation of the Comminution process including crusher and mill liners and associated metallurgical performance design/performance, grinding media management and power consumption; 
• Maintain HSE standards and ensure strict compliance within section;
• Ensure all Safety and Environmental incidents are addressed & reported promptly;
• Define and implement the comminution metallurgical process strategy;
• Consistently deliver and exceed KPIs: OPEX, Particle Size Distribution (PSD), throughput, float feed PSD, crusher CSS optimisation, grinding media consumption, cyclone cluster performance, ball loading volumes, pebble generation, comminution power optimisation and maintenance of fully functional expert system;
• Directly participate in the daily & weekly work activities of the processing plant, serving as technical support to operations personnel to enhance performance;

Job Specific Competencies

• Monitor, analyse, control and report on process performance indicators (including in-plant sampling & results);
• Conduct troubleshooting and detailed data analysis (i.e. using PI Vision (PI System Data) to identify root causes and corrective actions for poor plant performance;
• Coordinate Milling surveys, plant field trials and metallurgical test-work to evaluate circuit performance and recommend methods for improving performance;
• Document and maintain a database of all plant trials, including parameter changes and plant responses;
• Maintain and routinely communicate a database of critical metallurgical values (e.g. cyclone performance, spigot size, CSS, etc…);
• Issue to and follow up on Daily Operating Instructions to the shift teams on key process parameters, trials, tasks and considerations;
• Constantly seek-out and implement innovative solutions;
• Review plant design, scope and develop justification for capital upgrades;
• Active involvement in the commissioning of new projects;
• Define the comminution process control philosophies and collaborate with the Metallurgist Process Control and Control Engineers to implement, tune and maintain the resultant control systems;
• Define and monitor utilisation of the Comminution ‘expert’ control system;
• Manage the interaction between the Processing and Mining on blasting, grinding & crushing performance;
• Ensure strong integration and alignment of technical activities with Comminution operating teams;
• Supervise and control the activities, standard of performance of subordinate staff;
• Contribute to transference of technical skills to the team members;
• Ensure cost management is part of on-going decision making;
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Superintendent Technical.
• Ensure effective application of simulation models/packages for process evaluation

Key Job Attributes

• Commitment to SHEC performance;
• Good leadership and motivational skills, and get work done through others;
• Strong drive and personal sense of ownership and accountability;
• Strong ability to task assign, build working relations and coordinate different operating disciplines to create a “team” environment;
• Good cognitive and analytical skills for identifying process shortfalls, bottlenecks and implementing metallurgical testing;
• Affinity to supervise technical research, direct and train metallurgical engineers and technicians;
• Accustomed to carrying out advanced calculations and possess ability to analyse and understand highly complex and statistical metallurgical data;
• Strong understanding of complex metallurgical information, process improvement and control strategies;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and able to assemble data and provide clear and accurate operational performance reports in both an upward and downward direction;
• Ability to maintain self-discipline within a stressful environment;
• Be diligent and thorough in approach;
• Be enthusiastic and pro-active in manner;
• Computer fluency is a must.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• English language fluency.

Experience required to perform in this job

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in large, complex metallurgical process operations; especially comminution circuits.
• Direct experience in plant technical metallurgist / engineering roles with specific experience in base metal crushing & milling (SAG/Ball);
• Experience in process control systems, process information databases (i.e. PI Process Book) and metallurgical optimization required.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 Certificate
• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Extractive Metallurgy or Mineral Processing or related field;
• Eligibility for membership of the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ), and to hold relevant legal appointment as defined by the Mining Regulations of Zambia.
• All Academic Qualifications must be validated by Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA)

Visit our website and register for instant job alerts at First Quantum Careers

Follow us for the latest news at LinkedIn

If you are already a First Quantum employee, log into your Workday account > Career Hub > Browse Jobs to apply internally for this opportunity.