Coordinator, Process – TSF First Quantum Minerals

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

• Reporting into the Superintendent TSF & Services, the Production Coordinator TSF is accountable to direct and coordinate all equipment activities to provide reliable and capable production equipment to deliver and exceed targets;
• The ‘equipment owner’ – the role covers all water infrastructure and tailings disposal across the TSF.
• The role is accountable to implement the operating procedures, guidelines, systems and processes for the management of the site water balance, tailings disposal and to maximise production and minimise costs, while ensuring operational sustainability;
• The role is accountable for all mechanical engineering/maintenance works at the TSF to maximize production and reduce down-time.
• The role has a focus on daily-weekly execution and optimization

Specific Job Responsibility

• Understand and execute accountabilities of legal appointment under Zambian Mining Regulations.
• The role has direct equipment accountability for the site water balance and tailings disposal including assets across the processing plant & Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).
• The site water assets include tailings thickeners and systems, TSF and decant pumps & pipelines, Chisola and Musanghezi Dams, Raw Water & Process Water Ponds and water control infrastructure;
• Comply with site HSE standards and procedures;
• Investigate all appropriate equipment related Safety and Environmental incidents and implement actions;
• Identify and prioritise plant housekeeping efforts and ensure tasks are actioned;
• Consistently deliver and exceed the main KPI’s of tailings deposition & positive site water balance, water infrastructure availability & utilization (in particular tailings thickeners, pumps and pipes), maintenance of tailings disposal & water infrastructure
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the TSF to achieve optimized plant utilization and compliance to operating procedures, strategies & instructions;

Job Specific Competencies

• Monitor, control and report on plant equipment status, performance indicators, plant activities, operational shortfalls and corrective actions;
• Issue Daily Operating Instructions to shift teams on key equipment and operational parameters, tasks and considerations;
• Attend shift supervisor handover meetings, clarify plant status, and challenge Day and Shift Supervisors on performance against operating systems compliance and delivery of instructions;
• Support the shift teams and Shift Senior Supervisor in the immediate performance of the TSF, but maintain focus on the daily to weekly optimisation horizon;
• Implement operational check- and log-sheets for shift teams to monitor equipment status and take prompt and appropriate corrective action;
• Maintain high level of field presence;
• Personally conduct routine daily field checks of the TSF;
• Execute improvement activities;
• Build relations with maintenance, planning, reliability engineering, metallurgical engineering, projects and day/shift operations personnel;
• Diagnose plant defects, focusing on identifying root cause, and implement both corrective and preventative measures;
• Approve work requests and develop weekly maintenance plan in conjunction with maintenance planners and supervisors;
• Assist in development of short term and long term equipment production & maintenance plans and schedules to deliver equipment capability;
• Work closely with the maintenance and engineering teams to implement long term fixes to deliver equipment reliability;
• Support maintenance in the delivery of their tasks and coordinate access;
• Manage and define work plans for all contractors;
• Identify, prioritise and justify capital improvement projects;
• Coach, mentor and assist in the training of the Shift Supervisors, Control Room Operators and field personnel to build and maintain high standards of operating;
• Contribute to the annual operations & production budget and forecasts;
• Control and reduce operational costs;
• Uphold the FQM Way culture of “Smarter, Bolder, Driven;”
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Superintendent.

Key Job Attributes

• Commitment to SHEC performance;
• Very strong drive and personal sense of equipment ownership and accountability;
• Excellent ability to task assign, build working relations and coordinate different operating disciplines to execute work in efficient manner;
• Possesses skills for identifying equipment bottlenecks and implementing corrective and preventative actions;
• Ability to work and manage problems/actions across short + long term timeframes;
• Possess ability to analyse and understand metallurgical, Mechanical & Civil engineering information;
• Strong understanding of production and maintenance strategies for large-scale, continuous operating mineral processing plants;
• Good verbal and written communication skills, and able to assemble data and provide clear and accurate performance reports & to issue instructions;
• Be persistent, diligent and thorough in approach;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• English language fluency.

Experience required to perform in this job

• A minimum of 8 years of direct experience in technical and/or operational roles of tailings storage facilities;

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience at a supervisory level;
• Experience in water resources and civil-construction;
• Exposure to large, complex base metals processing plants highly regarded.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Water Engineering, Metallurgy/Mineral Processing or related field.
• Eligibility for membership of the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ), and to hold legal appointment as defined by the Mining regulations of Zambia.
• Eligibility for membership of the Engineering Registration Board (ERB), and to hold legal appointment as defined by the Mining regulations of Zambia.