Specialist, Metallurgy First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FQM)

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 Metallurgical Specialist provides technical assistance and support to the metallurgical section, and more broadly to the process plant;
• The role has a focus on weekly-yearly Optimisation

Specific Job Responsibility

• The role accountabilities are on the specific tasks and projects allocated to him, with the broader expectations of the role identifying analysing, troubleshooting, understanding and developing solutions to both emergent problems and opportunities;
• The role leads the identification, detailed planning and high quality execution of metallurgical projects to optimise the process plant performance;
• Maintain HSE standards and ensure strict compliance within the Metallurgical team;
• Ensure all safety incidents are addressed & reported promptly;
• Maintain a very high standard of general safety;
• Prioritize workloads and deliver output within turnaround time requirements;
• Directly participate in the weekly to yearly work activities of the processing plant to provide feedback and recommend further improvements to enhance plant performance;

Job Specific Competencies

• Identify potential improvement through the personal inspection of plant condition and performance;
• Plan and execute projects according to Processing requirements, providing quality technical insights on the results, which can include but are not limited to;
  • Operational commissioning of new equipment;
  • Prospective solution to outstanding long-term issues, including all areas of the plant
  • Development of data warehousing and analytics platforms
  • Control and automation opportunities
  • Interfaces between Process and Financial, Mining, Engineering inputs
  • As of 2020, typical operational projects would be among gold concentration, new effluent treatment plant, data analytics platform, commissioning of new columns, operational procedures at the custody points between various sections, dual concentrate grade product optimisation, drive the 62mtpa capacity upgrade projects
• Maintain a user-friendly, exhaustive and up-to-date database of all projects;
• Work with limited supervision to seek continuous improvement;
• Manage the interaction with the Processing Operations teams to ensure efficient delivery to customer requirements, with a particular focus of the role on facilitating technical interactions between sections;
• Interact with Perth Projects office on a regular basis
• Drive skills transfer and training, with the aim of increasing competencies and skillsets in junior staff where possible, especially through interaction on projects;
• Facilitate data acquisition, warehousing, accessibility, distribution and analytics.
• Control and reduce operational costs;
• Implement FQM Way culture – “Smarter, Bolder, Driven;”
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Superintendent Technical or Process Management.

Key Job Attributes

• Commitment to SHEC performance;
• Good leadership and motivational skills;
• Strong drive and personal sense of ownership and accountability;
• Strong ability to task assign and build working relations, including a balance of assertiveness and cooperation;
• Excellent cognitive and analytical skills;
• Affinity to perform technical research and development;
• Accustomed to carrying out advanced calculations and possess ability to analyse and understand highly complex and statistical metallurgical data;
• 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 work autonomously and maintain self-discipline under pressure;
• 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

• Minimum 3 years working as a Metallurgist with a sound technical knowledge of base metal processing
• Minimum 3 years appropriate experience in metallurgical optimisation, improvement and project development;
• Experience in metallurgical process operations of a large copper concentrator highly regarded;
• Knowledge of Excel mandatory. VBA, SQL, Matlab, SPSS, PowerBI, or R are a plus.
• Proven track record of metallurgical optimisation, improvement and project development.

Qualifications

• A Degree in Metallurgy, 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