Role Purpose
Lead and control end‑to‑end processing plant operations on shift Ensure safe, stable, and efficient operation of the ancillary systems, Deliver production, quality, and cost targets in line with metallurgical and safety requirements
Key Responsibilities
Shift Leadership & Operational Control
- Take full accountability for plant performance during assigned shifts
- Coordinate and supervise operations across:
- Ancillary services (water, air, reagents, utilities)
- Crushing and conveying circuits
- Milling and classification circuits
- Lead and zinc flotation circuits
- Concentrate thickening and filtration
- Ensure seamless handover between shifts
Production & Plant Performance
- Execute daily production plans and shift targets
- Maintain plant stability, throughput, recovery, and concentrate quality
- Identify bottlenecks, process deviations, and losses
- Implement corrective actions to recover plant performance
Safety, Health & Environment
- Champion a zero‑harm safety culture on shift
- Ensure compliance with the Mine Health & Safety Act (MHSA) and site SHE standards
- Enforce SOPs, risk assessments, isolations, and permit‑to‑work controls
- Lead incident reporting, investigations, and corrective action implementation
People Management & Supervision
- Lead, coach, and mentor Shift Supervisors and operational teams
- Allocate manpower and resources effectively across plant areas
- Ensure competence, training compliance, and discipline management
- Drive teamwork, accountability, and operational discipline
Process & Metallurgical Control
- Work closely with metallurgy and process engineering teams
- Manage ore variability and its impact on recovery and plant stability
- Ensure correct reagent usage, sampling integrity, and process control
- Prevent cross‑contamination between lead and zinc circuits
Maintenance & Engineering Interface
- Coordinate with maintenance teams to manage breakdowns and planned work
- Prioritize work orders based on production risk
- Support shutdown execution and plant start‑ups
- Ensure operators perform first‑line maintenance and asset care
Cost, Consumables & Utilities Control
- Control usage of reagents, power, water, consumables, and consumable spares
- Identify inefficiencies and cost‑reduction opportunities
- Support budget control at shift level
Reporting & Governance
- Compile and review daily shift reports
- Track KPIs related to production, safety, downtime, and quality
- Escalate critical operational and safety risks timeously
- Ensure compliance with Management of Change (MOC) processes
Qualifications & Experience
- Diploma or Degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or related discipline
- 8–12 years' experience in mineral processing operations
- Minimum 3–5 years in a senior supervisory or shift‑lead role
- Strong experience across crushing, milling, flotation, and filtration
- Solid knowledge of base‑metal flotation (lead‑zinc preferred)
Desirable
- Zinc or polymetallic concentrator experience
- Supervisory or leadership development training
- Experience in 24/7 production environments
Skills & Competencies
- Strong operational and shift‑leadership capability
- Sound metallurgical and processing plant knowledge
- High safety awareness and disciplined risk management
- Decisive problem‑solving under pressure
- Strong communication and reporting skills
- Cost awareness and production focus
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Shift production achievement (throughput, recovery, quality)
- Plant stability and downtime reduction
- Safety compliance and incident reduction
- Consumable and utility usage efficiency
- Workforce performance and discipline on shift
