Processing Technical Manager

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 to the Process Manager, as the Technical Manager at Trident, you will lead and manage the technical operations across both copper and nickel processing plants, ensuring the highest standards of safety, operational efficiency, and technical innovation. Your leadership will be instrumental in spearheading plant expansions, process control, and optimization projects, while also overseeing the chemical and metallurgical laboratories. You will be accountable for defining and implementing both short-term and long-term process production strategies aimed at maximizing production and minimizing costs, all while ensuring operational sustainability.

Specific Job Responsibility

• Maintain health, safety and environmental standards and ensure strict compliance within technical team.
• Implement and reinforce FQM Way culture across the Technical team – “Smarter, Bolder, Driven, Together”
• Oversee and develop metallurgical and chemical talent within the technical function.
• Proactively manage succession planning for key roles, ensuring leadership continuity and capability.
• Mentor and coach technical and optimization staff to build a high-performing team.
• Provides strategic metallurgical-technical guidance to the operation heads to ensure alignment to the business and long-term plans.
• Lead the operations optimization team, managing advanced control and data systems, and driving automation and digitalization initiatives.
• Oversee the chemical and metallurgical laboratories, ensuring accurate assay results and the continuous improvement of metallurgical processes.
• Ensure that metallurgical and laboratory standards adhere to international best practices.
• Coordinate closely with the Mining Technical department to optimize the mine to mill process, ensuring resource efficiency and operational effectiveness.
• Aligns metallurgical planning to the mine strategic plan.
• Make informed recommendations to management on adopting new technologies.
• Establish robust communication channels to facilitate effective information sharing and data-driven decision-making, supporting the achievement of plant objectives.
• Manages budgets (requested and allocated) and thereby costs, for the achievement of planned activities and objectives.
• Review plant design, scope and develop justification for capital upgrades
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Process Plant Manager.

Job Specific Competencies

• Deep understanding of safety regulations and best practices in metallurgy and chemical standards.
• Exceptional ability to guide, direct, and influence team members to achieve outstanding performance.
• Proficient in communicating effectively across all organizational levels, including senior management and external stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyse complex technical issues.
• Strong understanding of complex metallurgical information, process improvement and control strategies.
• Expertise in process control systems, data analysis tools, and simulation software, with a solid grasp of process improvement and control strategies.
• Project management skills to oversee equipment upgrades and process improvement projects.

Key Job Attributes

• Commitment to safety, serving as a role model for all personnel by adhering to and promoting safety regulations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact effectively with diverse cultural groups.
• Must be bold, smart, and driven, capable of working under pressure and multitasking efficiently.
• Must be adaptable, a team player, and able to foster a collaborative working environment.

Experience Required To Perform In This Job

• A minimum of 15 years in complex metallurgical process operations, preferably within copper and nickel plants.
• Proven experience in the mentoring and development of metallurgical teams as well as interpersonal skills to influence operational leaders.
• Hands-on experience with process control systems, process information databases (e.g., PowerBI, PI Process Book, PIvision), and metallurgical optimization practices.
• Prior involvement in the commissioning and ramp-up of a processing plant is highly desirable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Post-graduate study in a related technical field highly regarded.
• Manual SADC class B driver’s licence preferred.
• EIZ membership eligibility (Engineering Institution of Zambia).