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 Superintendent Continuous Operations, accountable for the minute-to-minute optimisation (maximisation) of plant copper production over his shift;
The role is the single point of accountability for optimisation of plant performance 24/7 365 days per year with some direction from multi-discipline expertise;
Production delivered with compliance to defined safety and environmental procedures.

Specific Job Responsibilities

Understand and execute accountabilities of legal appointment under Zambian Mining Regulations;
Demonstrate high commitment to safety, and ensure strong compliance to Safety and Environmental Management systems by shift teams;
Ensure Safety and Environmental incidents are immediately reported, immediately controlled and appropriately escalated to relevant Superintendents & Managers;
Drive the site equipment, people and processes to maximise production;
Monitor and control all plant parameters to exceed the main plant KPI’s of throughput, recovery and product quality;
Coordinate real-time plant feed rate and ore quality with Mine Captain (or via dispatch). Understand and pre-empt ore attribute impacts on plant performance to optimise plant control responses;
Ensure equipment is operated within defined operating strategies and procedures;
Ensure high utilisation of the plant ‘expert’ control system and other critical control loops;
Maintain high utilisation of critical in-line instrumentation & measurement (ie PSI & OSA) for real-time performance optimisation;
Set and maintain high standards of plant control (ie alarm management, operating by trends, PLC bypass management, downtime reason integrity etc);
Execute daily operating instructions issued by day leaders (operations, metallurgists, and maintenance) and escalate when they cannot be achieved;
Ensure all appropriate performance deviations are promptly escalated by shift supervisors (operations and maintenance) to relevant Supts and Managers;
Assist in oversight of major plant shutdowns, maintenance activities and start-ups;
Direct the Shift Maintenance Supervisor(s) on maintenance priority;
Coach shift personnel, particularly Shift Supervisors and Control Room Operators in the drive for operational excellence;
Provide performance feedback to Superintendents on Supervisors, Control Room Operators and shift teams;
Understand impacts of decisions (production, quality, cost & risk) to constantly deliver optimum business solutions;
Always be contactable and be able to report detailed plant performance status;
Maintain high level of field presence;
Chair relevant meetings;
Conduct detailed handovers;
Provide detailed shift plant performance reports;
Comply with the ‘FQM Way’ culture – “Smarter, Bolder & Driven”;
Perform any other duties as assigned by the Superintendent Control Room.

Job Specific Competencies

Strong leadership and motivational skills;
Superior sense of personal ownership, accountability and urgency;
Strong ability to maintain high standards without direct supervision;
Ability to efficiently coordinate and assign work to different operating disciplines to exceed targets;
Ability to strongly influence people and teams without direct authority over them;
Excellent analytical skills for identifying process shortfalls and equipment bottlenecks / limitations, and implementing corrective actions;
Possess excellent cognitive skills to conduct detailed problem-solving on specific issues within the context of macro plant issues and performance, to prioritise and execute corrective actions to optimise business value;
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to facilitate accurate transfer of plant performance information in both an upward and downward direction;
Ability to maintain self-discipline within a very stressful environment;
Be relentless, 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.

Key Job Attributes

Commitment to SHE performance;
Strong drive to maximise safe production with good understanding of drivers within the milling circuits;
Personal sense of equipment ownership and accountability;
Ability to and passion for leading and supervising people;
Ability to task assign, follow up and manage;
Ability to build working relations and coordinate different operating disciplines;
Ability to work and manage problems/actions across the timeframe of one shift;
Possess ability to analyse and understand metallurgical & equipment information;
Good verbal and written communication skills;
Persistent, diligent and thorough in approach;
Be enthusiastic and pro-active in manner
Firm and fair in managing team members.

Experience required to perform in this job

A minimum of 5 years technical and operational leadership experience in large, complex metallurgical process operations within a multinational mining company;
Minimum of 3 years’ supervisory experience;
Direct Copper concentrator experience very highly regarded;
Specific and in depth operational experience in base metal crushing/grinding and flotation circuits required.

Qualifications required for the role

Degree in Metallurgy, Mineral Processing or Chemical Engineering (or equivalent in related field) is highly regarded;
Eligibility for membership of the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ), and to hold legal appointment as defined by the Mining regulations of Zambia.