Metallurgy Specialist (Opencast)
Samancor
2026/10/13   North West


Job Ref #: SC-4039
Industry: Mining
Job Type: Permanent
Positions Available: 1
An exciting opportunity has become available for Metallurgy Specialist (Opencast) at Samancor WCM. Successful Incumbent will drive continuous improvement and technical optimisation of third-party metallurgical processing plants by analysing plant performance, identifying enhancement opportunities and implementing sustainable process improvements.
Job Description

Job Responsibilities:

SAFETY, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY:

  • Identify and assess level of issue-based risk exposures in area of responsibility by considering exposures to business, financial, legal issues, people, equipment, material, environment, processes, etc.
  • Consider the level of risk, apply mitigation and implement control measures for residual risk (set objectives, minimum requirements, etc.)
  • Manage SHEQ compliance within the Process through effective use of the Toolbox
  • Utilise the Integrated Management System (IMS) to initiate, investigate and report SHEQ status

PEOPLE:

Supervise the team:

  • Create and maintain an enabling performance culture.
  • Manage team performance against agreed targets and competency requirements.
  • Maintain the required labour complement in line with operational requirements and budget.
  • Ensure Individual Development Plans (IDPs) are aligned with performance outcomes and implemented as planned.
  • Conduct career and development discussions with identified talent.
  • Coach and support employees to improve technical capability and performance.
  • Maintain discipline relating to attendance, overtime, conduct and performance.
  • Participate in recruitment and selection processes as required.
  • Promote technical knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the metallurgical function.

CUSTOMERS:

  • Ensure metallurgical processes consistently support required product quality and operational performance.
  • Monitor product quality performance and identify trends or deviations requiring technical intervention.
  • Provide technical support in the investigation and resolution of process- and quality-related deviations.
  • Ensure effective communication of metallurgical performance, risks and improvement requirements to relevant stakeholders.
  • Support achievement of internal and external customer requirements through effective process control and optimisation.

BUSINESS PROCESSES:

Process Reliability and Optimisation

  • Develop and continuously review contractor plants’ strategies to optimise throughput, recovery, product quality and plant utilisation.
  • Analyse metallurgical and production performance to identify process constraints, losses and improvement opportunities.
  • Investigate metallurgical deviations and recurring process performance issues through structured root cause analysis.
  • Develop technical recommendations and improvement actions to enhance process stability and metallurgical performance.
  • Monitor implementation of agreed process improvements and evaluate their effectiveness against defined performance measures.

Metallurgical Performance Management

  • Compile and communicate daily, weekly and monthly metallurgical performance reports for WCM third-party processing plants.
  • Collect, analyse and interpret process, production and metallurgical data to identify trends, deviations and improvement opportunities.
  • Monitor key metallurgical performance indicators including throughput, recovery, yield, product and tailings quality and plant utilisation.
  • Provide technical analysis and recommendations to the Metallurgical Superintendent and relevant operational stakeholders.
  • Monitor contractor plant performance against budget, forecast and agreed operational targets.
  • Identify underperformance and support the development and implementation of corrective and recovery plans for the contractor plants.
  • Provide technical input into production forecasts, operational plans and performance reviews.

Metallurgical Accounting and Data Integrity

  • Ensure accurate and consistent metallurgical accounting practices across relevant processing operations.
  • Ensure the integrity and accuracy of metallurgical inputs into MES and Business Unit reporting systems.
  • Monitor and reconcile ROM feed, production, final product and stock information to support reliable metallurgical accounting.
  • Conduct routine audits of metallurgical and production information captured in MES.
  • Investigate discrepancies in production, stock and metallurgical performance information and ensure corrective actions are implemented
  • Ensure metallurgical balances and performance calculations provide an accurate representation of plant performance.
  • Maintain appropriate technical governance and traceability of metallurgical performance information.

Stock and Product Performance:

  • Monitor ROM feed characteristics and final product performance to identify factors affecting recovery, yield and product quality.
  • Analyse stock movements and balances to support accurate metallurgical accounting.
  • Provide technical input into ROM feed, blending and stock management strategies where these influence metallurgical performance.
  • Monitor product quality trends and investigate deviations from required specifications.
  • Support operational teams in implementing corrective actions relating to feed quality, process performance and final product quality.

Project Management and Continuous Improvement:

  • Identify, initiate and manage metallurgical improvement and development projects.
  • Develop technical scopes, business cases and implementation plans for identified improvement opportunities.
  • Lead continuous improvement projects focused on recovery, throughput, product quality, plant utilisation and process stability.
  • Coordinate technical projects with Operations, Engineering, Logistics, contractors and other relevant stakeholders.
  • Monitor project milestones, costs, technical deliverables and benefits realisation.
  • Evaluate completed projects against defined technical and financial objectives.
  • Ensure successful improvement initiatives are incorporated into standard operating practices where appropriate.

GROWTH:

  • Drive continuous improvement in metallurgical performance through process optimisation and innovation.
  • Identify and implement opportunities to improve recovery, throughput, product quality and plant utilisation.
  • Initiate and implement approved improvement and CAPEX projects.
  • Promote data-driven problem-solving and technical decision-making.
  • Develop and implement sustainable improvements that strengthen metallurgical process capability and operational performance.

SHAREHOLDER VALUE:

  • Identify metallurgical improvement opportunities that enhance production performance and business value.
  • Monitor and control improvement project expenditure against approved budgets.
  • Quantify and track benefits realised from metallurgical improvement initiatives.
  • Provide technical recommendations that support sustainable improvement in recovery, production efficiency and operating cost.
Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

  • BEng / BTech degree / Diploma in Metallurgy Engineering / Chemical Engineering

Additional Qualifications:

  • Previous experience as Process Engineer or Applications Engineer with a chrome process technology company will be highly advantageous.

Skills & Systems:

  • Metallurgical process analysis, technical investigation and optimisation
  • Metallurgical accounting and reconciliation
  • Process data analysis (statistical and trends) and interpretation
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Technical report writing and presentations
  • Continuous improvement methodologies
  • Project management
  • Microsoft Office programmes, MES, IMS
  • Relevant metallurgical data analysis and reporting systems.

CLOSING : 16 OCTOBER 2026