Job Summary
Reporting to the VP Processing and Metallurgy the Director, Processing and Metallurgy will complement the company’s corporate technical services team by supporting a range of improvement initiatives and operational challenges across operating mine sites in Canada, the USA, Mexico and Brazil. This position will ideally be based in Vancouver, but other locations may be considered with regular travel to our mine sites and corporate office.
This position will provide technical support to existing mines’ Process Area teams for their carbon-in-leach, resin-in-leach and/or heap leach operations. They will work in close collaboration with the VP, Processing and Metallurgy and with the Process Area operations teams at each of the mine sites to support the development and execution of processing plans in collaboration with the vision for the process areas. In addition, they will be part of and support the Vancouver-based Technical Services team with conducting feasibility studies and Technical Reports.
Key Responsibilities
Having been exposed to industry best practices, the successful candidate will utilize their operational experience to:
- Visit the mine site to identify, evaluate, and manage risks in the process areas, including the review of management plans, process status and process trend directions.
- Assist with the development of practical, viable contingency plans in response to key risks to ensure production delivery.
- Identify value-adding opportunities during site visits and audits.
- Deliver on continuous improvement initiatives in conjunction with the Process Area teams to achieve production targets.
- Undertake trade-off studies and cost estimation for process-related initiatives.
- Ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
- Benchmark Equinox Gold’s operations internally and against peers.
The ideal candidate will have a combination of engineering proficiency and operational experience in gold processing, particularly with crushing, grinding, leaching and associated technologies for gold recovery plants. The candidate must demonstrate an ability to successfully communicate with internal technical teams and external consultants through reports and presentations, delivering sound and respected professional advice. Strong operational skills and a willingness to travel (approx. 30%) to support the various mine site teams will be a key asset.
Specialist Skills Required
- Experience in mineral processing facilities as a process engineer, process superintendent or manager.
- Carbon-in-leach and carbon-in-pulp operational experience is preferred, and heap leach operational experience would be an asset.
- Experience in a range of commodities, and preferably in gold.
- Experience in processing methodology trade-offs.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders including senior management, technical professionals and operational personnel.
- Strong ability and desire to coach, mentor, and develop operational personnel with highly variable skillsets.
- Experience in continuous improvement would be an asset.
- Ability to work independently.
- Proficiency in comminution software (i.e. Bruno, MetSim, USIM Pac etc.) and geometallurgical programs would be an asset.
Job Conditions
- 20 + years of progressive experience in the industry as a metallurgist and processing engineer in mostly operational roles.
- Full proficiency in English required.
- Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese is an asset.
Certifications
- Membership of an industry recognized professional organization.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Mineral Process, Metallurgical or Chemical engineering or related discipline.
The salary range for this position is $200,000 to $240,000.
