Workplace Type: Onsite
About Newmont
At Newmont, we’re not just a world-leading gold and metals producer – we’re a team united by our commitment to shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and responsible mining industry. Joining us means becoming part of a global, diverse workforce where everyone is valued, empowered, and encouraged to grow. Our people are the heart of our success, bringing exceptional skill, integrity, and dedication to everything we do as an organization and we’re dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.
About Lihir
Our Lihir Operation, located on the beautiful island of Niolam, approximately 800km north of Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, is one of the world’s largest gold mines. Set within a geothermically active, extinct volcanic crater, Lihir operates an open-pit mine producing refractory ore, which undergoes pressure oxidation and conventional leaching to recover gold. Our workforce includes both residential and commute rosters, creating a diverse and dynamic team. Lihir offers a range of recreational facilities, including a gym, sports club, restaurant, bar, swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, and a 9-hole golf course. For those who enjoy the outdoors, the Lihir fishing and boating clubs provide access to pristine waters and beaches, while our onsite deli and café serve fresh local and imported produce, barista-made coffee, and freshly baked goods.
We are proud to work closely with the local Lihirian community and value its vibrant culture. Through initiatives like our School to Mine program, we offer meaningful employment, training, and development opportunities for Lihirian men and women, as well as scholarships and vocational apprenticeships. We also partner with the New Ireland Province to ensure economic benefits flow directly to the community, strengthening our commitment to sustainable development and positive local impact.
Purpose
The role is focused on developing the Geo-Metallurgical knowledge base of the Lihir Ore deposit and optimising the treatment of the deposit through the Lihir Processing Plant.
Essential Duties
- Drive and influence proactive safety behaviours within the workgroup through visible felt interactions and Critical Control Verifications (CCVs).
- Understanding of long-term planning and how this tied into shorter term planning horizons (LoPP to Budget -Budget to MIP – MIP to weekly).
- Understands the Metallurgical accounting systems and AMIRA Code of Practice.
- Work with Principal Metallurgist, site Metallurgy team and the mine planning team to deliver facilitate delivery of monthly processing production plan/forecast.
- Provides liaison between Principal Metallurgist and site team on changes to metallurgical accounting models (e.g. recovery equations, key MATLAB parameters/inputs) to ensure consistency between planning horizons (LoPP, budget, MIP, weekly) and between teams.
- Ensure up to date with key documents (technical papers and internal/external reports) on relevant Geometallurgical information including Geology, Geometallurgical reports, Geometallurgy Teams site and contents and other relevant documentation.
- Co-ordinate onsite test work on plant and mine ore samples and communicate results in a timely manner to improve operational knowledge ahead of ore treatment.
- Liaise with geology team on site when resource drilling is underway (where GeoMet sampling is included in the plan) to ensure up to date with progress. Arrange quote and work with external laboratories on test work programs.Design onsite or offsite test work programs which will benefit operational knowledge ahead of ore treatment.
- Manage plant-based mineralogy samples – quotes, despatch, timing. Maintain or modify existing/develop new templates for reporting to more clearly communicate results and implications of mineralogical work, including, Monthly composites, Gold deportment and other as deemed necessary.
- Work with site team to arrange and co-ordinate plant surveys on an annual basis. Work includes coordination of surveys, arrangement of sample processing and information transfer to relevant Newmont personnel.
- Co-ordinate requests for plant and mine ore samples for external test work and/or Newmont project work. Ensure any sample characterisation results (mineralogy, comminution, etc) are communicated back to site in a timely manner and included in relevant database to expand orebody knowledge.
- Maintain rigorous oversight, performance discipline and control of geomet spends. Work with Superintendent Metallurgy to develop operating and capital budgets yearly
Training & Experience
- Tertiary Bachelor’s degree in Mineral Processing, Metallurgy or similar essential.
- 5+ years as Senior production or project metallurgist/ site-based metallurgist.
- Prior working exposure to Lihir operations, projects, geometallurgy and metallurgical labs highly desirable.
- Support knowledge transfer within Analytical Laboratory section and across Newmont.
- Drive idea generations and ensure innovation and continuous improvement are an ongoing focus of the section.
- Maintain current view of applicable industry benchmarks and uses these as a basis for driving operational excellence.
- Works in accordance with PNG Mine Safety Act, Newmont Safety Systems, Newmont Environment policies and departmental operating procedures.
- Demonstrates personal responsibility for own health and safety whilst setting clear expectations of relevant legal obligations, safe workplace practices and HSE operating practices to others, holding them accountable for their actions.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work under pressure and autonomously. Sound planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Computer proficiency in MS Office suite.
- PNG Driving License, Class 6.
At Newmont, our commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures that everyone can work to their full potential, free from discrimination, while respecting the cultures, religions, and governance of the regions in which we operate. Guided by our values of Safety, Integrity, Sustainability, Responsibility, and Inclusion, our Lihir team – 90% of which are Papua New Guinean – is dedicated to creating a culturally rich and supportive environment where meaningful, long-term connections can be formed within the industry.
We believe in the strength of our people and the positive impact we can create together. Newmont employees are rewarded with a competitive salary, flexible packaging options, and programs that recognize those who go above and beyond. We know no candidate meets every qualification listed, so if you share our values and feel you can make a meaningful contribution, we encourage you to apply – we’d love to hear from you!
