First Quantum Minerals
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 into the Manager, TSF & Dams, the Superintendent, Technical is accountable for the technical team under the TSF and water dams to ensure they meet world-class quality standards.
- Further, the role will work closely with the TSF Operations and Maintenance Superintendent, consultants, TSF design engineers to develop the life of mine tailings strategy and plan, as well as maintain best practice tailings deposition and management systems and the site water balance.
- The role is accountable for the for the control & management of the TSF & Water dams risk register.
- Effective managing of the Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) in his Area of Responsibility.
Specific Job Responsibility
- Understand and execute accountabilities of legal appointment under Zambian Mining Regulations;
- Develop, implement and maintain the Health and safety procedures to protect our employees
- Perform all managerial tasks including formulation of SOP’s, conduct VFL inspections, ensure personnel safety and training compliance.
- Comply with site HSE standards and procedures;
- Establish the TSF’s life-of-mine deposition requirements, working with the design engineers and the process plant team.
- Communicate all design-related decisions and outcomes to the consultant Tailings Engineer and advise if plans need to be adjusted.
- Lead the TSF Technical team to implement the TSF design and document the ongoing construction process.
- Ensure that the required tailings deposition infrastructure, methods, and operations, as well as embankment design work, are completed on time and in accordance with LOM operational requirements.
- Verify that freeboard, rate of rise requirements and access routes are properly maintained and report any required remedial actions.
- Identify and prioritise plant housekeeping efforts and ensure tasks are actioned;
- Efficient and Effective Management of Contractors to ensure equipment availability and safe operations.
- Accountability for all aspect of the performance and management of the TSF & Water Dam facilities.
- Development of SOP’s and a proactive approach to ensure compliance to regulatory requirements of the Company and Zambia statutory requirements.
- Development and control of operational and capital budgets.
- Compiling all required reporting including daily, weekly and monthly monitoring reports.
- Ensure construction of Dams are executed according to the approved design.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by management.
Job Specific Competencies
- Monitor, control and report on plant equipment status, performance indicators, plant activities, operational shortfalls and corrective actions;
- Attend shift supervisor handover meetings, clarify plant status, and challenge Day Supervisors on performance against operating systems compliance and delivery of instructions;
- Maintain high level of field presence;
- Personally conduct routine daily field checks around the TSF & Water dams;
- Execute improvement activities;
- Build relations with operations, maintenance, planning and projects
- Diagnose plant defects, focusing on identifying root cause, and implement both corrective and preventative measures;
- Work closely with the operations and technical teams to implement long term fixes to deliver high quality earth works solutions around the TSF.
- Support Operations in the delivery of their tasks and coordinate access;
- Manage and define work plans for contractors under your responsibility;
- Identify, prioritise and justify capital improvement projects;
- Uphold the FQM Way culture of “Smarter, Bolder, Driven;”
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the Manager, TSF & Dams.
Key Job Attributes
- Commitment to SHEC performance;
- Very strong drive and personal sense of equipment ownership and accountability;
- Excellent ability to task assign, build working relations and coordinate different operating disciplines to execute work in efficient manner;
- Possesses skills for identifying equipment bottlenecks and implementing corrective and preventative actions;
- Ability to work and manage problems/actions across short + long term timeframes;
- Possess ability to analyse and understand metallurgical, Mechanical & Civil engineering information;
- Strong understanding of production and maintenance strategies for large-scale, continuous operating mineral processing plants;
- Good verbal and written communication skills, and able to assemble data and provide clear and accurate performance reports & to issue instructions;
- Be persistent, diligent and thorough in approach;
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
- English language fluency.
Experience required to perform in this job
- A minimum of 10 years of direct experience in TSF operations
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience at a supervisory level;
- Sound experience in Project Management and the effective usage of Earthmoving and Construction equipment.
- Sound experience in embankment design and quality control
Qualifications
- Degree in Civil Engineering, Hydrogeology or related discipline.
- Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering will be advantageous.
- Eligibility for membership of the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ), and to hold legal appointment as defined by the Mining regulations of Zambia.
- Eligibility for membership of the Engineering Registration Board (ERB), and to hold legal appointment as defined by the Mining regulations of Zambia.
- All Qualifications Certified by ZAQA