Leading Hand - Laboratory

Glencore; Mount Isa City; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13% superannuation

Glencore Rewards health discounts

Employee referral program

Leadership development programs

Residential role in Mount Isa

Job summary

Glencore's Mount Isa Mines is seeking a Laboratory Leading Hand to lead a high-performing laboratory team and drive safety, quality and operational excellence. The role is residential in Mount Isa with a 4 days on, 4 days off roster and 12-hour shifts, offering work-life balance and career progression opportunities.

You will mentor laboratory personnel, coordinate daily workflows, ensure QA/QC compliance and deliver accurate results for mining and processing operations.

Qualifications

• Formal qualification in Science is highly desirable; significant practical laboratory experience is valued.
• Leadership experience in a laboratory setting is essential.
• Familiarity with QA/QC principles and laboratory safety practices is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and support the laboratory team to deliver high-quality analytical outcomes.
• Coordinate and prioritise daily lab workflow for timely data release.
• Train personnel in procedures, protocols and best practices; oversee QA/QC compliance.

Skills

Leadership

QA/QC

Communication

Workload management

Training & mentoring

Education

Science qualification (Cert III/IV or degree)

Tools

LIMS

MS Word

MS Excel

Job description

Laboratory Leading Hand

QLD Metallurgical Operations, Technical Services,
Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Ref. No. 33296

Lead a high-performing laboratory team and enjoy more time for what matters. As the Laboratory Leading Hand, you'll play a critical role in supporting Mount Isa Mines' world-class mining and processing operations by ensuring the safe, accurate and timely delivery of laboratory results. This hands-on leadership opportunity combines technical laboratory expertise with people leadership, giving you the chance to mentor a skilled team while driving quality, safety and operational excellence.

Based in Mount Isa, this residential position offers an attractive 4 days on, 4 days off roster working 12-hour shifts, providing genuine work-life balance with half the year spent off roster. If you're an experienced laboratory professional ready to take the next step into frontline leadership, this is an opportunity to build a long-term career with one of Australia's largest and most diverse mining operations.

Mount Isa Mines

Mount Isa offers an affordable lifestyle, short commute times and access to incredible outdoor adventures right on your doorstep. Whether you're enjoying camping, fishing, four-wheel driving or simply spending more time with family and friends, you'll enjoy a community-focused lifestyle while building a rewarding career with one of Australia's most iconic mining operations.

• Your Benefits:
• Competitive remuneration with 13% superannuation (Staff role)
• Access to Glencore Rewards including health insurance discounts, retail offers, and salary sacrifice options
• Employee Referral, Recognition & Reward programs
• Leadership development programs, Ambassador Programs and unrivalled career pathways
• The lifestyle advantage of a residential role in Mount Isa

About the role

As the Laboratory Leading Hand, you will play a key leadership role within the laboratory team, setting the standard for safety, quality, and operational performance. Reporting directly to the Laboratory Supervisor, you will lead, mentor and support laboratory personnel while coordinating daily workflow to ensure analytical results are delivered accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with laboratory QA/QC requirements. This hands-on position combines technical laboratory expertise with crew leadership responsibilities, ensuring a safe, productive, and collaborative working environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor and support laboratory team members to achieve high-quality analytical outcomes.
• Coordinate, prioritise and manage daily laboratory workflow for optimum performance and timely data release.
• Train and monitor laboratory personnel in laboratory procedures, protocols and best practices.
• Perform laboratory analysis across all required levels while maintaining quality standards and QA/QC protocols.
• Act as the primary point of contact for crew members regarding laboratory tasks and operational requirements.
• Promote crew wellbeing through effective management of work rotation, fatigue and team dynamics.
• Facilitate and contribute to SafeStart meetings and other safety initiatives.
• Communicate laboratory status, workload priorities and handover information effectively between crews and supervisors.
• Ensure team members understand and comply with laboratory risk assessments, JSEAs and safety requirements.
• Support reporting activities, customer liaison, shipping and sample distribution when required.
• Participate in Visible Field Leadership activities and other safety programs as directed.

About you

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated leadership capability together with extensive laboratory experience, preferably within a mining, metallurgical or industrial environment. You will possess strong technical knowledge of laboratory operations, sample preparation techniques and quality assurance principles, coupled with the ability to communicate effectively, manage competing priorities and support the development of team members. A formal qualification in Science is highly desirable; however, significant practical laboratory experience will also be highly regarded.

You will have qualifications:

• Current Queensland Manual Driver's Licence.
• Leadership experience with the ability to guide and develop others.
• Experience in metallurgical sample preparation.
• Strong understanding of laboratory methodologies and turnaround requirements.
• Sound knowledge of QA/QC principles and their practical application.
• Experience using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to identify, investigate and report non-conforming results.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to deliver clear reporting, training and workload updates to stakeholders and supervisors.
• Formal Science qualification (Certificate III, Certificate IV or Degree level) highly desirable.

At Glencore, our people are the foundation of our success, and we are committed to creating a workplace where our values guide everything we do. Safety is our first priority — we never compromise on it. We act with Integrity, choosing to do what’s right even when it’s challenging. We take Responsibility for our actions and strive to make a positive impact. Through Openness, we communicate honestly and encourage meaningful dialogue. We embrace Simplicity, focusing on what truly matters and avoiding unnecessary complexity. And with Entrepreneurialism, we welcome new ideas and continuously seek better, safer and more efficient ways of working.

Don’t just take a job, secure a career and help build the future of our region.

Applications Close: 16th of November