Senior Metallurgical Project Lead - Latin America
XPS Materials Group
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Job summary
XPS Materials Group in Santiago, Chile, seeks a Senior Metallurgical Project Lead – Latin America to provide technical leadership and oversee complex metallurgical programs across the region. You’ll manage test work, guide geometallurgical studies, and drive business development with mining clients while collaborating with Canadian leadership.
The role requires extensive hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, and geometallurgy expertise, plus fluency in English and Spanish.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mineral Processing, or related discipline.
- Master's degree or PhD in a relevant discipline is an asset.
- Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, metallurgical operations, consulting, or related mining environments.
- Experience managing metallurgical and geometallurgical laboratory programs.
- Strong understanding of hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, flotation, and geometallurgy.
- Experience supporting scoping, prefeasibility, feasibility, operational improvement, and due diligence studies.
- Proven ability to prepare technical reports, presentations, and client-facing deliverables.
- Experience preparing technical proposals, budgets, scopes of work, and commercial submissions.
- Established relationships within the Latin American mining industry are a strong asset.
- Fluency in English and Spanish, written and spoken.
- Must be legally eligible to work in Chile or able to obtain required authorization.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership while supporting growth of the consulting business across Latin America.
- Lead metallurgical test work programs, including heap leaching and related activities.
- Develop test work strategies, scopes, budgets, schedules, and deliverables.
- Coordinate third-party laboratories to ensure high-quality execution and data integrity.
- Interpret test results and develop practical recommendations for studies and operations.
- Identify technical risks and optimization strategies to improve outcomes.
- Oversee geometallurgical programs performed by external labs and service providers.
- Support scoping, prefeasibility, feasibility, and due diligence studies.
- Prepare and review technical reports, presentations, and client deliverables.
- Provide troubleshooting and technical support to clients and project teams in LATAM and Canada.
- Manage consulting assignments from initiation through completion.
- Coordinate scopes, budgets, schedules, resources, and deliverables.
- Monitor progress and address risks.
- Communicate status to clients and stakeholders.
- Support continuous improvement of project management and delivery practices.
- Identify and pursue new consulting opportunities across LATAM.
- Develop and maintain relationships with mining companies and labs.
- Prepare technical and commercial proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and execution plans.
- Represent XPS at client meetings, workshops, conferences, and industry events.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Senior Metallurgical Project Lead – Latin America
XPS, Glencore Canada Corporation, Special Projects Division
Santiago, Chile (on-site)
XPS is seeking an experienced Senior Metallurgical Project Lead – Latin America to support the growth of our metallurgical consulting business throughout the Latin American mining sector.
Based in Santiago, Chile, this senior technical and client-facing role provides leadership and technical oversight for hydrometallurgical, mineral processing and geometallurgical programs supporting mining projects across the region. The successful candidate will oversee metallurgical test work programs delivered through third-party laboratories, provide technical guidance on project development and operational initiatives, lead the delivery of complex capital studies, support business development activities, and build strong relationships with mining clients throughout Latin America.
Working closely with Canadian leadership and multidisciplinary technical teams, the role offers the opportunity to influence major mining projects while helping grow XPS's consulting presence across one of the world's most active mining regions.
XPS is a leading metallurgical consulting business that combines technical excellence, operational experience, and commercial insight to help clients solve complex challenges across the mining and metals industry.
As Senior Metallurgical Project Lead – Latin America, you will provide technical leadership while supporting the continued growth and success of our consulting business across the region.
- Lead and oversee metallurgical test work programs, including heap leaching and related activities.
- Develop test work strategies, scopes, budgets, schedules, and deliverables aligned with project objectives.
- Direct and coordinate third-party laboratories to ensure high-quality execution and data integrity.
- Interpret metallurgical test results and develop practical recommendations for project studies and operations.
- Identify technical risks, opportunities, and optimization strategies to improve project outcomes.
- Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and best practices in hydrometallurgy and leaching.
- Scope and oversee geometallurgical programs performed by external laboratories and service providers.
- Evaluate technical data and integrate metallurgical and geometallurgical findings into project recommendations.
- Support scoping, prefeasibility, feasibility, operational improvement, and due diligence studies.
- Prepare and review technical reports, presentations, and client deliverables.
- Provide troubleshooting and technical support to clients and project teams throughout Latin America and Canada.
- Manage consulting assignments from project initiation through completion.
- Coordinate project scopes, budgets, schedules, resources, and deliverables.
- Monitor progress and proactively address technical, schedule, and commercial risks.
- Communicate project status and findings effectively with clients and stakeholders.
- Support continuous improvement of project management and delivery practices.
- Identify and support new consulting opportunities across Latin America.
- Develop and maintain relationships with mining companies, project developers, consultants, and laboratories.
- Prepare technical and commercial proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and execution plans.
- Represent XPS at client meetings, technical workshops, conferences, and industry events.
- Support revenue growth, profitability, and long-term client retention initiatives.
- Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mineral Processing, or a related discipline.
- Master's degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline is considered an asset.
- Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, metallurgical operations, consulting, or related mining environments.
- Experience managing metallurgical and geometallurgical laboratory programs.
- Strong understanding of hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, flotation, and geometallurgy.
- Experience supporting scoping, prefeasibility, feasibility, operational improvement, and due diligence studies.
- Proven ability to prepare technical reports, presentations, and client-facing deliverables.
- Experience preparing technical proposals, budgets, scopes of work, and commercial submissions.
- Established relationships within the Latin American mining industry are considered a strong asset.
- Fluency in both English and Spanish, written and spoken.
- Must be legally eligible to work in Chile or able to obtain the required authorization prior to commencing employment.
- Strong technical analysis and problem-solving capabilities.
- Excellent stakeholder-management and relationship-building skills.
- Strong commercial awareness and business-development mindset.
- Ability to influence and collaborate across diverse cultural and business environments.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to work independently while supporting geographically distributed teams.
- High standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and metallurgical data analysis and reporting tools.
- Willingness and ability to travel.
At XPS, success starts with how we work.
- Safety – We put safety first in every decision, every day.
- Integrity – We act honestly, ethically, and transparently.
- Responsibility – We take ownership of our commitments and results.
- Openness – We collaborate, communicate, and share knowledge.
- Entrepreneurship – We seek opportunities, innovate, and create value.
- Simplicity – We focus on practical solutions that deliver results.
- Small Business Mentality – Think like an owner, stay focused on delivery, and create value through efficient use of resources.
- Own Your Outcomes – Take accountability for results, be adaptable, and approach every interaction with a customer-service mindset.
- No Plan, No Work – Deliver outcomes safely and effectively through strong planning, risk management, and disciplined execution.
- We Do What We Say – Make realistic commitments, communicate clearly, and follow through on promises.
- Confirm, Validate and Manage by Numbers – Use facts, data, and measurable outcomes to drive decisions and track performance.
- Commercially Astute – Understand value drivers, costs, risks, and trade-offs to support sound business decisions.
- Engineering & Operational Excellence – Apply fit-for-purpose technical solutions and the highest standards of safety and quality.
- Technical Leadership – Share expertise, continuously learn, and help shape best practices across the business.
- Create Ownership – Treat the business as your own and contribute to building capability, continuity, and long-term success.
- Performance Driven – Focus on outcomes, empower teams closest to the work, and continuously improve the way we operate.
- Work on complex, technically challenging projects across the global mining and metals industry
- Influence strategic investment decisions and operational performance
- Collaborate with highly respected technical experts
- Lead innovative hydrometallurgical development programs
- Build meaningful, long-term client relationships
- Shape the future growth of a respected consulting organization
Travel of approximately 25-30% is expected and may include visits to operating mines, metallurgical laboratories, project sites, client offices, conferences, and occasional travel to Canada.
Accommodation is available throughout our recruitment process for applicants with disabilities.
Determining the annual base salary, including location, market, education, relevant and demonstrated work experience, technical assessment, qualifications, certifications and other relevant skills.Our goal is to ensure that our compensation package is competitive and aligns with the value our employees bring to the organization.
Please note that while we appreciate all applications, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Internal applicants may be given priority consideration.External applications may be considered following the internal recruitment process.
At Glencore, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to providing accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require any assistance or accommodations, please contact us at hr@xps.ca.
Our hiring process, including candidate screening, evaluation, and selection,does notinvolve the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or automated decision-making tools. All assessments and decisions are conducted by qualified human professionals to ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance with Bill 149.
November 13, 2026
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