Chief Metallurgist

WorkNovaX; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

WorkNovaX in Tucson, AZ seeks a senior Metallurgical Engineering leader to oversee crushing, heap leaching, SX/EW operations and related processes. You will direct testwork, flowsheet development, and optimization, setting performance and recovery standards while guiding a diverse team.

You will craft long-term metallurgical strategy, implement safety and environmental governance, manage budgets, and coordinate with EPCM partners to deliver reliable, cost-effective processing at scale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, or related field.
• 15+ years of metallurgical engineering and technical management in large-scale mining or major projects.
• At least 5+ years in senior leadership or managerial roles.
• 3+ years in heap leach and SX/EW copper operations.
• Executive leadership capabilities with extensive expertise in copper hydrometallurgy.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary technical teams and driving operational excellence.
• Strategic financial acumen including budget development, CAPEX/OPEX control, and contracts.
• Knowledge of Safety in Design (SID), MSHA/OSHA regulations, environmental compliance, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for all crushing, stacking, heap leaching, SX, and EW operations.
• Direct metallurgical testwork, flowsheet development, process optimization, and recovery modeling.
• Manage, mentor, and build a high-performing team while overseeing EPCM consultants and labs.
• Establish long-term metallurgical strategy, quality control frameworks, and governance to meet targets.
• Champion safety, environmental compliance across processing designs and site practices.
• Drive executive-level technical decision-making, trade-off evaluations, and risk mitigation across hydrometallurgy.
• Lead operational readiness, commissioning, and transition planning to full-scale operations.
• Formulate and govern departmental OPEX and CAPEX budgets, ensuring optimal resource allocation.
• Lead metallurgical inputs for tollgate reviews, feasibility studies, and corporate planning.
• Oversee equipment procurement strategies, technical bid evaluations, vendor alignment, and contracts.
• Foster continuous improvement, automation, and sustainable processing initiatives.
• Establish SOPs, training programs, and talent pipelines for processing personnel.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Strategic planning

Mentoring

Risk management

Budgeting

Safety compliance

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering / Chemical Engineering / Mineral Processing or related field

Master's degree in Metallurgical Engineering / Chemical Engineering

Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or equivalent

Job description

Tucson, United States | Posted on 10/22/2026

• Provide overarching strategic and technical leadership for all crushing, stacking, heap leaching, solvent extraction (SX), and electrowinning (EW) operations.
• Direct comprehensive metallurgical testwork programs, flowsheet development, process optimization, and recovery modeling to establish best-in-class operational standards.
• Manage, mentor, and build a high-performing team of metallurgists, engineers, and technicians while overseeing major EPCM consultants and specialized laboratories.
• Establish long-term metallurgical strategy, quality control frameworks, and operational governance to consistently meet LME Grade A copper cathode targets.
• Champion safety, environmental sustainability, and statutory regulatory compliance across all processing designs, operational procedures, and site practices.
• Drive executive-level technical decision-making, trade-off evaluations, value engineering initiatives, and risk mitigation strategies across hydrometallurgical disciplines.
• Lead operational readiness, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and seamless transition planning from project execution to full-scale commercial operations.
• Formulate and govern departmental OPEX and CAPEX budgets, ensuring optimal resource allocation, cost control, and strategic financial management.
• Lead metallurgical technical inputs for tollgate reviews, feasibility studies, executive presentations, and corporate strategic planning sessions.
• Oversee major equipment procurement strategies, technical bid evaluations (TBA), vendor alignment, and contract negotiations for critical processing infrastructure.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, technological innovation, automation, and sustainable processing initiatives.
• Establish organizational frameworks, standard operating procedures (SOPs), workforce training programs, and talent pipeline development for processing personnel.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, or related field.
• Minimum 15+ years of progressive metallurgical engineering and technical management experience in large-scale mining operations or major project development, with at least 5+ years in senior leadership or managerial roles.
• Minimum 3+ years of experience in heap leach and SX/EW copper operations.
• Proven executive leadership capabilities with extensive technical expertise in copper hydrometallurgy, heap leaching, and SX/EW processing.
• Demonstrated success in leading multi-disciplinary technical teams, driving operational excellence, and managing complex project flowsheets.
• Strategic financial acumen, including budget development, CAPEX/OPEX control, contract negotiation, and resource management.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Safety in Design (SID), MSHA/OSHA regulations, environmental compliance, and risk management frameworks.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in Metallurgical Engineering or Chemical Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or equivalent professional registration.