Head Metallurgist, Concentrate Leaching Excellence

Hudbay Minerals U.S. Business Unit; Casa Grande (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Hudbay Minerals U.S. Business Unit seeks a Chief Metallurgist - Concentrate Leaching to provide strategic technical leadership for fine grinding, leaching, SX/EW, and related processing.

The role directs test programs, oversees EPCM contractors, and drives optimization to achieve safe, efficient copper cathode production. The position requires 15+ years in metallurgical engineering and at least 5 years in senior leadership, with strong financial acumen and safety/regulatory knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, or related field.
• 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 5+ years of direct experience in concentrate leaching, fine grinding, and hydrometallurgical processing plant operations or technology development.
• Proven leadership in hydrometallurgy, concentrate leaching, fine grinding, SX/EW, and mineralogy evaluation.
• Strategic financial acumen including budget development, CAPEX/OPEX control, and contract negotiation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Safety in Design (SID), MSHA/OSHA regulations, environmental compliance, and risk management.
• Exceptional executive communication, negotiation, cross-functional collaboration, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide overarching strategic and technical leadership for concentrate leaching process circuits, including fine grinding (~10 micron target), oxidative leaching, sulfur removal, cyanidation, SX, and EW.
• Direct comprehensive metallurgical test programs evaluating primary feedstock priorities and third-party concentrates to establish optimal parameters and recovery models.
• Manage and mentor a high-performing team while overseeing major EPCM consultants and laboratories.
• Establish long-term metallurgical strategy, quality control frameworks, and governance to meet copper cathode targets.
• Champion safety, sustainability, regulatory compliance across processing designs and site practices.
• Drive executive-level technical decision-making, value engineering, and risk mitigation across hydrometallurgical disciplines.
• Lead operational readiness, commissioning, and transition to full-scale operations.
• Formulate and govern departmental budgets, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost control.
• Lead metallurgical inputs for tollgate reviews, feasibility studies, and corporate planning.

Skills

Leadership

Hydrometallurgy

Process optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Education

Bachelors in Metallurgical Eng

Masters in Metallurgical/Chemical Eng

PE license

Job description

Hudbay Minerals U.S. Business Unit seeks a Chief Metallurgist - Concentrate Leaching to provide strategic technical leadership for fine grinding, leaching, SX/EW, and related processing.

The role directs test programs, oversees EPCM contractors, and drives optimization to achieve safe, efficient copper cathode production. The position requires 15+ years in metallurgical engineering and at least 5 years in senior leadership, with strong financial acumen and safety/regulatory knowledge.