Senior Metallurgist

Jerritt Canyon; Elko (NV); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jerritt Canyon is seeking a Senior Metallurgist to provide technical leadership for its mining and mineral processing operation. The role leads metallurgical investigations, process optimization, and studies across the mine-to-processing value chain.

Collaborating with Geology, Engineering, Maintenance, and Technical Services teams, you will identify opportunities to enhance metal recovery, throughput, product quality, and operating costs while maintaining safety and regulatory commitments.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of metallurgical or mineral processing experience.
• Experience working in an operating mine, concentrator, processing plant, refinery, or other mineral processing facility.
• Strong understanding of mineral processing principles and metallurgical unit operations.
• Experience with metallurgical test work, process optimization, mass balancing, and plant performance analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot metallurgical and process problems and develop practical solutions.
• Experience leading plant trials, optimization programs, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level metallurgical expertise and technical support to mining and mineral processing operations.
• Monitor and evaluate plant metallurgical performance, including recovery, throughput, grade, concentrate quality, and process efficiency.
• Develop and implement metallurgical test programs, plant trials, and process improvement initiatives.
• Identify and investigate opportunities to improve metal recovery, throughput, process stability, and operating costs.
• Lead metallurgical accounting, mass balancing, reconciliation, and performance reporting.
• Analyze metallurgical and operational data to identify trends, process constraints, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain metallurgical models, simulations, and process performance forecasts.
• Support commissioning, optimization, debottlenecking, and expansion projects.
• Provide input into feasibility studies, scoping studies, capital projects, and mine/process development plans.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, Materials Engineering, or closely related discipline

Job description

About Jerritt Canyon

The Jerritt Canyon deposit was discovered in 1972, and the first gold production from the property occurred in 1981. The Jerritt Canyon property contains 30,821 hectares of mining claims located in the mining-friendly state of Nevada. First Majestic acquired the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine from Sprott Mining Inc. on April 30, 2021. In May 2023, operations were suspended to prioritize exploration and technical studies. Jerritt Canyon is now entering a new phase of evaluation and planning, requiring substantial technical support to advance the work necessary for a potential future restart of operations.

The Opportunity

The Senior Metallurgist is responsible for providing technical leadership and metallurgical expertise to support the safe, efficient, and profitable operation of a mining and mineral processing operation. The role will lead metallurgical investigations, process optimization, plant performance improvement, and technical studies across the mine-to-processing value chain.

Working closely with Mining, Processing, Geology, Engineering, Maintenance, and Technical Services teams, the Senior Metallurgist will identify opportunities to improve metal recovery, throughput, product quality, operating costs, and overall plant performance.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level metallurgical expertise and technical support to mining and mineral processing operations.
• Monitor and evaluate plant metallurgical performance, including recovery, throughput, grade, concentrate/product quality, and process efficiency.
• Develop and implement metallurgical test programs, plant trials, and process improvement initiatives.
• Identify and investigate opportunities to improve metal recovery, throughput, process stability, and operating costs.
• Lead metallurgical accounting, mass balancing, reconciliation, and performance reporting.
• Analyze metallurgical and operational data to identify trends, process constraints, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain metallurgical models, simulations, and process performance forecasts where appropriate.
• Support commissioning, optimization, debottlenecking, and expansion projects.
• Provide technical input into feasibility studies, scoping studies, capital projects, and mine/process development plans.
• Design and oversee laboratory, pilot-scale, and plant-scale metallurgical test work.
• Interpret mineralogical, metallurgical, and process data and translate findings into practical operational recommendations.
• Work with Geology and Mine Planning teams to understand ore characteristics, variability, and their impact on processing performance.
• Support ore characterization, geometallurgical programs, blending strategies, and stockpile management.
• Develop and maintain metallurgical procedures, standards, operating strategies, and technical documentation.
• Provide technical coaching and mentoring to Metallurgists, Process Engineers, and junior technical personnel.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, operating reviews, and recommendations for management.
• Work collaboratively with operations teams to implement and sustain process improvements.
• Ensure metallurgical activities comply with applicable health, safety, environmental, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and technical rigor.

The above duties and responsibilities represent the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, Materials Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 7–10+ years of relevant metallurgical or mineral processing experience, preferably within a mining or mineral processing environment.
• Demonstrated experience working in an operating mine, concentrator, processing plant, refinery, smelter, or other mineral processing facility.
• Strong understanding of mineral processing principles and metallurgical unit operations.
• Experience with metallurgical test work, process optimization, mass balancing, metallurgical accounting, and plant performance analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex metallurgical and process problems and develop practical solutions.
• Experience leading plant trials, optimization programs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical and statistical skills, with the ability to interpret large datasets and convert technical findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Operations, Geology, Mining, Engineering, Maintenance, and Technical Services teams.
• Strong technical writing, communication, presentation, and project management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a mine-site or remote operating environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to employees and applicants in accordance with all applicable laws.