Director, Metallurgy

AngloGold Ashanti Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 3,000,000 - 5,000,000; Full time

Job summary

AngloGold Ashanti Limited, based in Johannesburg, seeks a Director of Metallurgy to provide global technical leadership across operations, growth projects, and FAP initiatives. You will shape the metallurgical technology roadmap, lead due diligence for M&A, and foster international partnerships.

You will drive discipline health, oversee talent development, mentor teams, and collaborate with the VP and plant leadership to deliver best-in-class processing performance across the group.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of leadership in mining operations.
• Broad command of the mining value chain from geology to processing, tailings, and capital projects.
• Strategic planning capability with a 3–5 year horizon.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing senior stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Provide global metallurgical leadership across operations and growth projects.
• Lead M&A technical due diligence and stage-gate reviews.
• Own the metallurgical technology roadmap and drive innovation.
• Foster global vendor partnerships and research collaborations.
• Mentor talent and drive cross-asset succession planning.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Mentoring & talent development

International travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering or related

Master’s or Ph.D. in Extractive Metallurgy / Mineral Processing

Job description

As Director of Metallurgy, you will provide global technical leadership across operations, growth projects, and Full Asset Potential (FAP) initiatives. Reporting into global processing leadership and based in Johannesburg, you will oversee the strategic metallurgical technology roadmap, lead M&A technical due diligence, direct project stage-gate reviews, and foster global vendor/research partnerships. Additionally, you will drive discipline health, cross-asset talent succession, and mentoring programs across AGA’s global metallurgy function.

Key Accountabilities

• Safety & Core Values: Model AGA Safety Vision and Values; drive a zero-harm operational culture and lead technical support for incident investigations when required.
• Global Technical Services & Growth: Deliver expert metallurgical direction to Business Units; serve as direct Subject Matter Expert (SME) on growth projects, M&A due diligence, stage-gate reviews, and FAP opportunity development.
• Technology Roadmap & Innovation: Own and execute the metallurgical technology roadmap; identify disruptive processing technologies, assess innovation viability, and manage global implementation alongside plant leadership.
• External Strategic Partnerships: Establish and maintain high-level relationships with global OEMs, specialized vendors, and international metallurgical research institutions.
• Discipline Health & Talent Development: Partner with the VP of Processing and BU Process Managers on global succession planning; drive metallurgist database management, cross-operational exposure assignments, and mentorship across all corporate levels.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 15+ years of relevant operational and technical leadership experience within the mining industry.
• Broad practical command of the full mining value chain (geology, mining, geotechnical, processing, engineering, tailings, and capital projects).
• Demonstrated strategic planning capability with a 3–5 year business horizon.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams, managing senior stakeholder relationships, and executing complex change management initiatives.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extensive international travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Extractive Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, or a related field.
• Direct operational production experience managing large-scale gold processing plants.
• Track record in driving business improvement frameworks and global technical innovation.

AngloGold Ashanti is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of gender, race, religion, nationality, or disability.