Head: Fire Assay and Reference Material Group at Mintek

Mintek; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Mintek’s Analytical Chemistry Division seeks a Head of the Fire Assay and Reference Material Group to lead research, drive innovation, and develop a high-performing team focused on solving industry and societal challenges in mining and metallurgy.

The role expects a strong background in analytical chemistry, PGMs analysis, and ISO 17025 quality systems, with leadership and project management skills to deliver technical outputs and funding opportunities.

Qualifications

• Minimum: MSc Chemistry/Science.
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Responsibilities

• Lead research and innovation in analytical chemistry.
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• Lead technical output and develop a strong team.
• Address industry and societal needs in mining/metallurgy.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Platinum group metals analysis

Instrumentation data interpretation

ISO 17025 accreditation

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder liaison

Technical mentoring

Education

MSc Chemistry/Science

PhD in Chemistry

Tools

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Job description

Introduction

Mintek has an exciting career opportunity for the Head: Fire Assay and Reference Material Group, within the Analytical Chemistry Division. The successful candidate will lead research and innovation in analytical chemistry, through proposing appropriate work, leading technical output and developing a strong team to be solution focused in addressing needs of industry and society in this sector.

Duties & Responsibilities

Administration

• Manage and coordinate project administration activities.
• Oversee office administration.
• Manage and coordinate SHEQ administrative activities.

Finance / Budget

• Book time to ensure positive revenue stream
• Motivation and budgeting for CAPEX; handle tender process for equipment
• Annual budgeting and monthly review. Any marketing measures to implement
• Project monitoring of expenditure against budget.
• Monitor & evaluate project milestones against billing in long-running projects (annual and multiple years)
• Manage equipment maintenance/purchase costs against budget
• Ensuring revenue generation for cost-recovery in projects

Technical

• Visibility and credibility- ensuring publication outputs are met i.e. writing of papers for journal and conference publication; helping staff achieve these outputs for the group
• Provide technical direction that people can follow and ability to communicate it effectively.
• Monitoring & Evaluation of project milestones to motivate for further funding.
• Proposal writing to secure funding from various sources through technical inputs
• Keep up to date on latest developments in the discipline and in the industry that it serves/has potential to serve
• Participate in technical forums, e.g. conferences, client/collaborator engagements
• Technical mentoring, supervision of staff, e.g. postgraduate project supervision

Quality Management And Compliance

• Quality is part of SHEQ requirements.
• Responsible for quality of technical outputs of the group (e.g. reports, publications) -

provide technical inputs as necessary

• Ensure all work done in compliance with SHEQ standards (Safety, health, environment and quality) for the group
• Facilitate Client survey assessment.

Human Resources

• Provide leadership and proper communication.
• Performance contracting and appraisals, develop KPIs in line with strategic objectives and strategic programmes.
• Mentoring and coaching, training development, facilitation

Project Management

• Project administration and record keeping.
• Allocation of resources - people and instrumentation.
• Monitoring of expenditure against budget to contain costs.
• Monitoring milestones against promised deliverables to ensure turnaround time met.
• Ensuring quality of technical outputs.
• Ensure revenue realized for work executed.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Qualifications

• Minimum: MSc Chemistry/ Science
• Ideal: PhD in Chemistry

Experience

• Minimum experience: 8-10 years' experience in the analytical chemistry field which is directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Ideal: 12 years' experience.
• Experience in applying knowledge of analytical chemistry to solve problems related to the mining and metallurgical industry.

Skills And Abilities

• Fundamentals of analytical chemistry.
• Knowledge of Platinum group metals analysis.
• Interpretation of analytical data from various sources of instrumentation, including, but not limited to:
• Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy
• Inductively Coupled Plasma -Optical Emission Spectroscopy
• Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
• Liaise with various stakeholders to show value of analytical chemistry in project outcomes for the mining and metallurgical industry, thereby bringing work to the division.
• Propose and execute research to develop new applications, methods and solutions to problems in the mining and metallurgical industry, through application of analytical and environmental chemistry principles.
• Experience and knowledge of laboratory operating under ISO 17025 accreditation.
• Experience in writing technical report.
• Must have experience in managing a sustainable analytical facility.
• Must have a track record of operational management and execution at a business unit level.

Competency Required

• Effective communication skills -verbal and written
• Analytical thinking and attention to detail
• People and instrument management and teamwork
• Strategic leadership to set vision for group and deliver on organisational mandate
• Conflict resolution
• Client and Quality data/results orientated
• Financial management