Plant Operation Manager – Phase 2

Vedanta resources; Aggeneys; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

VedantaZinc International (VZI) is seeking a Plant Operation Manager - Phase 2 to oversee the transition of the Phase 2 concentrator from project to operation and to drive safe, stable production across all circuits in the CBP framework.

You will lead a high-performance team, coordinate with maintenance, engineering and technical specialists, and push continuous improvement to meet production, recovery, and quality targets in a demanding mining environment.

Qualifications

• BSc / BTech Degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Leadership or management certification advantageous.
• Minimum 8 years in concentrator operations within mining or mineral processing.

Responsibilities

• Lead zero-harm safety culture across all operating areas.
• Oversee daily operation of Phase 2 concentrator to meet KPIs.
• Ensure operational readiness for new circuits and phased commissioning.
• Govern CBP partner sites with KPI-based performance reviews.
• Develop and coach CBP teams and supervisors for succession.
• Drive continuous improvement to increase uptime and efficiency.

Skills

Safety leadership

Operational leadership

People development

Decision making

Stakeholder management

Continuous improvement

Communication

Risk assessment

CBP governance

Metallurgical knowledge

Education

BSc / BTech in Metallurgy or Chemical Engineering

Leadership or management certification

Tools

MS Office

SAP

PI/SCADA

Job description

VedantaZinc International (VZI) operates two major mining complexes in the NorthernCape:

• Gamsberg - a large-scale open - pit zinc mine with extensive contractor - driven operations.
• Black Mountain Mine (BMM) - an underground operation reliant on specialist service providers, labour - hire, engineering services and technical support contracts.

The operation follows the Contractor Business Partner (CBP) Model, where processing functions are executed in partnership with contractor teams under Vedanta governance. This environment demands strong leadership, technical oversight, and continuous collaboration to ensure safe, cost - effective and efficient production performance.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Plant Operation Manager - Phase 2 is responsible for overseeing and leading the implementation (taking phase 2 plant from project phase to operation phase), initiating and subsequent end - to - end operation of the Phase 2 concentrator plant. The role ensures:

• Safe, stable and efficient operation of all plant circuits as they come into full production.
• Implementation of plant structures to ensure people are available as the starting of the plant.
• Achievement of production, recovery, and quality targets.
• Strong performance management of CBP teams.
• Effective implementation of process control standards, operating procedures, and metallurgical governance.
• Coordination with maintenance, engineering, and technical teams to optimise plant availability and performance.

The position ensures operational readiness, continuous improvement, and high - performance culture within Phase 2 operations, fully aligned with Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Operational Leadership & Production Management

• Lead a zero-harm safety culture across all operational areas.
• Promote visible felt leadership and a proactive safety culture.
• Lead the daily operation of the Phase 2 concentrator to meet or exceed throughput, recovery, and product quality KPIs.
• Ensure consistent adherence to metallurgical envelopes, process control standards, and approved operating philosophies.
• Oversee shift operations, production scheduling, plant stability, and operational discipline across all units.
• Ensure operational readiness for new circuits and phased commissioning activities.

2. Governance, Safety & Compliance

• Enforce compliance with all SHE standards, MHSA requirements, legal and VZI risk protocols.
• Lead incident investigations, RCAs and ensure corrective actions are implemented and verified.
• Ensure operational changes follow appropriate MOC and risk assessment processes.

3. CBP (Contractor Business Partner) Oversight

• Provide operational governance of contractor - run sections within the CBP model.
• Manage contractor performance via KPIs, service-level expectations, and technical alignment meetings.
• Ensure CBP teams follow VZI standards, SOPs, safety rules, and metallurgical guidelines.
• Build strong, transparent relationships with contractor management teams to ensure high service delivery.

4. People Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead a high - performing operational team including Supervisors, Operators, Control Room personnel, and CBP teams.
• Set annual objectives, conduct performance reviews, and manage team development plans.
• Drive skills upliftment, SOP compliance, and operational training programs.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Ensure succession plans are in place and develop team members for career growth.
• Promote teamwork and build one team with all stakeholders.

5. Process & Continuous Improvement

• Drive operational excellence initiatives to increase plant uptime, reduce losses, and improve unit process efficiency.
• Work closely with Technical/Metallurgy to optimise reagents, consumables, control loops, and operating windows.
• Implement improvement projects, cost - saving initiatives, and efficiency enhancements.
• Lead benchmarking, best - practice adoption, and standardisation across Phase 1 and Phase 2 circuits.

6. Cross - Functional Coordination

• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, Planning, and Projects teams to ensure integrated operation and maintenance planning.
• Partner with Marketing and quality department to ensure maximisation of product sales.
• Ensure operational discipline and compliance to operational target parameters for deposits to the Tailings disposal facility.
• Support shutdown planning, execution, and critical-path activities.
• Provide operational input into future expansions, equipment upgrades, and technology adoption.
• Participate in daily, weekly, and monthly production meetings and reporting cycles.
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with VZI policies, Supply Chain procedures, MHSA requirements and other legislative obligations.
• Support compliance with Mining Charter III, BBBEE and local - procurement objectives.

Complete required Visible Felt Leadership sessions, Gemba Walks, Planned Task Observations (PTOs), Risk Assessments and Issue - Based Risk Assessments (IBRAs) as defined by the Company.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Qualifications

• BSc / BTech Degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Additional leadership or management certification advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 8 years in concentrator operations within mining or mineral processing.
• Minimum 3 years in a supervisory or management role (Shift Superintendent / Section Manager / Operations Superintendent level).
• Demonstrated experience in plant commissioning, ramp - up, and operational readiness.
• Proven record of achieving production targets in a high - throughput environment.

Technical Competence

• Advanced understanding of concentrator unit operations (crushing, milling, flotation, thickening, filtration).
• Ability to interpret and optimise metallurgical balances, mass pulls, recoveries, and product quality indicators.
• Strong proficiency in process control systems and loop tuning fundamentals.
• Experience with commissioning, ramp - up strategies, and operational readiness frameworks.
• Ability to analyse and adjust reagent strategies, blend plans, and operating windows.
• Knowledge of maintenance - operation interfaces, plant availability principles, and equipment constraints.
• High competence in risk identification, hazard management and operational troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in MS Office, SAP, PI/SCADA or similar plant information systems.

Behavioural

• Safety leadership - actively models visible safety behaviours and prioritises risk reduction.
• High accountability - takes ownership for production, people, compliance, and plant stability.
• Strong decision - making - able to respond quickly and effectively to plant upsets or safety concerns.
• Stakeholder influence - able to drive performance across CBP partners and internal teams.
• Communication excellence - clear, structured communication across shifts, contractors, and management.
• Resilience & adaptability - remains composed in high - pressure environments, manages change effectively.
• People development mindset - committed to coaching, upskilling and growing teams.
• Continuous improvement orientation - seeks opportunities to improve performance, reduce waste and drive efficiency.
• Mentoring and coaching

Organisational Fit

• Alignment with VZI's values of trust, entrepreneurship, innovation, excellence, integrity, respect and care.
• Commitment to operational excellence, zeroharm, and community upliftment.
• Ability to thrive in a high - performance, CBP - integrated environment.