Job Details

Job Description

At First Quantum, we free the talent of our people by taking a very different approach which is underpinned by a very different, very definite culture – the “First Quantum Way”.

Working with us is not like working anywhere else, which is why we recruit people who will take a bolder, smarter approach to spot opportunities, solve problems and deliver results.

Our culture is all about encouraging you to think independently and to challenge convention to deliver the best result. That’s how we continue to achieve extraordinary things in extraordinary locations

Job description:

Purpose of the role

Job & Candidate Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading a team of around 70 technical and operations personnel in the safe, effective and environmentally responsible management of the TSF and 4 large water dams
• Ongoing conformance, and improvements to, the Tailings and Dam Management System (TDMS) and the GISTM Alignment initiative in accordance with corporate guidelines
• Maintain a full life-cycle approach to dam management and all associated assets linked to dam management across planning, design, construction, operations, maintenance and planning for closure
• Ensuring key dams management documentation is followed and updated per the TDMS, and procedures and records are sufficient for dam quality control and assurance
• Ongoing review of operating targets and processes that ensure business continuity
• Applying a proactive approach to regulatory requirements and relevant guidelines
• Ensuring adequate resourcing and an effective team organizational structure with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for cost-effective tailings and water dam management
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships within the TSF team members and their interaction with other departments, for example, TSF construction, projects, process and environmental
• Identify continuous improvement projects and opportunities within the operations to improve dam integrity, work practices and procedures
• Development of capital and operational budgets and associated performance reporting
• Ensure the completion of daily, weekly, monthly dam inspections and reporting by internal staff as well as Dam Safety Inspections by external consultants
• Pro-actively manage the dams Risk Management processes, spanning risk identification, critical controls, planned controls, TARPs and corrective actions
• Maintain team awareness of dam’s risk identification and safety via regular training programs
• Ongoing improvement to dams monitoring, IoT and Early Warning Systems
• Ensure effective planning and management of the TSF development including tailings deposition, decant pond levels, beach length and freeboard
• Capacity building a Zambian dam workforce, in collaboration with corporate, including recruitment, succession planning, coherent Learning and Development programs and initiatives across technical and operations
• Promote the FQML approach of Smarter, Bolder, Driven and Together and THINK safety program

Qualifications Required:

• A Degree in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering

Experience & Skills Required:

• At least 15 years of experience across several Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) and ideally exposure to Large Water Dams
• At least 10 years onsite experience in tailings management
• Working knowledge of ANCOLD and ICOLD guidelines, if not also the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) or Mining Association of Canada (MAC) Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) guidelines
• Experience with the construction and management of upstream cyclone sand TSFs

• Strong leadership and team building skills