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:

Job Purpose:

• As a key member of the Process team, the Superintendent Flotation is accountable for the operating strategy and efficient operation of Flotation operations of the Process Plant to maximise production and minimize costs, while ensuring operational sustainability;
• The role has a focus on daily-monthly Optimisation.

Specific Job Responsibility:

• The role has field equipment accountability from the flotation feed surge tank, all
• Understand and execute accountabilities of legal appointment under Zambian Mining Regulations;
• The role has equipment and operations personnel accountability from the Flotation surge tanks, rougher and cleaner circuits up to discharge in Tailings thickener feed boxes.
• Maintain HSE standards and ensure strict compliance within the flotation plant;
• Ensure all Safety and Environmental incidents are addressed & reported promptly;
• Maintain a very high standard of plant housekeeping;
• Identify training needs and provide ongoing professional development opportunities for plant personnel. Maintain staff development and training programs, particularly skills transfer and coaching to the national staff. Identify and actively manage succession planning for key roles.
• Implement the structure, manning levels and resources to deliver the flotation operations plan.
• Develop and manage the section budget and forecast (cost, capital, and physical), ensuring accurate performance planning, cost-effective operations and adherence to financial targets; and ensure and oversee the accurate reporting of plant performance and cost.
• Plan, manage and develop weekly to yearly operations activities of the plant and personnel to ensure optimised plant utilization and metallurgical performance; with a particular focus on the longer-term development of the operation towards excellence.
• Ensure steady, performing, integrated and cost efficient daily operation.
• Consistently deliver and exceed the main KPI’s of plant throughput, utilization and adherence to product quality requirements
• Oversee the daily to monthly operations of the flotation plant and personnel to ensure optimised plant utilization and metallurgical performance;
• Monitor, control and report on performance indicators, plant activities and operational shortfalls;
• Manage, track and report operational continuous improvement activities to deliver improved operational performance
• Liaise with Integrated Operations on ore characteristics, flotation throughputs and equipment downtimes (both planned and unplanned);
• Ensure the investigations of plant defects are conducted, focusing on identifying root cause, and then the implementation of both corrective and preventative measures;
• Ensure high availability and utilization of critical monitoring and auxiliary equipment enabling the operational excellence drive.
• Build ‘team’ environment with maintenance, planning, reliability engineering, metallurgical engineering, and operations personnel;
• Liaise with peer Superintendents (technical, production and maintenance) to deliver requirements of the section in the context of the whole plant;
• Approve weekly and monthly maintenance plans;
• Ensure both short and long term equipment plans and schedules (both maintenance and production tasks) are in place to deliver equipment capability;
• Support maintenance in the delivery of their tasks and equipment reliability;
• Identify and actively manage succession planning for key roles

• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Job Specific Competencies:

• Strong commitment to SHEC performance.
• Knowledge of safety protocols, risk assessments, and compliance standards for flotation operations.
• Commitment to minimizing environmental impact, such as spillage control and chemical handling.
• In-depth understanding of copper flotation principles, including reagent chemistry, bubble-particle interaction, and froth behaviour.
• Expertise in selecting, dosing, and optimizing flotation reagents such as collectors, frothers, and modifiers to achieve metallurgical targets.
• Familiarity with flotation cells (mechanical, column, or Jameson cells), pumps, agitators, and associated equipment.
• Understanding of wear components, such as rotors, stators, and launders, and their maintenance requirements.
• Ability to analyse operational data to improve throughput, minimize downtime, and achieve optimal product size.
• Understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs) and how to use them to drive plant performance.
• Collaboration with maintenance teams to ensure equipment reliability and implement preventive and predictive maintenance strategies.
• Effective communication with cross-functional teams, including metallurgists, maintenance teams, and senior management.
• Ability to analyse flotation data to identify trends, improve performance, and generate accurate operational reports for stakeholders. In-depth knowledge of metallurgical process improvement and control strategies;
• In-depth knowledge of metallurgical process improvement and control strategies;
• In-depth knowledge of technical, production and maintenance strategies for large-scale, continuous operating mineral processing plants;

Key Job Attributes:

• Willingness to learn and progress, open mind to various challenges.
• Good leadership and motivational skills, with ability to get work done through others;
• Strong drive and personal sense of ownership and accountability;
• Strong ability to task assign, build working relations and coordinate different operating disciplines to create a “team” environment;
• Excellent cognitive and analytical skills for identifying process shortfalls, equipment bottlenecks and implementing corrective and preventative action plans;
• Possess ability to analyse and understand complex metallurgical information;
• Possess the management discipline and perseverance to develop and implement medium to long range plans;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and able to assemble data and provide clear and accurate operational performance reports in both an upward and downward direction;
• Ability to maintain self-discipline within a stressful environment;
• Be diligent and thorough in approach;
• Be enthusiastic and pro-active in manner;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• English language fluency.

Experience required to perform in this job:

• A minimum of 10 years of direct experience in operational roles, with a strong background in operational aspects.
• A minimum of 5 years proven leadership and team management experience, overseeing comminution plant operations.
• Preferably experienced in copper concentrator circuits.
• Exposure to minerals processing plant design or metallurgical Optimisation.
• Computer literacy and English language fluency are required.
• Being conversant with modern data management and visualization tools, such as PowerBI, is beneficial.

Qualifications:

• Full grade twelve (G12) certificate.
• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Manual SADC class B driver’s license preferred.
• Eligibility for membership of the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ), and to hold legal appointment as defined by the Mining Regulations of Zambia
• All qualifications must be certified by ZAQA