Mintek Vacancies

In brief

**Overview** This is a description for a Senior Scientist role in Biometallurgy at Mintek, a company in the Mining & Quarrying industry. The position is permanent and based full-time within the Bioprocessing Group of the Biometallurgy Division in Randburg. The successful candidate will provide technical scientific inputs and conduct research in areas including bioleaching of precious and base metal resources, treatment of mine effluents and solid wastes, and molecular methods for monitoring of bioprocess consortia. The role is an Employment Equity (EE) position with market-related remuneration. **What you will do** * Be aware of trends in the relevant field and formulate ideas for technical projects, frame and develop research questions, design experiments, identify problems, and evaluate and implement solutions. * Play a leading role in the execution of work as a chief investigator of projects within the division/group. * Establish specifications, improve workflows, and introduce operating procedures at the project level. * Prepare commercial proposals under direct/limited supervision to client satisfaction. * Design, operate, and oversee discipline-specific experimental work as required by proposals, ensuring compliance with procedures, quality control, and continual improvement. * Collect and interpret quantitative and qualitative data using discipline-specific standard methodologies and procedures, including preparing analytical and descriptive narratives. * Ensure that interpretations are based on sound scientific/engineering theory. * Plan and manage projects to ensure efficient use of time, equipment, and facilities, including coordinating with others. * Ensure proper care in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies, promote continual improvement, and adhere to and enforce all Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality (SHEQ) requirements. * Ensure that the project team understands and adheres to all SHEQ requirements. * As a Principal Investigator, be responsible for the assessment and management of all risks at a project level. * Take responsibility for specific equipment/facilities related to projects. * Prepare Research and Development proposals under direct/limited supervision, including Open Call proposals. * Perform routine scientific and engineering research using standard methods, procedures, and equipment, acting as a principal investigator on such projects. * Perform complex scientific and engineering research under supervision. * Contribute to Intellectual Property (IP) development. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * **Minimum Qualification:** MSc preceded by BSc and BSc(Hons) in biological sciences. * At least 3 – 5 years vocational experience following first graduation, in Bioprocessing, Biometallurgy, or Biotechnology. * Substantial expertise in molecular biology methods for microbial cultivation and speciation of mixed cultures with demonstrable skills in methods development. * Exposure to, and an understanding of bioprocesses, especially bioleaching. * Exposure to and an understanding of mine water and waste challenges, treatment, and value recovery. * **Ideal:** experience with cloning, (q)PCR, ligation, DNA sequence analysis and other advanced molecular tools. * **Ideal:** SACNASP registered. **Who should apply** Candidates for this Senior Scientist position should hold an MSc, BSc, and BSc(Hons) in biological sciences and possess 3-5 years of post-graduation vocational experience in Bioprocessing, Biometallurgy, or Biotechnology. Essential expertise includes molecular biology methods for microbial cultivation and speciation of mixed cultures, along with proven skills in methods development. Applicants must also demonstrate an understanding of bioprocesses, particularly bioleaching, and familiarity with mine water and waste challenges, their treatment, and value recovery. Ideal candidates will have experience with advanced molecular tools like cloning, (q)PCR, ligation, and DNA sequence analysis, and ideally be SACNASP registered. **Deadline** 6 November 2026 **Reference** Original posting: https://www.govpage.co.za/vacancies/mintek-vacancies-15 Source: govpage

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At a glance

• At least 3 years of experience.

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• Health and safety (OHS)

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