Head: Fire Assay and Reference Material Group

In brief

**Overview** This role is for the Head of the Fire Assay and Reference Material Group at Mintek. The position involves comprehensive leadership and management across administrative, financial, technical, quality, human resources, and project management domains. The Head is responsible for ensuring the group's technical outputs, financial viability through revenue generation and budgeting, compliance with SHEQ standards, and the overall strategic direction and development of analytical chemistry services, particularly for the mining and metallurgical industry. **What you will do** * **Administration:** Manage and coordinate project administration activities, oversee office administration, and manage and coordinate SHEQ administrative activities. * **Finance / Budget:** Book time to ensure a positive revenue stream; motivate and budget for CAPEX, handling the tender process for equipment; conduct annual budgeting and monthly reviews, including any marketing measures to implement; monitor project expenditure against budget; monitor and evaluate project milestones against billing in long-running projects (annual and multiple years); manage equipment maintenance/purchase costs against budget; and ensure revenue generation for cost-recovery in projects. * **Technical:** Ensure publication outputs are met by writing papers for journal and conference publication and helping staff achieve these outputs for the group; provide clear and effective technical direction; monitor and evaluate project milestones to motivate for further funding; write proposals to secure funding from various sources through technical inputs; keep up to date on latest developments in the discipline and in the industry it serves/has potential to serve; participate in technical forums, such as conferences, client/collaborator engagements; and provide technical mentoring and supervision of staff, including postgraduate project supervision. * **Quality Management and Compliance:** Ensure quality is integrated into SHEQ requirements; be responsible for the quality of technical outputs of the group (e.g., reports, publications) by providing technical inputs as necessary; ensure all work done complies with SHEQ standards (Safety, health, environment and quality) for the group; and facilitate Client survey assessments. * **Human Resources:** Provide leadership and proper communication; conduct performance contracting and appraisals, develop KPIs in line with strategic objectives and strategic programmes; and provide mentoring, coaching, training development, and facilitation. * **Project Management:** Conduct project administration and record keeping; allocate resources (people and instrumentation); monitor expenditure against budget to contain costs; monitor milestones against promised deliverables to ensure turnaround time is met; ensure the quality of technical outputs; and ensure revenue is realized for work executed. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * **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. * Experience and knowledge of laboratory operating under ISO 17025 accreditation. * Experience in writing technical reports. * Must have experience in managing a sustainable analytical facility. * Must have a track record of operational management and execution at a business unit level. * **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. * **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. **Who should apply** The ideal candidate is a highly experienced analytical chemistry professional, preferably holding a PhD in Chemistry, with at least 12 years of experience in the field, specifically applied to the mining and metallurgical industry. They should possess a strong background in operational management of analytical facilities, including ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, and demonstrate a track record of business unit level execution. The role requires strategic leadership, excellent communication skills (both verbal and written), and proficiency in financial management, people/instrument management, and conflict resolution. Candidates must be adept at interpreting complex analytical data from various instrumentation (ICP-MS, ICP-OES, AAS) and have knowledge of Platinum group metals analysis. A client and quality-results oriented approach, coupled with the ability to secure funding, publish technical papers, and provide technical direction and mentoring, is crucial. **Deadline** Not specified **Reference** Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/head-fire-assay-and-reference-material-group-mintek Source: myjobmag

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At a glance

• At least 8 years of experience.

• Project management
• Health and safety (OHS)

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