This position is located on-site at our mine in Lovelock, NV.The Chief Chemist leads the analytical laboratory supporting the Spring Valley Mine, including personnel, testing methods, quality systems, reporting and safety. This hands-on role ensures accurate, timely and reliable gold assay results to support operational decisions.
Job Responsibilities:- Laboratory Operations and Quality
- Lead laboratory operations, including analytical performance, staffing, safety and quality assurance.
- Develop and maintain laboratory procedures, standards and best practices.
- Oversee gold assaying programs and methods that minimize nugget-effect bias, including LeachWELL with residue fire assays, screen metallic fire assays and routine fire assays.
- Manage QA/QC programs using standards, blanks, duplicates, audits and corrective actions to ensure accurate and reliable results.
- Administer LIMS and maintain complete, secure, auditable data, reports and chain-of-custody records.
- Support laboratory commissioning, startup and continuous improvement.
- Coordinate resources to meet operational priorities and turnaround targets.
- Safety and Compliance
- Promote a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with company policies, quality systems and environmental, health and safety regulations.
- Lead hazard assessments, inspections, audits, workplace observations and incident investigations, including root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Ensure employees are trained in safe work practices, chemical handling, sample preparation, equipment operation and emergency response.
- Oversee the safe storage, handling, inventory and disposal of chemicals, reagents and hazardous materials.
- Support internal and external audits and ensure corrective and preventive actions are completed.
- Team Leadership
- Lead a laboratory team of up to 25 supervisors, chemists, technicians and support personnel.
- Recruit, train, mentor and develop laboratory staff.
- Set performance expectations and promote accountability, teamwork, technical excellence and operational discipline.
Qualifications:- Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of progressive experience in a mining, metallurgical, mineral processing or commercial assay laboratory.
- Experience supervising laboratory personnel and daily operations.
- Strong knowledge of gold assaying, free-gold sample preparation and QA/QC practices, including standards, blanks, duplicates and corrective actions.
- Working knowledge of LIMS and laboratory data management.
- Strong leadership, communication, organization and problem-solving skills.
- Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related field.
- Advanced knowledge of LeachWELL, residue fire assays, screen metallic and other free-gold fire assay methods.
- Familiarity with laboratory accreditation, audits and continuous improvement.
- Key Skills
- Ability to interpret analytical data and balance quality, operational priorities and turnaround times.
The pay range for this role is:
155,000 - 170,000 USD per year (US)
