Chief Metallurgist

FIRST MAJESTIC

$120K — $150K *
Elko, NV 89801In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience
  • 7-12+ years in metallurgical roles, preferably in gold processing
  • Proven leadership in metallurgical functions including optimization and troubleshooting
  • Strong grasp of mineral processing principles and practices
  • Experience with metallurgical testing programs and technical data interpretation
  • Ability to lead cross-functional teams effectively
  • Commitment to safety and continuous improvement in processes

Responsibilities

  • Provide leadership and technical direction for metallurgical activities
  • Manage team performance and support employee development
  • Champion safety culture and ensure regulatory compliance
  • Define and communicate process performance targets
  • Lead troubleshooting of metallurgical challenges
  • Oversee metallurgical testing programs for optimization
  • Maintain accurate metallurgical accounting systems

Benefits

  • Opportunities for employee training and career progression
  • Support for innovation and process improvement initiatives
  • Culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams
Full Job Description
The Opportunity

The Chief Metallurgist is responsible for providing technical leadership and strategic oversight of metallurgical performance at Jerritt Canyon. This role partners closely with site leadership, operations, and technical teams to ensure safe, efficient, and optimized processing performance while supporting the site's progression toward a successful restart.

The position drives continuous improvement in process performance, metal recovery, and operational efficiency, while ensuring robust metallurgical practices, accurate metal accounting, and effective troubleshooting of processing challenges.

Responsibilities
  • Provide leadership and technical direction for all metallurgical and processing activities across the site.
  • Manages team performance by aligning individual goals with organizational objectives, delivering regular performance feedback, and supporting employee development through training and career progression opportunities
  • Champion a strong safety culture by promoting safe work practices and ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements.
  • Define, monitor, and communicate process performance targets and technical limits to support stable and optimized operations.
  • Lead metallurgical troubleshooting efforts to resolve process inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and recovery challenges.
  • Oversee metallurgical testing programs, including design, execution, and interpretation of results to support process optimization.
  • Lead and maintain accurate metallurgical accounting systems, including daily, monthly, and annual production reporting.
  • Provide technical oversight of sampling systems, on-stream analyzers, and laboratory services to ensure data accuracy and reliability.
  • Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, and Geology teams to align processing strategies with ore characteristics and production objectives.
  • Lead and support process improvement initiatives, including evaluation and implementation of new technologies and methods.
  • Oversee metallurgical and process-related projects, including scoping, budgeting, forecasting, execution, and performance tracking.
  • Mentor, coach, and develop metallurgical and operations personnel to strengthen technical capability and promote best practices.
  • Support budgeting, forecasting, and cost management activities related to processing and metallurgical performance.
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and data-driven decision-making across the processing team.

The above duties and responsibilities are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Education and Experience
  • Bachelor of Science in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or a related process discipline, or equivalent experience.
  • 7-12+ years of experience in metallurgical or process engineering roles within a processing plant environment, preferably in gold or similar operations.
  • Demonstrated experience leading metallurgical functions, including process optimization, troubleshooting, and metal accounting.
  • Strong understanding of mineral processing principles, including flotation, recovery optimization, and process control.
  • Experience managing metallurgical testing programs and interpreting technical data to drive operational improvements.
  • Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams, including operations and maintenance.
  • Experience with production reporting, budgeting, and forecasting related to processing performance.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex technical data into actionable insights.
  • Effective communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and continuous improvement.
  • Experience evaluating and implementing innovative technologies or process improvements is considered an asset.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at FIRST MAJESTIC

More Manufacturing & Automotive Jobs

Find similar Chief Metallurgist jobs: