Metallurgical Operations Lead - AME

Metallurgical Operations Lead – Afric & Middle East

Position Description

The Metallurgical Operations Lead is responsible for driving metallurgical operational compliance, operational discipline, and stable execution across all AME processing

operations .

The role acts as the operational execution arm of the regional metallurgy function , ensuring that processing plants consistently operate within defined operating philosophies, metallurgical control strategies, and corporate standards.

Working alongside the Technical Metallurgical Assurance Lead, this position focuses on embedding operational discipline, sustaining plant performance, improving execution consistency, and ensuring metallurgical best practices are implemented effectively at site level.

The Metallurgical Operations Lead also supports the AME Lead Metallurgist with technical studies, operational analysis, performance investigations, debottlenecking initiatives, and strategic metallurgical improvement projects as required.

The role requires regular site engagement and a strong field presence across AME operations to support operational teams, identify risks early, and drive sustainable performance improvements..

Join our exceptional team and embody Barrick's core values as you work with us. We are in search of individuals who can champion Barrick's DNA by:

• Communicating Honestly, Transparently, and Acting with Integrity
• Exhibiting a Results-Driven approach
• Delivering solutions that are Fit for Purpose
• Dedicating themselves to Building a Sustainable Legacy
• Taking Responsibility and being Accountable
• Committing to Zero Harm
• Cultivating strong and meaningful Partnerships

If you're ready to contribute to our world-class team while embracing these values, we encourage you to apply and become a valued member of our diverse workforce.

Responsibilities

Operational Metallurgical Compliance & Discipline

• Drive operational metallurgical discipline across all AME processing facilities
• Ensure operations comply with:
• Metallurgical operating philosophies
• Process control strategies
• Operational standards
• Defined operating envelopes
• Metallurgical governance requirements
• Verify operational compliance with:
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Critical metallurgical controls
• Plant operating routines
• Reporting requirements
• Identify operational drift and support sites in restoring disciplined operational control
• Support operations in achieving stable and predictable metallurgical performance
• Assist sites in improving:
• Recovery stability
• Throughput consistency
• Circuit reliability
• Reagent consumption discipline
• Process variability reduction
• Drive operational focus on:
• Sustainable plant performance
• Operational consistency
• Process control adherence
• Stable operating practices
• Support implementation and sustainability of improvement initiatives across the region
• Conduct regular site visits across AME operations
• Provide hands-on operational support to:
• Process Managers
• Metallurgists
• Plant operational teams
• Support operations during:
• Plant instability
• Ramp-up periods
• Commissioning support activities
• Shutdowns and restarts
• Critical operational events
• Assist sites in prioritising and executing metallurgical improvement actions
• Support implementation of:
• AME Metallurgy Playbook
• Metallurgical operational standards
• Governance frameworks
• Best practice operating methodologies
• Ensure consistency in operational metallurgical practices across all operations
• Support standardisation of:
• Operational routines
• Metallurgical KPIs
• Plant control practices
• Reporting methodologies
• Support the AME Lead Metallurgist with:
• Technical studies
• Metallurgical investigations
• Operational analysis
• Data interpretation
• Performance reviews
• Debottlenecking opportunities
• Contribute operational input into:
• Testwork programmes
• Flowsheet optimisation studies
• Plant improvement initiatives
• Process modification reviews
• Support technical evaluations associated with:
• PFS and FS studies
• Expansion projects
• Operational readiness programmes
• Recovery improvement initiatives
• Support sites in conducting structured root cause analysis relating to:
• Recovery losses
• Operational instability
• Metallurgical variability
• Process upsets
• Reconciliation deviations
• Circuit underperformance
• Ensure corrective actions are:
• Practical
• Sustainable
• Effectively implemented
• Operationally embedded
• Monitor key metallurgical operational KPIs across the AME portfolio
• Identify emerging operational risks and performance gaps
• Support development and tracking of:
• Metallurgical action plans
• Weekly operational reviews
• Improvement tracking systems
• Operational performance dashboards
• Ensure operational issues are escalated appropriately and tracked to closure
• Work closely with:
• Technical Metallurgical Assurance Lead
• AME Lead Process Engineer
• Site metallurgical teams
• Operations leadership
• Project and engineering teams
• Ensure alignment between:
• Technical assurance findings
• Operational execution
• Continuous improvement initiatives
• Engineering modifications and operational requirements
• Provide operational feedback into:
• Flowsheet optimisation
• Process design improvements
• Operational readiness strategies
• Coach and mentor site metallurgists and operational personnel
• Promote a strong culture of:
• Operational discipline
• Metallurgical accountability
• Process understanding
• Data-driven decision-making
• Support development of site capability in:
• Operational troubleshooting
• Metallurgical control
• Process optimisation
• Performance analysis

Plant Performance Stabilisation

Site Operational Support & Engagement

Operational Governance & Standards Deployment

Technical Studies & Operational Analysis

Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

Cross-Functional Technical Collaboration

Capability Development & Coaching

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor degree in Metallurgical Engineering / Chemical Engineering / Mineral Processing or a related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification in Metallurgy / Mineral Processing / Business Administration / Management would be advantageous.
• Professional registration with a recognised engineering or scientific body would be advantageous.
• Formal training in operational excellence, Lean/Six Sigma, project management, process safety or risk management would be advantageous.

Experience and Skills Requirements

• At least five years’ experience in a senior plant, metallurgical, operational or technical leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience influencing and supporting multiple processing operations, sites or complex business units.
• Significant operational experience in gold and/or base-metal processing, with exposure to both being strongly preferred.
• Proven experience in plant stabilisation, operational troubleshooting, process optimisation, commissioning, ramp-up, shutdowns and restarts.
• Experience supporting metallurgical studies, debottlenecking, flowsheet modifications, expansion projects and operational-readiness programmes.
• Experience working with geographically dispersed and culturally diverse teams, preferably in African or international mining operations.
• Strong operational leadership and the ability to drive safe, stable and disciplined plant performance.
• Advanced understanding of mineral-processing operations, including comminution, gravity concentration, flotation, hydrometallurgy, CIL/CIP, reagent management, cyanide detoxification, tailings and water systems.
• Ability to analyse and improve recovery, throughput, availability, reliability, process stability, reagent consumption and operating cost.
• Strong operational troubleshooting, structured problem-solving and root-cause-analysis capability.
• Ability to identify operational drift and convert technical findings into practical, sustainable and embedded corrective actions.
• Strong understanding of operating philosophies, operating envelopes, process-control strategies, SOPs and critical metallurgical controls.
• Ability to establish and manage operational action plans, performance-improvement programmes and Top Loss registers.
• Strong working knowledge of metallurgical accounting, mass balancing, sampling and reconciliation, with the ability to identify operational deviations and coordinate corrective action.
• Experience planning and executing plant trials, process-control improvements, APC and other optimisation initiatives.
• Experience supporting commissioning, ramp-up, shutdowns, restarts and operational handover.
• Ability to provide practical operational input into testwork, flowsheet optimisation, PFS/FS evaluations, expansion projects, process modifications and operational-readiness programmes.
• Strong performance monitoring, data-analysis and reporting capability.
• Strong safety, process-safety, environmental and regulatory awareness.
• Strong people leadership, coaching, performance-management and capability-development skills.
• Ability to influence Process Managers, site leaders and technical teams without relying solely on positional authority.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills.
• Strong prioritisation, action-tracking and closure discipline across multiple sites.
• Proficiency in Excel, Power BI or equivalent operational data-analysis and visualisation tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across AME operations. …

Skills

What We Can Offer You

• A comprehensive compensation package including bonuses and site-specific benefits
• The ability to make a difference and lasting impact
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
• Opportunities to grow and learn with industry colleagues
• Access to a variety of career opportunities across the organisation

• Please forward applications before: 20 August 2026
• We are committed to a safe work environment sending every person home safe and healthy every day and leaving a sustainable legacy on our host communities.
• Thank you for your application, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.