Head of Metallurgy & Processing

About the role

This senior position is based at a diamond mining operation in Angola and is responsible for overall throughput, recovery efficiency, diamond security and cost per tonne across the entire processing train.

Key responsibilities

• Lead optimisation of crushing, scrubbing, screening, DMS and X‑ray/XRT recovery circuits.
• Drive metallurgical accounting, mass‑balance and tracer testing to improve recovery outcomes.
• Oversee plant stability, process control instrumentation and advanced data systems.
• Manage ferrosilicon consumption, medium quality and wear‑part strategies.
• Ensure diamond security, chain‑of‑custody and environmental compliance for tailings and water management.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical, Chemical or Mineral‑Processing Engineering.
• Minimum 15 years in mineral processing, including at least 5 years in senior leadership (Plant Manager, Processing Manager or Metallurgical Superintendent).
• Proven experience with diamond‑processing DMS and X‑ray/XRT recovery in a major mining house.
• Track record of improving recovery efficiency or reducing cost per tonne.
• Fluent professional English; Portuguese language capability is a plus.

Required skills

• Diamond liberation and recovery technologies (crushing, scrubbing, DMS cyclone circuits, XRT sorters, grease recovery).
• Metallurgical accounting, mass balance, sampling theory, tracer testing, tailings audit.
• Process control, instrumentation strategy, plant data systems, advanced control concepts.
• Plant performance economics (utilisation models, cost per tonne, reagent strategy, wear‑part management).
• Ferrosilicon medium management and diamond security procedures.