Senior Specialist, Research Metallurgist

Role Overview

Senior Specialist, Research Metallurgist at Ma'aden. The role advances the company's technology and innovation agenda by converting metallurgical research, testing, and process development into tangible operational and commercial value.

Role Purpose

The Senior Specialist, Research Metallurgist strengthens decision-making by providing deep technical expertise that improves resource recovery, process performance, product quality, and operational efficiency. The role reduces technical uncertainty through rigorous laboratory and pilot-scale investigations, enabling informed investment, engineering, and process optimization decisions. By bridging research, pilot testing, and operational implementation, it supports sustainable growth, technology advancement, and continuous improvement across Ma'aden's mining and minerals processing operations.

Key Responsibilities

Metallurgical Research & Technical Evaluation

• Deliver specialized metallurgical investigations that improve understanding of process performance, recovery opportunities, and technical constraints.
• Generate reliable laboratory and pilot-scale data that supports engineering studies, technology evaluations, and operational decisions.
• Strengthen confidence in metallurgical decisions through rigorous testing, analysis, and interpretation of complex datasets.

Process Development & Optimization

• Improve recovery, grade, throughput, reagent efficiency, energy performance, and product quality through data-driven process recommendations.
• Develop and refine metallurgical flowsheets, operating parameters, and testing methodologies that enhance operational performance.
• Support scale-up and technology deployment activities through technically sound recommendations and evaluation inputs.

Technical Analysis & Decision Support

• Deliver technical assessments, mass and metal balances, kinetics evaluations, and process analyses that enable informed decision-making.
• Translate complex metallurgical findings into clear recommendations for engineering, operations, and management stakeholders.
• Identify technical risks, uncertainties, and performance gaps while recommending practical mitigation and improvement actions.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Advance innovation initiatives through evaluation of new technologies, methodologies, and process improvement opportunities.
• Strengthen continuous improvement programs by identifying opportunities to enhance metallurgical performance and operational effectiveness.
• Support knowledge development and transfer that enables long-term technical capability growth.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Technical Leadership

• Provide specialist metallurgical expertise to multidisciplinary teams, laboratories, pilot plant personnel, and external partners.
• Strengthen technical execution through guidance, mentoring, and alignment with approved quality and safety standards.
• Deliver clear technical reports, presentations, and recommendations that facilitate action and value realization.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Six to eight years of relevant experience in metallurgical research, mineral processing testwork, pilot plant operations, process development, or extractive metallurgy.
• Hands-on experience designing and executing metallurgical testwork programs and interpreting complex technical data.
• Experience supporting feasibility studies, process optimization initiatives, pilot campaigns, operational troubleshooting, and technology evaluations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, provide specialist advice, and guide less experienced team members or external service providers.

Skills & Competencies

• Metallurgical testwork design and execution.
• Mineral processing and extractive metallurgy.
• Mass and metal balancing.
• Flowsheet development and process optimization.
• Pilot plant testing and scale-up support.
• Technical data interpretation and statistical analysis.
• Technical problem solving and root cause analysis.
• Engineering and feasibility study support.
• Process performance evaluation.
• Technical reporting and documentation.
• Technology assessment and innovation delivery.
• Continuous improvement and value optimization.
• Stakeholder communication and influencing.
• Cross-functional technical collaboration.
• Technical coaching and knowledge transfer.
• Laboratory and contractor coordination.
• Results orientation and accountability.
• Safety and quality leadership.