Processing / Plant Manager – Gold Processing Plant

About the role

The client, a growing gold mining company in Sierra Leone, seeks an experienced Processing / Plant Manager to lead the safe, efficient and profitable operation of its gold processing plant. This senior leadership position is responsible for maximizing plant performance, gold recovery, safety and cost efficiency while driving continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Lead all processing plant operations, including crushing, milling, gravity recovery, CIL/CIP, elution, electrowinning, gold room, laboratories, utilities and tailings management.
• Deliver production targets by maximizing throughput, plant availability and metallurgical recovery.
• Monitor and optimise process performance, reagent consumption, energy use and water utilisation.
• Ensure compliance with Health, Safety, Environmental and regulatory requirements and promote a zero‑harm safety culture.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance, plant shutdowns and asset reliability programmes.
• Prepare and manage the annual operating budget while controlling production and operating costs.
• Analyse operational and metallurgical data to identify continuous‑improvement opportunities.
• Lead, coach and develop a high‑performing processing team and produce regular operational reports for senior management.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Mineral Processing, Chemical Engineering or related field (Master’s or MBA preferred).
• Minimum 10 years of mineral processing experience, preferably in gold mining.
• At least 5 years in a senior processing or plant‑management role.
• Proven experience managing crushing and grinding circuits, gravity recovery, CIL/CIP, elution, electrowinning, gold‑room operations and tailings facilities.
• Experience working in Africa and involvement in plant commissioning or expansion is highly advantageous.

Required skills

• Crushing and grinding circuit management
• Gravity recovery systems
• CIL/CIP processing
• Elution and electrowinning operations
• Gold‑room operation expertise
• Tailings storage facility management
• Metallurgical performance optimisation
• Asset reliability and operational excellence
• Continuous‑improvement methodologies
• Strong analytical and decision‑making abilities