Lead Metallurgist

United States, North Carolina, Kings Mountain

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Albemarle is looking for an experienced Lead Metallurgist for the Kings Mountain Lithium Concentrator. This position is hybrid and will report to Albemarle’s Lithium Global Capital Growth Project organization team.

• Development and implementation of metallurgical accounting for the site, including sampling strategy and flows characterization
• Review the concentrator design criteria and flowsheet, assist with developing an overall integrated operational readiness plan for the concentrator and ensure there are adequate detailed supporting schedules for technical services and construction teams
• Develop, oversee, review, & coordinate geometallurgy programs and testing with geologists, mining engineers and metallurgists for optimizing the metallurgical performance for continuous improvement and sustainability
• Support ore characterization and build an understanding of its potential impact on plant design and performance
• Evaluate potential for by‑products to be generated on site from mid‑process streams
• Help build the foundation for the process performance monitoring strategy to be set up at the new concentrator

• Assist the Manager, Concentrator Operations and Readiness, to develop the overall planning, execution, and reporting of operational readiness activities, including recruiting metallurgists, assay lab technicians, systems implementation, policies development and training
• Develop the concentrator operator training program with a third party, focusing on developing SOPs on the dry processes side, optimum operating parameters and metallurgical reports to support the concentrator ramp‑up that are sustainable and aligned with best practices in the mining industry
• Collaborate in the development of the schedule for plant technical services personnel to successfully support the commissioning and ramp‑up when custody and control from the project group is transferred to the operations
• Responsible for building and training the assay lab team and implementing the QA/QC processes to ensure assay lab quality and business sustainability
• Responsible for daily metallurgical balance, reporting and end‑of‑month production reconciliation
• Develop and manage department annual budgets and quarterly forecasts
• Develop, implement and maintain safe work procedures and ensure compliance with mine site safety standards
• Work closely with the maintenance department to improve the fixed plant asset efficiency for continuous improvement on the daily concentrator throughput once in operation
• After the concentrator is commissioned, oversee the metallurgical research and development program for Kings Mountain concentrator ensuring new and innovative ideas are transferred and realized for maximum benefit

• Strong analytical skills with a detail‑oriented practical understanding of mineral processing operations
• Advanced knowledge in mineral processing and best‑in‑class operation practices
• Solid knowledge of mineralogy, ore characterization, and geometallurgy
• Experience with metallurgical testing, flowsheet development, equipment selection and sizing
• Experience in the safety management of processing plants and associated facilities
• Strong leadership skills and ability to create a positive work environment, supervise diverse teams (metallurgists, supervisors, lab technicians) and mentor junior employees
• Excellent project management skills, ability to drive results through proper planning and scheduling
• Ability to build and support a high‑performance team of metallurgists through leading by example and initiative, continuous learning, and coaching
• Operational excellence experiences with Six Sigma, Lean Kaizen, and continuous improvement approach
• Excellent…