Plant Operations Manager – Ferrochrome Recovery Plant

About the role

The client is looking for a Plant Operations Manager to take full operational accountability for a ferro‑chrome recovery plant in the Steelpoort area. The role involves overseeing the processing of metallurgical slag streams to recover ferro‑chrome, ensuring production targets, recovery efficiencies and cost controls are met.

Key responsibilities

• Full accountability for plant production, operational performance and metallurgical results.
• Lead and manage plant personnel, including operators, supervisors and technical staff.
• Ensure safe, reliable and efficient plant operations.
• Monitor and optimise ferro‑chrome recovery performance.
• Identify and resolve process bottlenecks and operational challenges.
• Coordinate with engineering, metallurgical and maintenance teams to maintain plant reliability and availability.
• Implement operational systems, production reporting and performance monitoring.
• Develop and manage plant operating budgets and cost‑control systems.
• Oversee financial performance, budgeting and expenditure control.
• Drive continuous‑improvement initiatives to increase throughput, recovery and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental and regulatory requirements.

Required profile

• Proven experience managing metallurgical or mineral‑processing plant operations.
• Experience in ferro‑chrome recovery, slag processing or related ferro‑alloy operations is advantageous.
• Strong leadership and people‑management capability.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving and operational decision‑making ability.
• Experience managing production targets, plant budgets and operational costs.
• Engineering qualification preferred (Mechanical, Metallurgical, Electrical or similar).
• Technical qualification at Technician or Technologist level with significant operational experience in metallurgical processing plants.

Required skills

• Ferro‑chrome recovery processes
• Slag processing techniques
• Metallurgical plant operations