Head of Department Technical Services - Mineralogy

About the role

SGS, a global testing, inspection and certification company, is looking for a Head of Department Technical Services (HOD Technical Services) for its Mineralogy division in Bryanston, South Africa. The role covers the day-to-day technical coordination and operation of the division, including the operation and maintenance of XRD and AUTOSEM equipment, and the supervision of technical and key support staff.

Key responsibilities

• Run the mineralogical equipment (AUTOSEM, XRD, optical microscopes, carbon coater etc.) efficiently with very low downtime.
• Help management with work routing, workflow improvements and resource utilisation, and assist in meeting turnaround times and project delivery.
• Take on technical projects when the workload requires it, and coordinate with the mineralogist on projects including metallurgy and chemistry.
• Supervise human resources in Bryanston, including training, recruitment and discipline.
• Ensure accurate mineralogical data and high-quality technical reports delivered on time and within budget, and help with results evaluation and troubleshooting.
• Stay up to date with trends in mineralogy and contribute to larger technical proposals for complex deposits.
• Schedule and run weekly production meetings with the mineralogist, arrange bi-monthly technical talks covering the sample preparation team, and provide input on CAPEX needs.
• Follow all quality and safety requirements of the SGS management system and perform other reasonable tasks assigned by the line manager.

Required profile

• B.Sc. Honours in Geology.
• 15 years of experience in mineralogy investigations.
• Project management experience is an advantage.