Plant Manager

PLANT MANAGER – PROCESSING PLANT This Job Description defines the role, accountabilities, and requirements for the Plant Manager position for the processing plant. The role is critical to the safe commissioning, ramp-up, and long-term operational success of the plant's assets. ROLE PURPOSE The Plant Manager is accountable for the end-to-end leadership, safety, and performance of the processing plant from commissioning through ramp-up and into steady-state operations. The role requires a senior operational leader capable of building a plant, stabilising performance, embedding discipline, and developing a sustainable operating culture while meeting production, safety, cost, and compliance objectives. The Plant Manager acts as the single point of operational accountability for the plant. PHASE CONTEXT This project represents a high-risk and high-value stage in the asset lifecycle, characterised by commissioning and early-life operational instability, ramp-up under throughput and recovery pressure, SIMOPS involving EPC contractors and OEMs, and progressive localisation of skills and capability. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES Safety, Health & Environment • Full accountability for plant safety performance and statutory compliance • Visible leadership of safety culture and critical risk management • Oversight of safe commissioning, shutdowns, and Simultaneous Operations activities • Enforcement of permit-to-work, isolation, and contractor safety systems • Leadership of serious incident response and learning Operations & Production • Delivery of production targets aligned with Phase 2 operating plans • Stabilisation of plant throughput, recovery, and quality post-commissioning • Ownership of daily, weekly, and monthly performance management Maintenance & Reliability • Oversight of mechanical, electrical, and C&I maintenance functions • Protection of critical assets during early-life operations • Transition from reactive to planned and condition-based maintenance Process & Metallurgy • Oversight of metallurgical performance and process stability • Decision-making on throughput versus recovery trade-offs • Governance of process changes and optimisation initiatives Cost & Commercial Management • Ownership of site operating costs and cost-per-tonne metrics • Control of contractor spending during commissioning and ramp-up • Contribution to budgeting and cost optimisation initiatives People, Capability & Culture • Building and leading a high-performing plant leadership team • Development of national talent and succession pipelines • Implementation of structured training and competency frameworks • Constructive engagement with unions and local communities Stakeholder & Governance • Interface with corporate, project, and technical stakeholders • Clear communication of plant performance, risks, and priorities REPORTING STRUCTURE Direct reports typically include Production, Maintenance, Process, HSE, Supply Chain, and HR Leads. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE • Engineering or relevant technical degree (Mechanical, Process, Electrical or Chemical/Metallurgical preferred) • Statutory appointment eligibility under applicable mining legislation • Minimum 10–15 years' experience in minerals processing or heavy industrial operations • Proven Plant Manager or equivalent senior operational leadership experience • Demonstrated commissioning and ramp-up leadership experience TECHNICAL & LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES • Strong operational and technical literacy • High personal safety standards • Data-driven decision-making capability • Calm, structured leadership under pressure • Strong people leadership and culture-building capability SUCCESS MEASURES • Safe and compliant commissioning and ramp-up • Achievement of stable throughput and recovery targets • Controlled operating costs and asset protection • Embedded operating discipline and leadership depth