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