Plant Manager — Maricunga

Posted: 22 Nov 2011
Apply deadline: 03 Dec 2011
Location: Chile

Job Description:

Kinross is a top-tier gold mining company with its head office in Toronto, and operations and projects in the United States, Russia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and West Africa. With a long and proud mining heritage, doing business in Chile is an important part of our company’s future. Kinross is committed to being an outstanding corporate citizen and good neighbour, and to us that means protecting the safety of our more than 900 Chilean employees, being environmentally responsible, and building positive relationships with our host communities. Located in mineral-rich northern Chile, the Maricunga mine is a high altitude, cold weather heap leach operation. The property is approximately 120 kilometres east of Copiapó and is between 4,200 metres and 4,500 metres above sea level. The Maricunga mine is a three-stage crushing and heap leach operation with a name plate capacity of 40,000 tonnes of ore per day, or 11 million tonnes per year.Facilities include a permanent camp with access to the site from Copiapó provided by road.

The Role To lead the execution of the strategy for mill operations and to ensure alignment with the organization’s overall strategy. To ensure continued growth of mill operations, to maximize operational efficiencies and profitability, and to cultivate exceptional stakeholder and employee satisfaction The Project The Maricunga open pit mine is located in the Maricunga mining district in central-east Chile. The property is approximately 120 kilometres east of Copiapó and is between 4,200 metres and 4,500 metres above sea level. Kinross acquired its original 50% interest and became operator of the mine on June 1, 1998, through the Kinam merger. In February 2007, Kinross acquired the remaining 50% through the acquisition of Bema Gold Corporation. Commercial production began on October 1, 1996. Five years later, mining activities were suspended and the operation was placed on care and maintenance due to low gold prices. In late 2002, a multi-phase exploration program commenced and in 2003 it was determined that the mine would be recommissioned.The mine went into commercial production in the fourth quarter of 2005 and achieved its average targeted production rate of 40,000 tonnes per day in November 2005. The Maricunga mine is a three-stage crushing and heap leach operation with a name plate capacity of 40,000 tonnes of ore per day, or 11 million tonnes per year. Key Areas of Responsibility & Duties - Executes short- and intermediate-term strategies that support growth of mill operations; ensures strategies are concretely linked to the organization’s long-term strategy; - Leads the execution of strategies in mill operations to enhance current practices and performance; - Develops systems and measures that appropriately assess mill operations performance and reviews progress to ensure achievement of targets; - Manages the human, financial, and operational resources of mill operations; - Participates with the Operations Manager and other senior staff to set production goals and policy for the mine and then direct the activities of the mill staff to achieve those production goals; - Maintains costs within budget by controlling usage of labour, power, and supplies, while maintaining high productivity; - Produces monthly reports for the mill department; - Collaborates with senior management to identify and analyze business requirements and the implications for the team; identifies gaps and implements agreed upon solutions; - May direct others regarding operations, security, and maintenance in the mill; Minimum Qualifications & Skill Requirements - University degree in: Mining, Processing, Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering; - 5 - 8 years of related work experience: Detailed knowledge of all phases of gold processing, including grinding and agitated leaching with cyanide, carbon absorption and regenerations, and refining; - General knowledge of mining and the integration of the mining, milling, and maintenance; - Good knowledge of English is required:  Very good communicator, both with workers, direct reports and senior corporate roles in English and Spanish; - Ability to function at very high altitude and with cold weather conditions.

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