Head Of Metallurgy & Processing

Job Title: Head Of Metallurgy & Processing

Duration: Long term

Location: Angola

This opportunity is based at a diamond mining operation in Angola and offers accountability for throughput, recovery efficiency, diamond security and cost per tonne across crushing, scrubbing, screening, DMS and X-ray/XRT recovery. The role sits within a technically demanding plant environment where metallurgical accounting, process control and plant stability are central to operational performance. This position offers the chance to influence recovery outcomes, lead optimisation activity and strengthen in-country metallurgical capability in a high-value mineral processing setting.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical, Chemical or Mineral-Processing Engineering

Required Experience

• Minimum 15 years in mineral processing with at least 5 years in a senior leadership capacity such as Plant Manager, Processing Manager or Metallurgical Superintendent
• Diamond-processing experience including DMS and X-ray/XRT recovery
• Experience gained with a recognised major diamond or mining house, or a comparable organisation
• Proven track record of improving recovery efficiency or reducing cost per tonne
• Experience commissioning or stabilising a new plant or line, or optimising a mature high-tonnage plant

Required Skills

• Strong technical knowledge of diamond liberation and recovery technology, including crushing, scrubbing, DMS cyclone circuits, XRT/X-ray luminescence sorters, grease recovery, final recovery and sort-house interface
• Metallurgical accounting, mass balance, sampling theory, tracer testing and tailings audit methods
• Process control, instrumentation strategy, plant data systems and advanced control concepts
• Plant performance economics, including utilisation models, cost per tonne, reagent strategy and wear-part management
• Medium management including ferrosilicon consumption, recovery and quality control
• Diamond security and chain-of-custody awareness within plant and recovery environments
• Tailings and water management, environmental compliance and sustaining-capex project support
• English at fluent professional level
• Ability to lead technical teams, develop metallurgical capability and build structured operating routines

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional registration
• Post-graduate qualification in Mineral Processing or Extractive Metallurgy
• Exposure to established process standards within major mining organisations
• Experience with ferrosilicon supply and medium management, tailings facilities and water balance in southern Africa
• Portuguese language capability

About Airswift Airswift is an international workforce solutions provider within the energy, process and infrastructure industries. Airswift serves as a strategic partner to clients, offering a turnkey workforce solution to capture and deliver the top talent needed to complete successful projects by aligning with unique project needs. With over 1000 employees and 9,000 contractors operating in over 60 countries, Airswift's geographical reach and pool of talent available is unmatched in the industry.