Metallurgical Technician (Mt Holland)

About Us 

At Covalent Lithium, we are genuinely passionate about creating a clean energy future and supporting our teams who enable this vision. 

Following the commissioning of our mine and concentrator at Mt Holland in 2024, we recently celebrated our first production of battery -grade lithium hydroxide at our Kwinana Refinery. We are now a fully integrated mine-to-refinery operation, supplying high quality lithium hydroxide to global markets and enabling approximately 1 million electric vehicles to go on the road, every year for the next 50 years.

We are proud to foster a culture where people with different skills, experiences and backgrounds are welcomed and set-up for success.

We support, empower and reward our people with a range of benefits:
•    Competitive remuneration, and annual incentives for eligible employees
•    Access to discounts, recognition and rewards
•    Access to flexible work arrangements
•    Dedicated wellbeing program support and discounted health insurance
•    Equal access to paid parental leave, financial support, return to work and parenting room
•    Salary sacrifice options for superannuation and novated leasing
•    Discounted FIFO parking with Perth Airport

The Role

The Metallurgical Technician is tasked with carrying out laboratory and metallurgical test work as directed, calibration and maintenance of online process control equipment and conducting routine plant sampling. You will gain an understanding of the operational and technical aspects of the processing plant and laboratory, in order to assist the Metallurgist in plant optimisation and improvement projects. 

This role will align business and operational strategies, with the aim of maximising throughput and spodumene recovery whilst striving to optimise operating costs of process plant operation, against a range of KPI’s.

This is a Permanent Full-time position on an 8/6 FIFO roster EX Perth to our Mt Holland site.

Key Responsibilities 

•    Developing operating methods and procedures related to operational, metallurgical and process technician tasks
•    Provide technical support and troubleshooting to the operations team to achieve production targets.
•    Develop and perform metallurgical test work programs under the guidance of site metallurgists.
•    Reviewing and improving standards and safe operating procedures for metallurgical lab and field works.
•    Interacting closely with Covalent Process Technology & Innovation team to develop a consistent approach with respect to continuous improvement and ensure information flow between all sites is well maintained
•    Ability to read, understand and interpret engineering drawings (P&IDs, PFD)
•    Work on plant improvement projects as directed by the site Metallurgists
•    Comply with and undertake additional / alternative responsibilities as reasonable requested by their supervisor.
•    Ensure the assigned process control instruments are maintained in calibrated and working order, including plant automatic samplers, mass flow meters and other online monitoring.
•    Conduct routine daily, weekly and monthly surveys to gather critical plant data and ensure timely and accurate results, including Gold in Circuit Inventories, Crusher surveys and Mill inspections

Role Requirements

•    Applicants studying towards a Metallurgical qualification are encouraged to apply
•    Certificate IV in laboratory skills desired
•    Valid driver’s license
•    First Aid certificate
•    WA Radiation Safety qualifications desired but not essential
•    3+ years in fixed plant processing or in a commercial lab environment.
•    Experience in hard rock lithium processing desired but not essential
•    Technical knowledge and experience in lab management processes, including lab sample management systems
•    Operational knowledge of crushing, dense medium separation, milling, and flotation circuits desired
•    Experience in conducting metallurgical test work programs
•    Experience in delivering operational improvement projects
•    Demonstrated track record of problem solving and solution implementation
•    Ability to work in remote and/or arid environmental conditions

A competitive remuneration package commensurate with the role, candidate experience, skills and qualifications will be offered.  

Our team members are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Candidates from all backgrounds and ages are encouraged to apply, including First Nations People, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, people with disabilities and those with neurodiverse, intersectional, or multiple diverse characteristics.

Covalent Lithium is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, with a focus on our employees. We recognise skills, expertise, commitment and living our values of Purpose, Care, Accountability and Collaboration. Our goal is to attract, develop, motivate, reward, and retain the best people in the industry. 

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