Shift Supervisor

Job Description

Job Description

Job Posting: Shift Supervisor

Department: Metallurgy & Process Development

Employment Type: Full-Time

Shift: Rotating Shifts (Day / Night / Weekend Coverage)

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands-on, safety-driven Shift Supervisor to oversee daily operations in our metallurgical research and pilot facility. In this role, you will lead a team of operators and technicians conducting high-temperature thermal processing, chemical extraction, and material handling experiments.

You will bridge the gap between process development engineers and floor operations—ensuring experimental protocols are executed with high precision, safety standards are strictly met, and operating data is accurately captured.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operations & Shift Leadership

• Direct and coordinate the daily activities of shift technicians and plant operators executing research and pilot-scale runs.
• Manage shift handovers, daily safety huddles, and task assignments to maintain workflow continuity across rotating shifts.
• Oversee the safe operation of high-temperature furnaces, calciners, leaching systems, material handling systems, and gas treatment units.
• Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions, vacuum leaks, power fluctuations, and process deviations in real time to minimize downtime during critical runs.

2. Safety, Health & Environmental (EHS)

• Enforce all facility safety protocols, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) compliance, hot work permits, and hazardous material handling (acids, gases, heavy metals).
• Conduct pre-shift inspections, job safety analyses (JSAs), and incident/near-miss investigations.
• Maintain strict environmental control procedures regarding emissions, dust collection, and liquid waste neutralization.

3. Data Quality & Process Control

• Ensure operators adhere precisely to experimental control plans, sampling schedules, and temperature/pressure profiles.
• Monitor DCS interfaces and field instrumentation to ensure process parameters stay within target operating windows.
• Maintain accurate shift logs, operational data sheets, and batch records for review by metallurgists and process engineers.

4. Team Development & Maintenance Support

• Train, mentor, and evaluate shift personnel on safe operating procedures and equipment operation.
• Coordinate with the maintenance team to schedule preventive maintenance, calibrate sensors, and execute emergency repairs.

Qualifications & Skills

Required:

• Education/Experience: 5+ years of operational experience in operational environment with preference to metallurgical processing, heavy chemical processing, or high-temperature pilot facilities, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead capacity.
• Technical Knowledge: Solid understanding of pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processing steps (e.g., calcination, roasting, leaching, roasting, liquid-solid separation).
• Safety Certification: Strong working knowledge of OSHA/OHS standards, LOTO, and hazardous material management.
• Problem Solving: Ability to diagnose and resolve electrical, mechanical, and thermal equipment issues under operational pressure.
• Communication: Clear oral and written communication skills for cross-shift handoffs and technical reporting.

Preferred:

• Associate degree or Technical Diploma in Metallurgy, Chemical Technology, Mechanical/Electrical Systems, or a related field.
• Experience operating high-temperature furnaces, vacuum systems, or automated gas scrubbing infrastructure.
• Familiarity with PLC/SCADA/DCS control systems and industrial instrumentation.
• First Aid / CPR certification.