Junior Metallurgist - Mineral Processing (Mill Operations)

About the job Junior Metallurgist - Mineral Processing (Mill Operations)


About the Role:

A Canadian-based mining company operating high-grade zinc assets in a historic mining district in St. Lawrence County, New York, is seeking a Junior Metallurgist to support mill and assay laboratory operations. The organization is focused on operational excellence, sustainable mining practices, and continued development of near-mine and district exploration projects.

This role is suited to a hands-on metallurgical professional with experience in mineral processing plants, concentrator operations, or assay laboratory environments , particularly in base metals such as zinc, copper, or lead.

The position is fully onsite and plays a key role in optimizing plant performance, improving metallurgical recovery, and ensuring strong QA/QC compliance across operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee QA/QC processes for assay laboratory and mill operations
• Monitor and support mill performance to maintain or improve production efficiency
• Identify, analyze, and troubleshoot process and metallurgical issues in real time
• Provide technical support to plant operators, millwrights, and laboratory technicians
• Conduct metallurgical testwork on ore samples and reagents to optimize recovery performance
• Design, coordinate, and supervise plant sampling programs and metallurgical surveys
• Analyze assay data and plant performance metrics to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Prepare and compile daily metallurgical and performance reports
• Maintain assay laboratory consumables and chemical inventory
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and company operating standards
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within mill operations

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, or Chemical Engineering
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in mineral processing or metallurgical operations
• Strong working knowledge of flotation, gravity separation, and/or magnetic separation
• Experience in assay laboratory QA/QC and plant sampling programs
• Ability to interpret metallurgical data, recovery trends, and plant performance metrics
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills in English

Preferred Experience:

• Background in hard-rock base metal mining operations (zinc, copper, lead)
• Experience in a concentrator or mill environment
• Exposure to metallurgical testwork, process optimization, and recovery improvement initiatives
• Experience working with metallurgical balances or process performance reporting

Benefits:

• Annual performance bonus
• 401(k) with 5% employer contribution
• Medical coverage with low employee contribution (Excellus)
• Dental, vision, and life insurance are fully covered
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave

Work Environment:

This is an on-site operational role in an active mining and milling environment. The position requires practical, hands-on metallurgical expertise and close collaboration with operations and technical teams.