Chief Chemist

The Chief Chemist leads the analytical laboratory supporting the Spring Valley Mine, including personnel, testing methods, quality systems, reporting and safety. This hands-on role ensures accurate, timely and reliable gold assay results to support operational decisions.

Job Responsibilities:

• Laboratory Operations and Quality
• • Lead laboratory operations, including analytical performance, staffing, safety and quality assurance.
  • Develop and maintain laboratory procedures, standards and best practices.
  • Oversee gold assaying programs and methods that minimize nugget-effect bias, including LeachWELL with residue fire assays, screen metallic fire assays and routine fire assays.
  • Manage QA/QC programs using standards, blanks, duplicates, audits and corrective actions to ensure accurate and reliable results.
  • Administer LIMS and maintain complete, secure, auditable data, reports and chain-of-custody records.
  • Support laboratory commissioning, startup and continuous improvement.
  • Coordinate resources to meet operational priorities and turnaround targets.
• Safety and Compliance
• • Promote a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with company policies, quality systems and environmental, health and safety regulations.
  • Lead hazard assessments, inspections, audits, workplace observations and incident investigations, including root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
  • Ensure employees are trained in safe work practices, chemical handling, sample preparation, equipment operation and emergency response.
  • Oversee the safe storage, handling, inventory and disposal of chemicals, reagents and hazardous materials.
  • Support internal and external audits and ensure corrective and preventive actions are completed.
• Team Leadership
• • Lead a laboratory team of up to 25 supervisors, chemists, technicians and support personnel.
  • Recruit, train, mentor and develop laboratory staff.
  • Set performance expectations and promote accountability, teamwork, technical excellence and operational discipline.

Qualifications:

• Required Qualifications
• • 5+ years of progressive experience in a mining, metallurgical, mineral processing or commercial assay laboratory.
  • Experience supervising laboratory personnel and daily operations.
  • Strong knowledge of gold assaying, free-gold sample preparation and QA/QC practices, including standards, blanks, duplicates and corrective actions.
  • Working knowledge of LIMS and laboratory data management.
  • Strong leadership, communication, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Preferred Qualifications
• • Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field.
  • Advanced knowledge of LeachWELL, residue fire assays, screen metallic and other free-gold fire assay methods.
  • Familiarity with laboratory accreditation, audits and continuous improvement.
• Key Skills
• • Ability to interpret analytical data and balance quality, operational priorities and turnaround times.