Metallurgist Leader - Saudi Arabia

About Saudi Gold Refinery

Saudi Gold Refinery (SGR) is a Saudi mining and precious-metals company specialized in the refining of gold and precious metals, bullion production, and value-added precious-metal services. Operating within the Kingdom's mining value chain, SGR is aligned to the Vision 2030 mining pillar and to the regulatory framework set by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) and applicable Saudi and international standards. We produce responsibly sourced, traceable, and certified bullion, operate to LBMA Good Delivery and ISO-aligned quality standards, and invest in the people, processes, and controls behind every bar we produce.

Role Overview

Saudi Gold Refinery (SGR) is seeking a Metallurgist Leader in Saudi Arabia to direct technical feasibility studies for our upstream exploration and downstream refining expansion projects. This role validates mineral resource models and defines process flowsheets for gold extraction and refining across the Arabian Shield. The position ensures technical data supports investment decisions aligned with Vision 2030 mining targets and SGR's growth strategy.

The Metallurgist Leader will report directly to the Feasibility Study Director and will play a key role in bridging geological data with industrial refining requirements. This position maximizes recovery rates and project viability by leading technical due diligence for pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.

Key Responsibilities

The Metallurgist Leader will execute the following responsibilities to ensure technical excellence and regulatory compliance across SGR's project portfolio.

Feasibility Study Direction

The role directs technical workstreams for pre-feasibility and feasibility studies across SGR's portfolio of gold and base metal projects. This includes reviewing and approving process flowsheets that define crushing, grinding, leaching, and refining stages for new assets.

Process Optimization

This position analyzes metallurgical test work data to determine optimal extraction methods for refractory and free-milling gold ores. It defines specifications for refining equipment including Miller process reactors and Wohlwill electrolytic cells for future facilities.

Resource Validation

The Metallurgist Leader collaborates with geologists to interpret drill core data and validate mineral resource estimates for project economics. It oversees sample preparation and assay protocols to ensure chain of custody and data integrity during exploration phases.

Regulatory Compliance

The role ensures all feasibility study outputs comply with MIM mining regulations and Saudi Standards Organization (SASO) requirements. It integrates environmental management plans into process designs to meet National Center for Industrial Development guidelines.

Technical Leadership

This position supervises junior metallurgists and technical consultants to maintain quality and timelines in study deliverables. It presents technical findings to the Feasibility Study Director and executive leadership to support investment committee decisions.

Consultant Management

The Metallurgist Leader coordinates with external engineering firms to integrate civil, mechanical, and electrical designs with process requirements. It manages the technical budget for feasibility studies including laboratory assays, pilot plant trials, and consultant fees.

Sustainability Integration

The role supports sustainability reporting by quantifying energy consumption and emissions for proposed processing routes. It assesses environmental and sustainability impacts of proposed mining and refining processes in line with SGR's ESG framework.

Technology Evaluation

This position evaluates technology providers for hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes to ensure alignment with LBMA standards. It identifies geometallurgical domains that impact processing performance and integrates these into mine planning models.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Mineral Processing from an accredited university.
• Minimum 12 years of experience in gold mining, mineral processing, or precious metals refining with at least 5 years in feasibility studies.
• Proven track record in delivering pre-feasibility or bankable feasibility studies for gold projects in the Arabian Shield or similar geological settings.
• Deep technical knowledge of hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and precious metals refining technologies including cyanidation and electrolysis.
• Experience with mineral resource estimation software and geometallurgical modeling tools.
• Strong understanding of environmental regulations and sustainability standards applicable to the Saudi mining sector.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-disciplinary technical teams and external consultants in a project environment.
• Fluency in English with strong technical writing skills for regulatory submissions and investor reports.

Preferred / Nice-to-have

• Master's degree or PhD in Metallurgy or Mineral Processing.
• Experience with LBMA Good Delivery accreditation processes for gold refineries.
• Professional registration as a Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional body membership.
• Prior experience working with Saudi Geological Survey or Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources on license applications.
• Knowledge of Arabic language is an advantage for regulatory interactions.

Success Metrics

• Completion of technical due diligence for two pre-feasibility projects with approved process flowsheets and capital cost estimates.
• Validation of metallurgical parameters for fifteen exploration licenses to prioritize high-potential assets for further study.
• Establishment of standardized protocols for metallurgical testing and data management across all SGR projects.
• Securing regulatory approvals from MIM for technical reports submitted for key exploration licenses.
• Development of a technical roadmap for SGR's downstream refining expansion aligned with upstream production forecasts.
• Building a competent internal technical team capable of supporting ongoing feasibility studies without excessive reliance on consultants.
• Achievement of study milestones within budget and timeline constraints as defined by the Feasibility Study Director.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Saudi Gold Refinery welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. Hiring decisions are made based on role requirements, skills, experience, and alignment with Saudization and Vision 2030 priorities.