Regional Technical Manager at ALS

Job description

About the Position

The Regional Technical Manger-Sub Sahara will be responsible overseeing the regional technical compliance functions of ALS geochemistry laboratories in the region. The person will be based at the Johannesburg hub-laboratory and will have direct operational and technical oversight functions of the hub laboratory sections including Sample preparation, Fire Assay, ICP-AES, XRF, Leco, AAS, Wet Chemistry (weighing & digestion) and High Grade Specialty and all relevant instrumentation and auxiliary equipment. The position will also be assisting in a regional capacity with technical support, staff training, and relevant operational issues within the Sub-Sahara region.

The position will be based in Johannesburg and will report to the Vice President Manager.

Specific Responsibilities

• Set technical testing objectives in conjunction with the Global Peer Group, Global SOP’s and site management teams and to ensure that analytical testing objectives are achieved.
• Assess the method operational performance of regional laboratories from various sources such as Vertical Audits, External audits, PT Schemes, Customer Complaints, Backlog Status etc. to ensure that site capability meets specified requirements.
• Drive new and existing method development programmes and customer specific mine-site projects to ensure they support the growth of the business.
• Manage the analytical specification and method design processes for new tenders to ensure correct results are generated for the customers upon successful project bid outcomes.
• Interface with ALS Peer Groups on all analytical technology and ensure technology transfer from various group sites is managed in detail.
• Interact with all departments within the company to ensure alignment of overall analytical objectives.
• Assists with root cause investigation and problem solving initiatives pertaining to quality issues on on-going method performance.
• Productivity improvement initiatives through method reviews, staff training, instrument optimization to reduce errors and method set-up for analysis.
• Evaluate, motivate, and develop key section staff through appropriate training and technical support to achieve optimal performance levels.
• Assist in a regional capacity with technical support, staff training, and relevant operational issues within the Sub-Sahara region.
• Oversight responsibilities for analytical asset maintenance to avoid excessive downtimes, maximize equipment performance and overall smooth running of the operations.
• Responsible for maintaining HSE standards and implement further measures for continuous improvement in ensuring a safe work environment in the laboratory facilities overall.
• Ensure that all company policies are being implemented, adhered to, and appropriate disciplinary measures instituted against violations of such policies.
• Compliance to the ALS Quality Management System. Responsible for ensuring ALS quality protocols are adhered to and quality targets met at all times and in accordance with ISO17025 quality standards.
• Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Strategic Planning/Thinking and Implementation Abilities;
• Able to prioritize and give accurate feedback on time;
• Attention to detail and accuracy;
• Proven track record management skills;
• Superior spreadsheets skills and a good knowledge of Microsoft Excel;
• Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines;
• Able to anticipate needs and must be responsive to enquiries;
• Facilitates a team-oriented approach at organizational level;
• Sound decision making skills and is a problem solver;
• Will be expected to travel as needed to regions.

About you

The successful candidate would have:

• BSc. Honours degree in chemistry or equivalent. MSc. in Chemistry would be advantageous.
• Sound people management and leadership skills. Proven track record in a commercial analytical laboratory or related industry / environment.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a Senior Manager role.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in analytical laboratories with sound technical knowledge in ICP-AES, ICP-MS, XRF, Leco, AAS, Wet chemistry, HG Specialty
• Sound fault finding skills and problem solving ability in a very technical environment.
• Knowledge of ISO17025 accreditation system.
• Sound report writing skills, excel, and Word