Specialist Scientist – Economic Geologist at Council for Geoscience (CGS)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Capacity to collate, acquire, process, and interpret multisource geospatial data (e.g., mineralogy, geophysics, remote sensing, geochemistry).
• Undertake specialised geoscience investigations focused on South Africa’s mineral resources, particularly those with economic value.
• Undertake specialised integrated geoscience research and development to create higher level products that improve the understanding of ore deposits and mineral exploration (e.g., mineral prospectivity maps).
• Undertake interpretations across multiple scales on the surface and subsurface, incorporating regional scale airborne surveys, soil surveys, satellite data with mineralogy, geochemistry, geochronology, and petrophysics from drill core and field samples.
• Analyse geological and mineral systems at a range of scales with the focus of advancing our ability to detect mineralisation in prospective geological regions
• Conduct geological surveys and mapping, analysing geological data and advising on sustainable resource extraction.
• Determine the size, grade and economic viability of potential deposits.
• Lead geoscience data mining, collection, interpretation, and modelling toward developing the knowledge and strength of South Africa’s developmental imperatives.
• Develop innovative and new methodologies that can be employed in South Africa’s development sectors.
• Compile and oversee the development of reports, maps, and similar publications on the Council for Geoscience’s (CGS) resource development projects and broader geoscience programme.
• Report and present the findings of the CGS’s resource development programme to key stakeholders.
• Make recommendations of the research at a regional, national, and inter-governmental level for both scientific and for the benefit of South Africa’s national development sectors.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and supervision to more junior staff toward their professional development.
• Undertake critical review of CGS products and methodologies, especially in the field of resource development.
• Undertake constant review and evaluation of the CGS’s resource development programme.
• Contribute toward, and uphold, key quality assurance practices and methodologies in the CGS.
• Undertake varied geoscience activities and research and development toward meeting the mandate of the CGS and the developmental agenda of South Africa.
• Remain up to date with macro and micro-economic conditions, legislation, competition, market sentiment, and the industry in general, to anticipate and plan for circumstances that may influence the development of the strategic plan.
• Use specialised software to build geological models and predict the distribution and characteristics of resource-bearing strata.
• Co-develop, attain, and sign-off geological models for multiple commodities according to specifications, and produce and sign-off the SAMREC/equivalent compliant mineral resource statements.
• Compile standardised geological reports for management information purposes (manage all geological data properly).

Research and Development

• Initiate, participate and take a leading role in specialised and cutting-edge geoscientific research, which involves:
• Data mining and data collection.
• Data interpretation.
• Compilation/computation of maps and/or geoscientific models.
• Development of new methodologies.
• Publications. 
• Develop and refine field techniques for mapping, mineral identification, and structural analysis for understanding the geological context of ore deposits.
• Compilation of reports and high-impact peer-reviewed technical papers or scientific publications.
• Stay updated on the latest geological research and mineral exploration techniques.
• Broaden an understanding of how ore deposits form, particularly geological processes, such as fluid flow and structural controls that lead to mineralisation.
• Develop policies and make recommendations of the research at regional, national, inter-governmental level for scientific research or commercial purposes.
• Provide guidance and/or mentoring to junior staff in research, which involves the following:
• Develop and guide the formulation of research proposals, methodologies, data collection and data interpretation.
• Revision and editing of reports, methodologies, models and maps on various projects.
• Lead and monitor progress on projects.
• Evaluate project results, edit reports of junior scientists for publication.
• Participate and lead national or international review bodies tasked with reviewing advanced projects/programmes of national, scientific, or international significance.
• Participate in independent research from data gathering, development of high-quality maps and reports, level editing of maps, reports, 3D models and other publications.
• Develop, interrogate, and implement innovative and specialised conceptual models and techniques to enhance efficiency with regard to geoscientific work or programmes.
• Design new methods and formulate theories, using integration of existing and new data to define mineralising systems for the purposes of mineral exploration.
• Integrate technologies like remote sensing, geochemistry, and geophysics to identify potential ore deposits effectively and efficiently.
• Geoscience data processing, interpretation and packaging toward defining research areas/requirements and the establishment and review of solutions toward mandated research objectives, training and development plans.
• Integrate and package results toward applied policy-defining suggestions.

Project Implementation/Project Management

• Design and lead varied projects simultaneously and guide other scientists in the implementation.
• Monitor risks and implement/make recommendations for corrective measures in line with the risk management plan for the Business Unit Manager.
• Identify and contribute to geoscience aspects during the compilation of tender documents and proposals.
• Participate and/or lead commercial contract negotiations with external clients in line with the mandate from the Executive Management.
• Monitor expenditures in the project expenditure and ensure that the budget is expended in line with the evaluation of progress of tasks and objectives of the projects, and report progress to the line manager.
• Lead the compilation of commercial and statutory project tender documents or contracts, geoscientific and project financial and scheduling aspects.
• Design and provide independent moderation or peer-review of post-graduate degrees or scientific publications.
• Develop and implement operating manuals for work procedures for ISO certification.
• Evaluate project results, review and edit project proposals and technical reports compiled by lower-level scientists.

Stakeholder Relations and Reporting

• Provide specialised advice to Executive Management, and/or public and private sector in the related field of expertise and may advise Executive Management on scientific and technical acceptability of maps, publications and reports.
• Provide independent moderation or peer-review of post-graduate degrees or scientific publications.
• Make presentations at a national and/or international conferences or related work forums.
•  Editing or co-editing of a book or volume based on conference proceedings.
• Make science-based contributions to research publications as an author or co-author in national and international journals.
• Produces high-quality publications in national and/or international journals as first author.
• Participate in scientific discussions at national and international conferences involving matters of scientific importance, either in a specific field or variety of fields.
• At times, contribute to the national standard and best practice guidelines at relevant Forums.

Quality Assurance

• Identify, develop, and implement operating manuals for work procedures for ISO certification.
• Evaluate project results, review and edit project proposals and technical reports compiled by lower-level scientists.

Learning and Development

• Mentor, coach and provide supervision and guidance in specialised research of lower-level scientists regarding their geoscientific work and their progress.
• Initiate national or international training workshops/courses for junior staff to strengthen skills transfer in line with the business unit development plan.
• Assist in identifying and designing training needs and recommend to the manager.
• Evaluate the results, edit reports for publication by junior scientists, and prepare own work for publication by the CGS.
• Supervise and guide the execution of projects by junior staff.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Grade 12; and
• MSc in Geology/Economic Geology with a specialisation in resource identification, evaluation and development/mineral resource management and 15 years’ experience in fundamental Geology and/or Economic/Exploration Geology, or;
• PhD Degree in Geology/Economic Geology with a specialisation in resource identification, evaluation and development/mineral resource management and 10 years’ experience in fundamental Geology and/or Economic/Exploration Geology;
• Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.) registration with SACNASP.
• NRF rating will be an added advantage.
• Valid driver’s licence.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience in integrated geosciences, geodynamic modelling, mineral resource estimation, and knowledge of various mineral resource reporting standards;
• Experience and ability to develop a 3D geological, tectonic, and mineral predictive model; and
• Relevant publication record.