Job Openings at Mintek

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

• Responsible for the development, commissioning, maintenance, and operation of electrical, control and  instrumentation systems for high temperature laboratory and pilot scale facilities in the PyrometallurgyDivision.
• Set up and assembly control systems for pilot plant furnaces in line with specific project modification requirements.
• Design, instal and commission instrumentation, electrical and control equipment for laboratory and pilot plant facilities in the Division.
• Maintenance and programming of DeltaV Distributed Control Systems and Programmable Controllers (PLCs).
• Prepare control and electrical drawings to ensure all modifications are properly documented and controlled.
• Develop, manage and implement maintenance programmes to minimise downtime.
• Provide support to internal and external clients to ascertain scope requirements and to timeously deliver on research and commercial projects, including supervision and training of operators, trainees and contractors involved. This includes providing training on experimental, SHEQ and administrative procedures.
• Conceptualize and develop proposals and quotations for internal and commercial clients, and ensure timely execution of projects, both at laboratory and pilot scale facilities.
• Contribute to the development of CAPEX and OPEX motivations for upgrading key laboratory and pilot scale equipment and facilities.
• Evaluate processes, systems, products or new developments to identify opportunities and deficiencies to ensure continuous improvement.
• Conform to all relevant SHEQ procedures, guidelines and rules, and ensure that relevant risks and hazards are identified and managed through Mintek-approved risk assessments and procedures. This includes ensuring that all relevant SOPs are up to date and complied with.

Minimum requirements

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 3 years’ post qualification experience in a similar environment.
• Demonstrable experience in operating high temperature industrial-scale equipment and facilities is highly desirable.
• An in-depth knowledge in specific control disciplines, such as, advanced process control (APC), distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controllers (PLC), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) pertaining to equipment and instrumentation used in electric arc furnaces. Demonstrable portfolioof evidence in DeltaV DCS, Allan Bradley or Siemens S7 PLC programming.
• Demonstrable portfolio of evidence Computer Networks and Field Buses (Microsoft Networking, Profibus, EthernetIP, Modbus, Fibre Optic).
• Knowledge or experience with SHEQ systems is non-negotiable.
• A strong understanding of electric arc furnaces is highly advantageous.

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KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

• Lead and oversee complex laboratory, pilot, and demonstration-scale test work for chemical and biological heap leaching systems.
• Drive research and innovation, contributing to the development of new technologies and, methodologies in line with the Group’s focus areas.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior Engineers / Scientists / Technicians, supporting skills development and succession planning.
• Lead the preparation of high-quality technical reports, client deliverables, and presentations.
• Initiate, develop, and lead proposals for commercial work and research funding, including strategic input and client engagement.
• Contribute to business development, including client interaction and identification of new opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with SHEQ requirements, laboratory protocols, and data governance standards.
• Responsible for key process equipment and facilities, ensuring optimal utilisation, maintenance, and development.

Minimum requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• PhD in Chemical Engineering (with a BSc(Eng) or BEng undergraduate degree). 
• A minimum of 6 years’ relevant experience in hydrometallurgy, bioleaching, or heap leaching including process development and management of complex commercial and research projects.
• Strong understanding of chemical and microbiological processes in heap leaching.
• Proven track record in attracting research funding (e.g. state grant, contract research, or similar funding mechanisms).

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

Leadership

• Participate in the formulation of IP & commercialisation strategy for new disclosures and the stage-gate process to align commercialisation potential with robust competitive advantage protection.
• Lead analysis-related aspects within larger commercialisation projects and deliver comprehensive reports.
• Contribute to broader Mintek RDI strategy discussions, specifically regarding IP trends and patentability standards.

Strategy

• Participate in MOTT strategy discussions by making recommendations on patent filing strategies and defensive IP positions.
• Participate in strategy formulation for responses to office actions and other IP prosecution related activities.
• Monitor and periodically report on national and international IP & technology trends within the mineral and metallurgical sectors.
• Assess the IP landscape and environment to determine freedom-to-operate as input into commercialisation strategy.

Innovation

• Identify and implement improvements in existing patent search procedures and market data collection methods.
• Develop and refine workflows for the internal IP stage-gate process for continuous improvement of the invention disclosure process and IP prosecution.
• Participate in the conceptualisation of IP & commercialisation-related systems that enhance the accessibility of commercial intelligence across MOTT and Mintek.
• Optimise IP payment processing by implementing systemic tracking for patent attorney fees to improve operational efficiency.

Financial Sustainability 

• Provide detailed IP intelligence and landscape data as input into the preparation of external funding proposals.
• Maintain accurate IP records for NIPMO statutory reporting and IP Rebate Fund submissions.
• Support the commercialisation team & Fund Leader in preparing IP-related due diligence reports for investors and licensing partners.
• Manage the end-to-end payment processing cycle, ensuring all service provider payments are verified, coded, and tracked.

Execution, People and Planning

• Liaise with IP creators and research team leadership to ensure submitted disclosures are backed by solid technical and commercial opportunity data.
• Prepare presentations on IP & Commercialisation analysis to drive awareness across Mintek.

Compliance Management

• Act as the primary custodian of the IP portfolio database, ensuring data accuracy and integrity for reporting and auditing purposes.
• Conduct project-level risk assessments regarding potential IP infringement or loss of novelty.
• Adhere to and enforce all SHEQ requirements within the work environment and manage any specialised IP due diligence tools or platforms under control.

Relationship Management and Reporting

• Prepare and deliver IP presentations and results from due diligence work to technical teams and MOTT colleagues.
• Collaborate with Commercialisation Leaders to consolidate data for quarterly reviews and stakeholder reporting.

Minimum requirements

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• BSc (Hons) degree in science / engineering
• Master’s or PhD in a scientific or technical field and/or Business qualification (MBA qualification would be an advantage)
• 3–5 years of experience directly related to technology transfer, intellectual property management or related field.

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

Leadership

• Provide active stage-gating and governance for commercialisation investments to prevent passive R&D expenditure.
• Exercise foresight, creativity, and professional judgment when making decisions or recommendations that directly impact research direction and the commercial outcomes of the Mintek IP portfolio.
• Guide technical research teams toward meeting critical, clearly defined commercial milestones.

Strategy & Innovation

• Establish and refine mandates, application criteria, and evaluation procedures for internal commercialisation funding instruments.
• Assess the local and international funding landscape to identify investment opportunities aligned with Mintek’s focus areas.
• Transform identified opportunities into high-quality proposals for externally funded commercial de-risking.
• Act as a "business mirror" to technical teams to ensure investment decisions are informed by clearly articulated commercial & market opportunities.
• Continually refine stage-gating and review procedures to ensure technologies move efficiently through the institutional commercialisation pipeline.

Financial Sustainability

• Support the development of robust internal funding proposals and systematically manage the portfolio of internal seed funds.
• Leverage internal seed funding to attract external co-investment, strategic partnerships, and DFI funding.
• Ensure that external revenue contributions from successful proposals actively support Mintek’s broader commercialisation programmes.

Execution, People and Planning

• Drive reporting mechanisms and quarterly reviews for all commercialisation investments, acting as the primary secretariat for funded projects.
• Manage large, multi-year funding programmes, executing comprehensive resource and timeline planning for funded milestones.
• Coordinate project inception meetings to closely align technical development with commercial de-risking activities.

Compliance Management

• Establish and monitor the operational systems and mandates required for sound governance of externally funded commercialisation projects and internal Seed Fund investments.
• Provide operational oversight of the work of applicants and technical staff to ensure absolute compliance with funding mandates.
• Proactively assess, profile, and manage all risks related to the commercialisation funding programs and individual projects in the portfolio.

Relationship Management and Reporting

• Prepare highly professional statistical and narrative reports for internal funding committees, Exco, and external institutional stakeholders.
• Engage deeply with applicants pre- and post-award to ensure milestones are commercially geared.
• Lead, guide, and mentor researchers and technical staff as they navigate the complex commercialisation funding landscape.

Minimum requirements

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in science / engineering
• PhD in a scientific or technical field and/or Business qualification (MBA qualification would be an advantage)
• 3–5 years of experience directly related to technology transfer or investment fund management.
• Nature of Experience: Proven experience within a technology transfer function in a University or Science Council managing seed-funding projects or investment funds and associated governance processes.

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

Leadership

• Lead medium-sized projects to implement new features or products.
• Maintain awareness of trends in software development and technology stacks applicable to the division and suggest continuous improvements.

Strategy

• Participate in Divisional strategic objectives and make recommendations affecting the strategy.

Innovation

• Operational: improve developer efficiency and processes.
• Technical: introduce new tools/3rd party components to improve product efficiency, reliability and usability, or to expand product capabilities.
• Technical: Propose new product features or enhancements, participate in the design of new products and enhancements.

Financial sustainability

• Prepare proposals under direct/limited supervision for internal and external funding.

Execution, People and Planning

• Elicit the functional specification, design and implement medium-complexity features/improvements to existing products affecting multiple systems as well as implementing new systems/products.
• Software testing, troubleshooting and code inspection
• Provide first-line technical support for our existing products
• Training of junior Software Developers
• Provide training on the basic use of the division’s software products to other members of the division.
• Plan and manage projects to ensure efficient use of time, equipment and facilities, including coordinating with others.

Governance and Risk Management

• Ensure proper care in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies, promote continual improvement in the workplace, adhere to and enforce all (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality) SHEQ requirements.
• Take responsibility for the management of all risks at project level and ensuring that the project team adheres to all SHEQ requirements.

Relationship Management and Reporting

• Present at local trade shows.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum: B.Sc. IT/Computer Science or NQF level 7 relevant to Software development.
• Ideal: B.Sc. IT/Computer Science Honours (or NQF level 8)

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• C or C#
• More than 1 year vocational experience in software development.

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

• Proactively identify, originate, pursue, and help mature business, partnership, investor, and funding opportunities on behalf of the MPC Cluster.
• Scan the market for opportunities aligned with MPC capabilities and identify higher-value opportunities that can be positioned through broader Mintek integration.
• Work closely with ACD, MND, and MPD technical teams to extract, interpret, and package key technical insights into externally relevant value propositions.
• Integrate capabilities across MPC and, where relevant, across EXT and MMA into coherent solution offerings that address real client and sector needs.
• Shape opportunities into structured programmes, projects, concept notes, proposals, and partnership initiatives with clear scope, deliverables, and commercial logic.
• Contribute to appropriate scoping, costing, and pricing so that the full value of Mintek’s technical capability is reflected.
• Engage mining companies, industrial partners, government stakeholders, development finance institutions, funding agencies, and investors in a credible and well-structured manner.
• Support the positioning and communication of techno-economic scenarios and investment cases prepared by technical specialists, including discussion of metrics such as NPV, IRR, payback, discount rate, sensitivity, and scenario-based cases.
• Build and manage an opportunity pipeline that supports funding growth, revenue generation, and strategic partnerships for MPC and, where appropriate, for the wider Mintek platform.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of 10 years industrial experience in technical, R&D, or consulting environment within the mining, minerals, materials or process control sectors.
• A relevant degree (BSc, BEng, or equivalent) in science or engineering is required. An MSc/PhD will be advantageous.
•  Relevant academic backgrounds may include mineral processing, metallurgy, chemical engineering, chemistry, mineralogy, process engineering, mining-related engineering, or closely aligned scientific and engineering disciplines.
•  Strong technical grounding and the ability to operate credibly in a science-led R&D environment linked to the mining and minerals industry are essential. 
• Experience in business development, technology commercialisation, innovation management, programme development, strategic partnerships, or opportunity development in a relevant technical environment will be advantageous.
• An MBA or postgraduate business/commercial qualification, supported by strong technical grounding, will be advantageous.

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

Sourcing:

• Procurement of engineering products and/or services, construction works and other professional services
• Sourcing goods and/or services which meet requirements in terms of manufacturing drawing specifications, quality, price, and delivery lead time
• Prepare and advertise RFQs on relevant platforms
• Coordinate Bid Specification, Evaluation, and Adjudication Committee meetings
• Negotiate prices and terms which deliver value for money for Mintek
• Provide input on specifications in line with best practices and legislation and ascertain the readiness of specifications for the market.
• Review all specifications for compliance with the procurement policy and procedures
• Conduct market research to determine the availability of suppliers and commodities in line with specific sourcing requirements
• Ensure all required approvals are sought throughout the lifecycle of the RFQ
• Coordination and facilitation of supplier briefing sessions and site inspections
• Evaluation and award of quotations in line with legislative prescripts
• Expediting or purchase requisition and order approvals and delivery of orders
• Daily monitoring of open purchase requisitions
• Provide timely feedback to end-users on order status
• Place orders within the specified turnaround time
•  Investigate and implement alternative sources of supply to improve the reliability of supplies, improve quality, reduce costs or shorten lead times
• Identify and implement opportunities for strategic sourcing.
• Identify commodities for preferred supplier lists and contracts
• Identify and implement opportunities for sourcing goods and services in line with preferential procurement targets
• Drive implementation of cost-reduction initiatives.

Policy & Compliance

• Ensure that all procurement activities comply with Mintek’s SCM Policy, PFMA, PPPFA, B-BBEE Act, and other legislative frameworks
• Keep abreast of changes in the legislative environment and propose amendments to the procurement policy and procedure to align
• Identify process improvement opportunities and implement alternative methods to increase efficiencies, product and process quality, reduce costs and improve overall service
• Develop procurement strategies that are innovative and cost-effective
• Monitor compliance of internal and external stakeholders with procurement policy, procedures and legislative framework
• Assist with audit requests and provide supporting documentation during internal and external audits.

Stakeholder Engagement

• The central point of contact for all RFQ queries internally and externally. Guide end-users, SCM staff, and management and service providers on the RFQ process.
• Build effective working relationships with internal customers, to enable Mintek to produce complete, accurate and relevant specifications to prepare requests for proposals across dedicated commodities.
• Advise end-users on appropriate sourcing methods to follow.
• Integrate SCM best practices in divisional planning and operations.

Continued Improvement

• Participate in continuous professional development interventions to keep up with new technologies, sourcing best practices and procedures.
• Proactively support and initiate transformational initiatives to build procurement organisational capabilities and improve procurement efficiency.

Reporting

Compile the following reports:

• Open PR and PO
• Ad-hoc reports as requested by Head SCM and Executive Manager.

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Min: 3 years’ experience post internship in the following:

• Buyer
• Technical Buyer   
• Procurement Officer

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Min: Bcom/B-Tech in Supply Chain/Purchasing/Finance or equivalent qualification.
• CIPS membership advantageous.

Training:

• Min: 3 – 5 years in a sourcing role (Post Internship)
• Experience sourcing engineering, manufacturing or technical goods/services
• PFMA, other relevant procurement regulations and public sector procurement experience