Job Opportunities at Mintek

Job description

• Demonstrated ability to develop experimental techniques, models and prototypes.
• Experience with designing and operating electric arc furnaces at pilot-scale, coupled with the ability to identify opportunities for further fundamental research from inconclusive or unclear phenomenon typically observed in pilot scale research projects.
• Experience in designing pyrometallurgical processes using thermochemical simulation software tools such as PyroSim™ and FactSage™ is an added advantage.
• Proven experience with coding in C and Python is an added advantage.
• Proven experience in mechanical design packages such as FUSION360 or FreeCAD is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to develop experimental techniques, models and prototypes.
• Demonstrable experienced in executing complex technical projects, particularly from concept to higher technology readiness levels.
• Strong portfolio of publications in peer-reviewed journals is an added advantage.
• Knowledge or experience with SHEQ systems is non-negotiable
• Knowledge of technology transfer, commercialisation and product development is highly advantageous. 
• Demonstrated ability to attract investment or R&D funding is highly advantageous.

Minimum requirements

Qualification and Experience Requirements

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in pyrometallurgy research and technology development.
• Minimum BEng/BSc (Honors) in Engineering (Metallurgical/ Chemical / Process/ Mechanical/Electrical) or equivalent, with a strong emphasis on pyrometallurgy research and technology development.
• Ideally, a MEng/ MSc in Engineering (Chemical/ Metallurgical/ Process/ Mechanical/ Electrical), or equivalent, with a strong focus in pyrometallurgy research, design and technology development.
• Postdoctoral research experience, with strong emphasis on pyrometallurgy research and technology development, is highly advantageous.
• Professional recognition and registration are an added advantage.

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Job description

• Responsible for the commissioning, maintenance, operation and management of laboratory and pilot-scale facilities in the Pyrometallurgy Division.
• Providing technical support and facilitating the smooth execution of research, technology demonstration, and commercialisation activities in the Division.
• Assume full responsibility for the sample management and SHEQ systems, including maintaining detailed equipment maintenance schedules and ensuring that critical spares and stocks are timely maintained and preserved.
• Providing administrative support to the Division, including managing and coordinating tender processes for CAPEX and large scale infrastructure projects.
• Contributing to human capital development through coaching and mentoring of colleagues, including providing postgraduate supervision where necessary.

Minimum requirements

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in pyrometallurgy research, technology development or related environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop experimental techniques, models and prototypes is a distinct advantage.
• Experience in designing pyrometallurgical processes using thermochemical software tools such as PyroSim™ and FactSage™ is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to develop experimental techniques, models and prototypes.
• Demonstrable experience in supporting complex research projects, particularly from concept to higher technology readiness levels.
• Portfolio of publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or conference proceedings is an added advantage.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum BTech in Engineering (Metallurgical/ Chemical/ Process) or equivalent.
• Ideally, MTech in Engineering (Metallurgical/ Chemical/ Process), or equivalent.
• Professional recognition and registration are added advantages.

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Job description

• Assist Research Group Leader/Head of Research to make technical decisions having an impact on the research direction and outcomes within the division.
• Ensure that the products the division delivers appeal to a wide range of operations, which shields the discipline from the cyclical nature of the mining industry.
• Ensure that the documentation of work and procedures is done and produce advanced professional level reports and publications.
• Able to demonstrate eager to innovation, strategic thinking and to drive both operational efficiency and groundbreaking solutions.
• Transform opportunities into proposals for funded research with in conjunction with other Research Leaders.
• Ensure that SHEQ procedures are followed and project work is executed to produce valid conclusions and with maximum overall efficiency - technically and financially.
• Prepare reports, presentations and publications at the level of an experienced professional.
• Lead, guide, mentor and train junior staff

Minimum requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• MSc/MEng in a relevant Engineering or Scientific field relating to automation, sensing technology, and platform technology. PhD will be advantageous.
• At least 8 years’ experience in research or knowledge-based organisations.

Experience in working on the following MCD related products:

• Advanced Process Control (APC)
• Carbon Concentration Meter (C2 Meter)
• Cynoprobe Cyanide Analysis
• FurnStar Furnace Control
• Software Competitor Analysis – PLC & DCS
• Software – StarCS
• Strong ability to drive MCD R&D projects towards new commercial offerings.
• Commercialisation of products at advanced TRL levels.
• Experience in attracting research funding.
• Registration or eligibility for ECSA or SACNASP.
• Evidence of prototyping, commercialisation of products and accreditation of methods will be an advantage.
• Track record of research, supported by publications in peer-reviewed journals, patents, chapters 
  and books

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Job description

• Responsible for the development, commissioning, maintenance, and operation of electrical, control and instrumentation systems for high temperature laboratory and pilot scale facilities in the Pyrometallurgy Division.
• 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 portfolio of evidence in Delta VDCS, 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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Job description

Customer account management:

• Maintain Debtors master data through regular updates of customer information and credit limits.
• Creation of new customers and load new/approved customers on IFS with appropriate fields and linking to other IFS modules.
• Maintain credit limits per customer and reduce credit limits where customer has defaulted on payment terms.
• Perform regular credit limit review considering:
• Sales by customer
• Payment history
• Changes in customer’s legal status
• Perform regular review of customer base to ensure only approved debtors are maintained on the system. Block/delete inactive customer accounts.

Control over Credit Applications: 

• maintain credit assessment forms received from Divisions, 
• obtain necessary credit references and/or assess credibility of potential debtor via a credit risk management service provider, 
• obtain financial statements of applicants where required; 
• assess credit application based on customer knowledge and research performed.
• advise manager of possible risks, if applicable.
• ensure all documentation is processed within the parameters of approved Mintek Credit Control Policy and 
• ensure necessary credit limit approval obtained in accordance therewith
• Allocate payments from customers and ensure that receipts are processed to the correct customer account.
• Follow-up on a regular basis on unallocated receipts and communicate with the bank with regards to unidentified deposits.
• Attend to queries on all Mintek client debtors’ accounts.
• Keep abreast with economic changes specifically abroad to avoid providing credit to possible bad debts.

Debt Collection:

• Ensure that all transactions input into the system valid, accurate and complete prior to the posting thereof, including ensuring the validity of the transaction and agreement with client documentation available (orders, etc).
• Facilitate payment of outstanding debt through communication with debtors and by application of correct collection procedures; 
• communicate with outstanding debtors relevant departments to assess reasons for non-payment and 
• ensure the forwarding of any copy documentation to facilitate collection of any outstanding amounts.
• Prepare letters of request for payment and final demands, and communication with relevant staff for all debts to be handed over to debt collection agency for collection.
• Prepare requests for the reversal of invoices and/or interest charged to debtors’ accounts where necessary, in accordance with the Delegation of Authority.
• Administer cases handed over to debt collection agency for collection by ensuring the compilation of a monthly management report on the status of debts handed over for collection and discussing with supervisor.
• Where necessary liaise with attorneys in a pro-active manner.

Month-end activities:

• Action of age analysis to ensure accuracy and completeness. Investigate long outstanding debt and action through communication with the customer.
• Ensure all payments, invoices and credit notes have been processed before month-end closure.
• Ensure the discussion of debtors outstanding above 60 days on a monthly basis by convening a discussion meeting with affected parties.

Reporting:

• To provide Mintek management with information regarding outstanding debtors status through proper analysis and record-keeping.
• Compilation and distribution of monthly debtors report analyzing outstanding debt, comparison to previous months, highlighting problematic debtors and raising issues pertaining to debtor management.
• Ensure the compilation of Mintek’s potential doubtful debtors on an annual basis for inclusion in the annual financial statements based on review of age analysis and knowledge of customers.
• Prepare listing of debtors outstanding longer than 60 days indicating follow up actions taken to meet monthly reporting and information requirements of management.
• Prepare control schedules for master data changes, credit limit overruns, and unpaid debtors in past 30 days, for immediate supervisor to ensure control over debtors and application of efforts in the correct areas.
• Compile report of credit limit review and suggest preferred actions to be taken against customers.
• Prepare monthly declaration of foreign debt for submission to credit insurance company.
• Prepare and submit quarterly debtors’ book for analysis at credit risk management service provider.

Compliance:

• Provide input in to credit control processes and procedures to ensure that they are updated with latest best practice and credit control trends in the industry.
• To ensure that the Credit Control system is administered in accordance with approved Mintek policy.
• Maintain statistics in accordance with management requirements.
• Maintain procedural and system training documentation relevant to the debtor activity, and ensure debtor staff retains an adequate level of training.
• On a daily basis ensuring office administration is kept up to date.

Minimum requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Matric and Degree in Accounting or Equivalent
• Ideal: Certificate in Credit control

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 2-3 years spent as debtors controller. 
• (Minimum training: 1-3 years in debt management environment).