Pilot Plant Manager

Hours of work: 40 hours a week, working Monday to Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm

Competitive Salary and bonus package

Do you have experience of working within process engineering? Do you have leadership skills and stakeholder management skills? Are you looking for your next opportunity?

Join Imerys British Lithium; where we’ll help you tap into your full potential!

Why work for us? 

At Imerys British Lithium every member of our team matters. Our priority is the health and safety of our people and our aim is to create diverse and inclusive workplaces. We are always striving to be better and to support our people to continuously learn, improve and innovate. This allows them to tap into their full potential and to take advantage of the wealth of career and development opportunities available. 

The job role: 

As Pilot Plant Manager, you will be responsible for the on-going development of the process and looking at ways to improve efficiency. You will support the on-going development of the project - being responsible for resource planning, scheduling, coaching and developing, and organising work programmes.

The main responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Being responsible for continuous improvement, process performance, equipment specifications, plant layout, risk reviews, permits, procurement, quality processes, and plant commissioning.
• Taking ownership of the Pilot Plant facility, including fixed plant equipment, ancillary services, building facilities, laboratories and internal offices
• Being responsible for the Health, Safety and Environmental performance of activities within the Pilot Plant facility.
• Managing the Pilot Plant Operations team of Engineers, Technicians and Shift Operators 
• Supporting and deputising for the line manager, as and when necessary
• Being responsible for the operating budget of up to £100k per month
• Coordinating operations, maintenance and scale-up trial activities.
• Regular input to business decision making in the presence of company Directors and senior stakeholders.
• Preparing reports & presentations
• Ensure operating campaigns provide analytical and process data, to further understandings of mineral and chemical processes.
• Responsible for the transfer of operational learning into process engineering deliverables

What’s in it for you?

- Equivalent of 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays (pro rata'd for shift workers)

- Generous Pension Plan

- Life Assurance

- Income Protection

- Company Sick Pay

- Discounts on external retailers

- Cycle to work scheme

We also offer a comprehensive package to support the Wellbeing of our people which includes:

- Employee Assistance Programme

- Virtual GP

- Flu and Eye care vouchers

- Enhanced family friendly policies 

- Menopause Support

You will:

Have previous experience of working within process engineering, specifically, working on a processing plant, along with:

• A qualification in process, mineral, chemical, or mechanical engineering
• Experience of maintenance planning and equipment modification
• Knowledge of process engineering design drawings and documentation
• Leadership skills
• Demonstrable Project Management skills in large capital projects
• Experience in common plant operations & maintenance software, such as MaintainX, Enablon and SAP
• Working knowledge of H&S standards, behavioural safety and safety systems.
• Experience of managing multiple stakeholders across sites and functions 
• The ability to overcome hurdles, and engage constructively with peers, team members, and line management.

About Us:

Imerys British Lithium (IBL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Imerys UK Ltd., developing a world class micaceous lithium resource in Cornwall. IBL have developed unique, patented technology for the sustainable recovery of battery grade lithium carbonate from micaceous granite, with the goal of building the world’s first integrated lithium mine, beneficiation plant and refinery producing 20,000tpa of lithium carbonate – enough to support production in the UK of 350,000 electric vehicles per year. 

Imerys British Lithium operates a state-of-the-art pilot plant, built to develop our unique LiMica-Sep™ and Li-Sep™ technologies for the sustainable extraction of lithium from micaceous granite. Capabilities at the facility involve a wide range of process technologies, such as mineral beneficiation, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, precipitation, crystallisation, and ion exchange, at both the laboratory and industrial scales.

The competitive landscape is highly dynamic and so speed is essential for us to enter the market. This role is instrumental in the delivery of the plan to develop a full-scale integrated open-pit mine, concentrator and refinery to produce battery-grade lithium for the growing electric vehicle industry in the UK and Europe. Validation of the process technology is underway, however significant capital expenditure decisions are being made, such as the design of the 2 Mtpa / 20 ktpa commercial scale plant with very challenging schedules.  This role therefore carries a significant responsibility of technical de-risking and cost optimisation. This requires a team of metallurgists and engineers with a high level of technical expertise. This furthermore requires well developed communication skills with a keen understanding of business priorities and stakeholder needs, and concern for impact.

We would like our application process to be accessible to all - if you require an alternative way to apply then please get in touch on (phone number removed). 

IMERYS is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, and it is our policy to not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws.

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