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Project Study Manager – Processing (2 Year Fixed Term Contract)
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  • Full time
  • Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Job ID R200001828 Closing date 01/11/2026 Last Updated 16/10/2026

Project Study Manager – Processing (2 Year Fixed Term Contract)

 

Location: Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, South Africa

Reporting: Africa Regional Head of Projects

Function: Glencore Copper Assets

 

 

JOB PURPOSE:

 

The Project Study Manager – Processing is accountable for leading and managing multidisciplinary processing studies from concept through feasibility. The role is responsible for developing technically robust, operationally practical, and value-driven processing solutions that support business objectives, operational improvement, asset optimization, and long-term sustainability.

 

The incumbent will coordinate internal and external stakeholders, manage study risks and opportunities, oversee technical workstreams, and ensure studies are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

 

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal

  • Operations Managers
  • Processing Managers
  • Technical Services Teams
  • HSEC Teams
  • Project Controls
  • Asset Leadership Teams
  • Engineering Functions

 

External

  • Engineering Consultants
  • Technical Specialists
  • Equipment Suppliers and OEMs
  • Laboratories and Test Work Providers
  • Contractors and Service Providers
  • Industry and Technical Advisors

 


PRIMARY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

Study Leadership and Delivery

  • Lead multidisciplinary processing studies through concept, scoping, pre-feasibility, and feasibility phases.
  • Define study scope, objectives, deliverables, schedules, budgets, and resource requirements.
  • Develop and maintain integrated study execution plans.
  • Manage study performance against agreed scope, schedule, cost, quality, and business objectives.
  • Coordinate technical inputs and deliverables from internal teams and external consultants.
  • Ensure study outputs are complete, accurate, integrated, and fit for purpose.
  • Facilitate effective decision-making through the evaluation of technical alternatives and trade-offs.
  • Identify and resolve technical and project-related issues that may impact study outcomes.

 

Technical Oversight

  • Provide leadership and direction across metallurgical, processing, engineering, infrastructure, environmental, and operational workstreams.
  • Oversee metallurgical test work programmes and process development initiatives.
  • Review process design criteria, mass balances, flowsheets, and technical recommendations.
  • Ensure technical solutions are aligned with operational realities and business requirements.
  • Challenge assumptions and ensure technical rigor throughout the study lifecycle.
  • Support development of implementation strategies and operational readiness considerations where applicable.
  • Ensure studies incorporate safety, operability, maintainability, and sustainability principles.

 

Study Governance and Technical Assurance

  • Coordinate Independent Technical Reviews, Peer Reviews, and specialist assurance activities.
  • Ensure studies comply with company standards, technical requirements, regulatory obligations, and industry best practice.
  • Maintain control of assumptions, scope, schedule, risks, opportunities, and key decision points.
  • Ensure study documentation is accurate, controlled, and auditable.
  • Prepare executive summaries, technical recommendations, and management reports.
  • Track and close out technical review findings and assurance actions.
  • Ensure consistency, quality, and integrity of study deliverables.

 

Stakeholder Management

  • Build and maintain strong working relationships with operational, technical, and business stakeholders.
  • Coordinate engagement with consultants, contractors, suppliers, and subject matter experts.
  • Facilitate multidisciplinary workshops and technical review sessions.
  • Communicate study progress, risks, opportunities, and recommendations to leadership teams.
  • Ensure alignment between study objectives and business priorities.

 

Risk and Opportunity Management

  • Lead the identification, evaluation, and management of study risks and opportunities.
  • Facilitate structured risk assessments and mitigation planning.
  • Ensure uncertainties, constraints, and assumptions are clearly documented and communicated.
  • Maintain risk and opportunity registers throughout the study lifecycle.
  • Drive proactive management of issues that may affect study outcomes.

 

Health, Safety, Environment and Community

  • Promote and demonstrate visible safety leadership.
  • Ensure health, safety, environmental, and community considerations are integrated into all study activities.
  • Support compliance with applicable legislation, standards, and company requirements.
  • Promote sustainable and responsible development practices within study outcomes.

 

Reporting and Documentation

  • Prepare monthly and milestone-based study progress reports.
  • Provide clear recommendations supported by technical and commercial analysis.
  • Maintain accurate records of decisions, assumptions, actions, risks, and study deliverables.
  • Ensure all study documentation is managed in accordance with company document control requirements.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

  • Bachelor's Degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, Mining Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Professional registration with a recognised engineering body will be advantageous.
  • Postgraduate qualification in Engineering, Project Management, Mineral Processing, or Business Management will be advantageous.

 

EXPERIENCE:

 

  • Minimum 15 years' experience within the mining, minerals processing, metallurgical, or related heavy industry sectors.
  • Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary studies from concept through feasibility.
  • Strong knowledge of mineral processing and metallurgical operations.
  • Experience managing consultants, contractors, and specialist technical service providers.
  • Proven track record in study management, technical leadership, and project coordination.
  • Experience in brownfield and greenfield processing studies.
  • Strong understanding of technical assurance, study governance, risk management, and quality management processes.
  • Experience developing practical processing solutions that deliver operational value.
  • Strong commercial awareness and ability to evaluate technical and operational alternatives.
  • High level of integrity and professionalism.
  • Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
  • Collaborative and solution-oriented approach.
  • Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity.
  • Commitment to safety and continuous improvement.
  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

 

Technical Competencies

  • Study management and delivery.
  • Mineral processing and metallurgy.
  • Process engineering and optimisation.
  • Technical assurance and quality management.
  • Risk and opportunity management.
  • Cost estimating and scheduling principles.
  • Problem-solving and decision analysis.
  • Technical reporting and presentation.

 

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

 

  • Fluent in English (Essential)
  • French language capability highly desirable due to operational requirements within the DRC region.

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

 

  • Willingness to undertake regular travel within Africa, including operational sites in the DRC.
  • Ability to operate effectively in dynamic and complex operational environments.
  • Strong alignment with Glencore values, governance standards, and delivery culture.

 


 

Please apply on the Careers Portal:                                       Applications Close:

https://www.glencore.com/careers/career-opportunities    01 November 2026

 

This vacancy will be filled in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Glencore. By applying for this position, you consent to Glencore collecting, storing, using, destroying, and processing in any other manner personal information for purposes of attending to this advertisement, and/ or all matters relating thereto, including the disclosure to third parties of such personal information for purposes of confirming such personal information. In the event you do not hear from the Company within 21 days after the closing date of applications, please consider your application to have been unsuccessful. The CVs of unsuccessful candidates will not be returned.


Who we are


Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities. Through a network of assets, customers and suppliers that spans the globe, we produce, process, recycle, source, market and distribute the commodities that advance everyday life.

 

With over 140,000 employees and contractors and a strong footprint in over 30 countries in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, our marketing and industrial activities are supported by a global network of offices.

 

Glencore’s customers are principally industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and oil sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities.


Important informationThis material does not purport to contain all of the information you may wish to consider. For further important information, including in connection with forward-looking statements and other cautionary information, refer to the Important notice section of Glencore’s 2025 Annual Report, which is available at glencore.com/publications. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future events, results, performance, achievements or other outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. This document does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities. Other informationThe companies in which Glencore plc directly and indirectly has an interest are separate and distinct legal entities. In this document, “Glencore”, “Glencore group” and “Group” are used for convenience only where references are made to Glencore plc and its subsidiaries in general. These collective expressions are used for ease of reference only and do not imply any other relationship between the companies. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer collectively to members of the Group or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.​Note*: All applications will be subject to potential background checks. You will be informed if this will be the case. Further information about the processing of your personal data will be made available during the application process. We'll seek your explicit consent prior to processing the data.