Vacancy Summary
Location
Karonga, Malawi
Work Mode
On-site
Job Type
Full Time
Career Level
Senior
Positions
1
Experience
8 Years
Education
Bachelor’s Degree
Apply By
08 May 2026
1 days remaining
Job Description
JOB PURPOSE:
The Senior Chemist provides analytical chemistry leadership and technical ownership of all laboratory operations supporting the gold processing plant, spanning the comminution, pre-leach, leach and resin-in-pulp (RIP), elution, precipitation, calcining and packaging, tailings and acid plant circuits. The incumbent is accountable for the integrity, accuracy, traceability and timeliness of analytical data that informs process control, metallurgical accounting, product dispatch and environmental compliance.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct the routine analytical workload (fire assay for Au, AAS/ICP-OES for solution and solids assays, screen fire assay, gravimetric finish, carbon-on-pulp assays, moisture, pH, EC, free and total cyanide, loaded and barren carbon) ensuring turnaround times meet plant operating requirements.
Design, implement and maintain the laboratory QA/QC programme aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 principles, including scheduled insertion of certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks, duplicates and repeats.
Develop, validate, document and control all analytical methods and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Own the calibration, verification and preventive maintenance schedules for all analytical instruments (AAS, ICP-OES where fitted, XRF, fire-assay furnaces, cupel furnaces, analytical balances, auto-titrators, pH/ORP meters, drying ovens, fume hoods, local exhaust ventilation).
Partner with the Metallurgy team on sampling protocols, head-grade determination, in-circuit inventory sampling and monthly mass/metal balance reconciliation.
The Senior Chemist provides analytical chemistry leadership and technical ownership of all laboratory operations supporting the gold processing plant, spanning the comminution, pre-leach, leach and resin-in-pulp (RIP), elution, precipitation, calcining and packaging, tailings and acid plant circuits. The incumbent is accountable for the integrity, accuracy, traceability and timeliness of analytical data that informs process control, metallurgical accounting, product dispatch and environmental compliance.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct the routine analytical workload (fire assay for Au, AAS/ICP-OES for solution and solids assays, screen fire assay, gravimetric finish, carbon-on-pulp assays, moisture, pH, EC, free and total cyanide, loaded and barren carbon) ensuring turnaround times meet plant operating requirements.
Design, implement and maintain the laboratory QA/QC programme aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 principles, including scheduled insertion of certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks, duplicates and repeats.
Develop, validate, document and control all analytical methods and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Own the calibration, verification and preventive maintenance schedules for all analytical instruments (AAS, ICP-OES where fitted, XRF, fire-assay furnaces, cupel furnaces, analytical balances, auto-titrators, pH/ORP meters, drying ovens, fume hoods, local exhaust ventilation).
Partner with the Metallurgy team on sampling protocols, head-grade determination, in-circuit inventory sampling and monthly mass/metal balance reconciliation.
Required Qualifications
Minimum (Essential)
BSc (Honours) in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry or Metallurgical Chemistry from a recognised institution.
A minimum of eight (8) years’ post-graduate experience in a commercial or mine-site analytical laboratory.
At least three (3) years in a senior chemist or laboratory supervisory role within a gold or precious-metals operation.
Demonstrated expertise in classical and instrumental fire assay (gravimetric and AAS finish) and in atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Hands-on implementation experience of an ISO/IEC 17025 quality system.
Demonstrated capability in QA/QC programme design, measurement uncertainty estimation and statistical process control.
Preferred
MSc in Analytical Chemistry, Geochemistry or Extractive Metallurgy.
Chartered Chemist or equivalent registration with a recognised professional body (e.g. RSC, SACNASP, SAIMM).
Experience commissioning or re-commissioning a greenfield or brownfield mine-site laboratory.
Familiarity with the International Cyanide Management Code auditing protocol.
LIMS super-user experience (e.g. LabWare, LIMS-Plus, LabVantage).
Prior experience working in Southern or Sub-Saharan Africa in a mentoring or knowledge-transfer capacity.
BSc (Honours) in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry or Metallurgical Chemistry from a recognised institution.
A minimum of eight (8) years’ post-graduate experience in a commercial or mine-site analytical laboratory.
At least three (3) years in a senior chemist or laboratory supervisory role within a gold or precious-metals operation.
Demonstrated expertise in classical and instrumental fire assay (gravimetric and AAS finish) and in atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Hands-on implementation experience of an ISO/IEC 17025 quality system.
Demonstrated capability in QA/QC programme design, measurement uncertainty estimation and statistical process control.
Preferred
MSc in Analytical Chemistry, Geochemistry or Extractive Metallurgy.
Chartered Chemist or equivalent registration with a recognised professional body (e.g. RSC, SACNASP, SAIMM).
Experience commissioning or re-commissioning a greenfield or brownfield mine-site laboratory.
Familiarity with the International Cyanide Management Code auditing protocol.
LIMS super-user experience (e.g. LabWare, LIMS-Plus, LabVantage).
Prior experience working in Southern or Sub-Saharan Africa in a mentoring or knowledge-transfer capacity.
Skills Required
How to Apply
Apply by Email
Send your CV and cover letter to lal.jobs@lotusmalawi.com.
Instructions:
Interested applicants should submit an application, copies of certificates, and a CV with contact details for at least three professional referees to the email provided
Or submit by hand at Lotus Africa Limited offices at Kayelekera Mine. Applicants must include their name and the position they are applying for in the title of all documents.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Lotus Africa is an equal opportunity employer; therefore, women are encouraged to apply.
Or submit by hand at Lotus Africa Limited offices at Kayelekera Mine. Applicants must include their name and the position they are applying for in the title of all documents.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Lotus Africa is an equal opportunity employer; therefore, women are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: 08 May 2026
· 1 day from now
