Control Room Operator

The Control Room Operator is responsible for the safe and effective operation and monitoring of the Nalunaq ore processing plant from the plant control room. The role monitors plant performance through the SCADA/control system, maintains stable operating conditions, responds to alarms and abnormal conditions, and coordinates field operators and maintenance personnel as required. The position requires a strong understanding of the crushing, grinding, gravity recovery, flotation, concentrate handling, filtration, reagent, utilities, and gold room support areas, together with the ability to identify process deviations and take timely corrective action within approved operating procedures.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work safely and follow all company safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain a strong safety-first culture and ensure safe operating practices are followed from the control room.
• Monitor the overall processing plant through the SCADA/control system and maintain stable, continuous plant operation.
• Monitor key process parameters, equipment status, alarms, trends, levels, flows, densities, pressures, and other operating conditions.
• Identify abnormal operating conditions and take appropriate corrective action in accordance with standard operating procedures and supervisor direction.
• Control and adjust plant operating parameters to maintain production targets, process stability, and metallurgical performance.
• Coordinate plant start-ups, shutdowns, equipment changes, process line-ups, and controlled transitions with field operators.
• Respond promptly to equipment and process alarms, investigating causes and escalating issues where required.
• Coordinate with field operators to verify equipment status, process conditions, isolations, blockages, leaks, spills, and other abnormal conditions.
• Coordinate with maintenance personnel during equipment faults, planned maintenance, breakdowns, testing, and return-to-service activities.
• Maintain effective communication with the Shift Supervisor, Plant Manager, field operators, maintenance, metallurgy, and technical personnel.
• Monitor flotation, grinding, gravity recovery, filtration, reagent, and tailings circuits and make operational adjustments within approved limits.
• Monitor plant throughput, recoveries, process stability, reagent consumption, and other key operating indicators and report significant deviations.
• Ensure operating parameters, shift events, alarms, equipment issues, and significant process changes are accurately recorded in shift logs and operational records.
• Follow all standard operating procedures, work instructions, control philosophies, alarm response procedures, and approved operating limits.
• Maintain awareness of plant constraints and potential single-point failures and communicate emerging risks to the Shift Supervisor.
• Initiate or support emergency shutdowns and other emergency response actions when required to protect personnel, equipment, and the environment.
• Support process sampling, metallurgical testwork, and process investigations by maintaining stable operating conditions and providing accurate operating information.
• Assist with development, review, and improvement of operating procedures and control room practices based on operational experience.
• Perform other duties as required to support safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations.

Essential Skills and Competences

• Strong commitment to safety and ability to follow procedures and operating limits.
• Previous experience operating or controlling a mineral processing or industrial plant.
• Demonstrated experience using SCADA, DCS, PLC, or similar process control systems.
• Good understanding of process plant equipment, process flows, and operating interactions.
• Ability to interpret process trends, alarms, instrumentation readings, and operating data.
• Strong troubleshooting, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Clear and effective communication with operators, supervisors, maintenance, and technical personnel.
• Good computer literacy and ability to maintain accurate operational records.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, rotational operating environment.

Desirable Skills and Competences

• Previous experience in gold or sulphide mineral processing.
• Experience with flotation, grinding, gravity recovery, filtration, and reagent control.
• Experience with PLC/SCADA systems, process historians, or advanced process control.
• Experience working in a control room during plant commissioning, start-up, or optimisation.

Physical Requirements

• Must be physically capable of working safely around an operating processing plant and undertaking routine field inspections when required.
• Ability to work in extreme weather conditions and rugged remote environments.
• Physically capable of handling long hours, standing or sitting for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, and performing manual tasks when required.