South Deep is recruiting!

This is an opportunity to bring your expertise to a dynamic and engaged team of professionals, working together to become the beacon of pride for our people, our communities, our stakeholders, and our shareholders.

At South Deep, we value each person’s individual and collective contribution and support your ongoing development, helping you to achieve your career and our business aspirations.

POSITION:                 Senior Metallurgist

JOB GRADING:         D – Lower

DEPARTMENT:          Metallurgy

SITE:                          South Deep Gold Mine

The Senior Metallurgist provides specialist  technical leadership to optimise metallurgical processes, maximise recovery, improve plant efficiency and enhance product quality. The role drives continuous improvement through performance analysis, technical investigations and the identification of optimisation opportunities. The incumbent strengthens technical capability through mentoring and team development, while ensuring robust management systems, processes and standards are maintained to support sustained operational excellence.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Extraction Metallurgy or equivalent
• Minimum 5 years’ metallurgical experience within a mineral processing environment, preferably in gold processing
• Experience in metallurgical accounting, process optimisation and plant performance analysis
• Be declared medically fit for the position and environment, as determined by a risk-based medical examination at the Gold Fields Occupational Health Centre and pass a Heat Tolerance Screening test, and such other tests as may be required to assess the applicant’s suitability for employment

NOTE: all relevant certificates must be attached to your CV in order to be considered for shortlisting

Key Competencies:

• Advanced safety leadership capability
• Accomplished team and people leader with advanced inter and intra-team collaboration and, sound spoken and written English communication skills
• Proven diagnostic, problem-solving, decision-making skills
• Ability to operate effectively under pressure and manage changing production demands
• Evident ability to optimise plant performance, recovery and backfill plant processes
• Proven expertise in applying metallurgical analysis, reconciliation and performance data to drive process optimisation and operational efficiency
• Proficiency in relevant metallurgical process monitoring, reporting and operational systems
• Ability to adapt to ore variability, plant performance fluctuations and production demands
• Apply optimisation methodologies (e.g., Lean Six Sigma) to improve recovery, throughput and cost efficiency

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate Visible Felt Leadership by actively championing operational Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE) and Risk standards through participation in and leadership of SHE campaigns, audits, incident investigations and remediation initiatives that strengthen a culture of authentic safety leadership
• Actively support the company’s strategies and initiatives to promote a respectful, diverse and inclusive workplace with a culture of accountability and care
• Maintain effective people management practices by ensuring clear team role accountability, capability development, coaching, performance management, constructive feedback and sustained team delivery against operational objectives
• Provide strategic metallurgical input into project design, feasibility studies, and execution plans to ensure optimal process performance and long-term sustainability
• Lead and support the implementation of metallurgical projects, ensuring alignment with operational objectives, technical standards and business priorities
• Monitor project performance, identify risks and deviations, and implement corrective actions to ensure successful outcomes
• Ensure compliance with safety, health, environmental and governance standards throughout all project phases
• Drive process design improvements, technology adoption and innovation to enhance recovery, efficiency and cost performance
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and sections to ensure effective project delivery within scope, budget, and timelines
• Contribute to knowledge transfer and capability building within the metallurgical and project teams
• Support the development of technical capability within the metallurgical and project teams through knowledge sharing, coaching and mentorship

Closing Date: 04 June 2026 

Please note that the Gold Fields code of conduct strictly prohibits the exchange of any payment as part of its recruitment process.

 Should you require any assistance or have any challenges in applying for a position, please contact the Recruitment hub on 011 411 1387

Creating enduring value beyond mining

Gold Fields is committed to advancing its Employment Equity (EE) strategy through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). All Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA) and differently abled candidates may apply.