Process Manager

TM Partners was retained by a ASX-listed gold producer operating in West Africa to appoint a Process Manager for one of its producing gold mines.

The hire was critical to strengthening operational performance at site, requiring a technically strong processing leader with the experience to optimise plant performance, drive metallurgical recovery, and lead operational teams in a challenging remote environment.

The successful candidate would play a key role in ensuring safe, efficient, and consistent plant operations while supporting ongoing production targets and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Lead the safe and efficient operation of the processing plant, ensuring consistent gold production and alignment with site production targets.
• Optimise metallurgical performance, recovery rates, and plant throughput through effective process control and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrate proven experience operating and optimising Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) processing circuits within a gold mining environment.
• Oversee plant metallurgical performance, troubleshooting processing issues and implementing improvements to maximise plant efficiency and reliability.
• Manage and develop a multidisciplinary processing team, fostering a strong safety culture, operational discipline, and technical capability across the plant.
• Work closely with mining, maintenance, and technical services teams to ensure integrated operational planning and plant performance.
• Ensure compliance with site safety standards, environmental regulations, and operational reporting requirements within a remote operating environment.

A crucial challenge in this search was identifying a Process Manager with the technical depth and leadership capability required to operate effectively in a remote gold mining environment within a jurisdiction that has experienced periods of political tension and instability.

The role demanded more than strong metallurgical and plant operations expertise. The successful candidate needed to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and the ability to lead teams confidently in a challenging operating environment, where security considerations, infrastructure limitations, and logistical complexity can directly impact site performance.

TM Partners designed and executed a highly targeted international search strategy focused on identifying experienced processing leaders with a proven track record operating gold plants in challenging jurisdictions.

We began by working closely with the client’s senior leadership team to define the success profile, placing particular emphasis on:

• Strong operational leadership within gold processing plants
• Proven experience operating and optimising Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) circuits
• Prior exposure to remote mining environments in Africa or comparable jurisdictions

Our approach combined comprehensive global market mapping, targeted headhunting, and the activation of our international mining network spanning Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. Each candidate was evaluated not only on their processing and metallurgical expertise, but also on their leadership ability, cultural fit, and capacity to perform effectively in a remote operation within a politically sensitive jurisdiction.

The team conducted a disciplined global search, identifying 73 processing and metallurgical leaders with relevant gold plant experience aligned to the technical and operational profile defined during our initial engagement with the client.

From this global talent pool, we developed a focused longlist and ultimately presented a shortlist of 6 highly qualified Process Manager candidates. Each individual was carefully benchmarked against the client’s operational requirements, leadership expectations, and the realities of operating within a remote and politically sensitive jurisdiction.

All shortlisted candidates were interviewed in depth by the client, who ultimately selected an exceptional incumbent with extensive experience operating and optimising CIL gold processing plants in West Africa. His proven regional track record, technical expertise, and ability to lead high-performing processing teams in challenging environments made him the clear choice to support the continued success of the operation.

TM Partners successfully delivered a critical Process Manager appointment, strengthening the mine’s operational leadership and enhancing the site’s ability to optimise plant performance and maintain consistent gold production.

The appointed Process Manager has brought significant operational expertise and regional experience to the role, supporting improvements in plant efficiency, metallurgical recovery, and team leadership while reinforcing strong safety and operational standards across the processing operation.