Location: Cobalt Refinery, Cobalt, Ontario

Position Type: Full-Time

Rate of Pay: Salary, Commensurate with experience and qualifications

 

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

 

Based at the Cobalt Refinery in Cobalt, Ontario, we currently have an exciting opportunity for a Site Services Superintendent to be a part of our Owner’s Project Team.

 

First Cobalt owns North America’s only permitted cobalt refinery located in Cobalt, ON on Silver Centre Road. The company is currently advancing its plan to recommission and expand the Refinery to produce battery-grade cobalt sulfate for the North American and European electric vehicle market. Our updated feasibility study estimates production of 25,000 tonnes of cobalt sulfate per year at a capital cost of US$60M (CDN$80M). Our recently completed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) demonstrated our strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) mandate, with projected carbon emissions that are 50% lower than our benchmarked peer refiners.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

This role covers two main phases of work at the Cobalt Refinery in Cobalt, Ontario. The first being the representative on site during the construction and recommissioning of the expanded refinery while the latter is post recommissioning and managing all maintenance activities during operation of the plant.

 

1. During construction and recommissioning of the refinery main tasks and responsibilities are:

 

• Be on the owners’ project team member linking directly with EPCM team members such the construction superintendent and discipline engineering groups as well as procurement;

• Review all critical equipment purchases to ensure electrical, instrumentation and mechanical specifications are reflective quality and integrity for performance and safe operation at the site;

• Provide guidance and leadership on restarting equipment which had been put on care and maintenance;

• Research, recommend and initiate a maintenance management system which would fit to the scope of the refinery;

• Build a core team of electrical, mechanical and instrumentation personnel which will work on recommissioning field tasks with construction crews;

• Work with budgets allocated and schedules required to hit milestone project targets;

• Identify any improvements which either reduces costs, accelerates schedules or enhances productivity; and

• Any additional duties as directed by management.

 

2. During the operation of the plant main tasks and responsibilities are:

 

• Manage a team of tradesman (electrical, mechanical, instrumentation) which provides support for maintaining equipment and infrastructure around refinery operations;

• Ensure that field work is conducted in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner and within any regulatory requirement, takes action when standards aren’t being met;

• Provide leadership to the trades group and within the refinery by demonstrating attention to detail in problem solving as well as establishing good working relationships with management, pier groups and subordinates. Set performance initiatives with subordinates and conducts performance reviews;

• Work with the production superintendent to jointly agree on maintenance priorities for the plant, the production superintendent will have the final decision on shutting the plant down for maintenance;

• Establish a maintenance planning system which co-ordinates closely with production and uses preventative and predictive maintenance tools to maximize plant run time;

• Work with maintenance engineering to make improvements to plant as approved by management,

• Make recommendations to management on improvements to maintenance, targeting initially how to reduce maintenance costs and extend life cycle of equipment with minimum capital spend.,

• Work within the budget as established by the maintenance department;

• Work with direct reports and management team to utilize maintenance

resources to ensure maximum productivity of all field personnel and maximum uptime of plant equipment;

• Identify and manage all compliance issues regarding health, safety and environment;

• Work within company policy and procedures and provide leadership to direct reports on working to those standards; and

• Any additional duties as directed by management.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

• Degree qualification (Mechanical or Electrical Engineer) or strong, relevant leadership or technical/trade background and industry experience preferably in processing plants.

• Mature and detailed understanding of Health & Safety leadership, culture, systems and management.

• A minimum of 5 years of industrial maintenance/operations experience – ideally leading skilled tradesmen of various disciplines.

• Leadership experience and ability to coach, mentor, and develop people.

• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Strong understanding of Asset Management and systems which support day to day workflows.

 

WHY JOIN FIRST COBALT?

 

Together, we will power a better path forward. Be a part of a fast-growing team, as we succeed in becoming North America’s only permitted Cobalt Refinery capable of producing cobalt sulphate for the electric vehicle revolution. Our success is determined by the hard work and dedication of our team. First Cobalt is committed to rewarding our team members through:

 

• Recognition & Compensation

• Training & Development

• Health & Well-being

• Communication & Feedback

 

First Cobalt offers a competitive benefits and compensation package.

 

If you are a passionate, committed, and dynamic individual, please submit your resume in confidence to careers@firstcobalt.com.

 

Only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.