Feasibility Studies Manager – Mining & EPCM

Feasibility Studies Manager – Mining & EPCM

• Our client, a well-established organisation operating within the mining and Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management EPCM environment, is seeking an experienced Feasibility Studies Manager to join its team based in Irene, Centurion , with regular site visits to Marikana, Rustenburg , and other project sites as required.
• This is a senior technical and managerial position suited to a professional with extensive experience in mining feasibility studies, project development and multidisciplinary engineering within the mining and mineral processing industries.
• The successful candidate will lead and coordinate feasibility studies for mining infrastructure, mineral processing facilities, tailings storage facilities TSFs, smelters and associated capital projects.
• The role requires strong technical and commercial acumen, strategic thinking and the ability to evaluate project viability, manage multidisciplinary teams and deliver robust study outcomes that support informed investment and project execution decisions.

Minimum Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering BEng/BSc Eng or an equivalent recognised engineering qualification is essential.
• A postgraduate qualification in engineering, project management or a related discipline will be advantageous.
• Minimum 10 years' relevant experience in mining, engineering studies, project development or EPCM environments.
• Proven experience managing or leading conceptual, scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies within the mining industry.
• Demonstrated experience in mining infrastructure, mineral processing plants, tailings storage facilities, smelters or related metallurgical projects.
• Strong understanding of project economics, capital cost estimation, operating expenditure OPEX, capital expenditure CAPEX, financial modelling and investment evaluation.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams, consultants, specialist contractors and technical service providers.
• Sound knowledge of project risk assessment, technical due diligence, constructability, operability and lifecycle cost evaluation.
• Experience developing study scopes, schedules, budgets, deliverables and resource plans.
• Knowledge of relevant mining legislation, environmental requirements, engineering standards and tailings management principles.
• Strong report-writing, presentation, stakeholder management and leadership skills.
• Computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and relevant project planning or cost estimation software.
• Willingness to travel regularly to mining and project sites, including Marikana and Rustenburg.

Roles and Responsibilities

Feasibility Studies and Project Development

• Lead and manage conceptual, scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for mining, mineral processing, smelting and associated infrastructure projects.
• Define study objectives, scope, deliverables, evaluation criteria, schedules, budgets and resource requirements.
• Assess project opportunities and determine technical, operational, commercial and financial viability.
• Coordinate the development and evaluation of engineering alternatives to identify the most practical, efficient and cost-effective solutions.
• Establish study assumptions, design criteria, production parameters, infrastructure requirements and project execution strategies.
• Ensure studies are developed to the appropriate level of definition, accuracy and maturity for investment decisions.
• Review and consolidate technical findings, cost estimates, risk assessments and financial evaluations into comprehensive study reports.
• Present study outcomes, recommendations, project risks and investment considerations to senior management and relevant stakeholders.

Mining, Tailings Dam and Smelter Projects

• Lead feasibility assessments for mining infrastructure, processing plants, smelters, tailings storage facilities and related infrastructure developments.
• Evaluate project requirements relating to mining operations, material handling, processing capacity, utilities, infrastructure and site services.
• Coordinate technical assessments for tailings storage facilities, including capacity requirements, site suitability, engineering options, water management, environmental considerations and closure requirements.
• Facilitate specialist inputs relating to tailings facility design, geotechnical conditions, hydrology, hydrogeology, water balance and environmental impact assessments.
• Coordinate feasibility studies for smelter projects, including process requirements, plant configuration, utilities, power supply, material handling, emissions control and associated infrastructure.
• Assess interfaces between mining operations, processing facilities, tailings facilities, smelters and supporting infrastructure.
• Identify technical constraints, operational risks, permitting requirements and infrastructure limitations that could affect project viability.
• Ensure relevant specialist engineering disciplines and independent technical experts are involved where required.

EPCM and Multidisciplinary Engineering Coordination

• Coordinate engineering inputs across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, process, mining, environmental and other relevant disciplines.
• Manage consultants, engineering contractors and specialist service providers responsible for study deliverables.
• Ensure engineering designs, technical reports, specifications and calculations are aligned with the approved study scope and design basis.
• Review technical documentation to identify gaps, inconsistencies, assumptions and potential project risks.
• Ensure interfaces between engineering disciplines are adequately managed and integrated into the overall study.
• Monitor consultant performance, study progress, deliverable quality and compliance with agreed milestones.
• Promote effective collaboration between engineering, procurement, construction, operations and project management teams.
• Support the transition from completed feasibility studies into detailed engineering, procurement, construction and project implementation.

Cost Estimation and Financial Evaluation

• Oversee the preparation and validation of capital and operating cost estimates for mining and EPCM projects.
• Coordinate the development of CAPEX estimates, OPEX forecasts, project cash flows and financial evaluation models.
• Review equipment costs, infrastructure requirements, construction methodologies, contractor quotations and procurement assumptions.
• Assess project economics, including capital requirements, operating costs, production assumptions, revenue forecasts and potential returns.
• Evaluate financial indicators such as net present value NPV, internal rate of return IRR, payback period and sensitivity scenarios, where applicable.
• Conduct sensitivity and scenario analyses to assess the impact of cost escalation, schedule changes, commodity prices, production rates and technical uncertainties.
• Identify cost optimisation opportunities while maintaining safety, quality, regulatory compliance and operational performance.
• Ensure financial assumptions and cost estimates are transparent, adequately supported and appropriate to the level of study.

Project Risk, Schedule and Quality Management

• Develop and maintain study execution plans, schedules, budgets, resource plans and progress reporting systems.
• Identify and assess technical, commercial, environmental, operational and execution risks associated with proposed projects.
• Coordinate risk workshops, risk registers, sensitivity assessments and mitigation planning.
• Monitor progress against approved study milestones, budgets and deliverables, implementing corrective measures where necessary.
• Ensure project assumptions, design changes, technical decisions and risk mitigation measures are properly documented.
• Establish quality review