Project Manager – Kaolin Beneficiation & Calcination Plant

About the role

This is a project‑based, fixed‑term position concluding upon successful plant stabilisation and handover. The successful candidate will work closely with company ownership and management and will play a key role in establishing the plant and bringing it into stable commercial operation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead installation, commissioning and on‑site activities through startup of the beneficiation and calcination line.
• Manage plant operations during initial production and stabilisation, including scheduling, quality control and maintenance.
• Control kiln temperature, residence time and feed parameters to achieve required product brightness and grade targets.
• Establish and implement safety and dust‑control protocols.
• Supervise plant staff and coordinate day‑to‑day plant activities.
• Troubleshoot operational and process issues during commissioning and initial production.
• Ensure successful stabilisation and handover of a fully operational plant to management.

Required profile

• Minimum 20 years of direct, hands‑on experience in kaolin beneficiation and calcination.
• Proven experience operating rotary kilns for kaolin calcination, including temperature control, fuel efficiency and achieving required brightness/grade outcomes.
• Strong hands‑on experience in kaolin wet processing, including crushing, grinding, washing/classification and iron removal/bleaching.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading plant commissioning and startup activities.

Required skills

• Rotary kiln operation.
• Kaolin wet processing (crushing, grinding, washing, classification, iron removal/bleaching).
• Plant commissioning and startup.
• Temperature and process control.
• Safety and dust‑control protocol implementation.