Job Title : Laboratory Manager REE & Gold Laboratory

Experience : Minimum 8 – 10 years of laboratory management experience within mining / minerals industry.

Reports to : Head Geologist (Exploration & Mine Production)

Location : Huambo, Angola

Role Summary

The Laboratory Manager, reporting to the Head Geologist (Exploration & Mine Production), is responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of the in office gold and Rare Earth Elements (REE) laboratory, covering sample preparation, fire-assay gold determination and ICP-MS based REE analysis. The job holder ensures QA/QC integrity across the sampling-to-assay chain, supervises laboratory and technical staff, and liaises with external referee laboratories (e.g. SGS Luanda) where required. Assay results reported by the job holder feed directly into the resource-to-reserve release decision and the mine's resource/reserve reporting. The job holder also carries the technical responsibility for scoping, test work and design input toward a future REE beneficiation/processing plant (through to mixed rare earth carbonate), working with external engineering partners as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

- Manage the day-to-day operation of the on-site gold and REE laboratory, including sample receipt, preparation (drying, crushing, splitting, pulverising) and analysis.
- Oversee fire-assay fusion, cupellation and gravimetric/AAS finish for gold determination.
- Oversee ICP-MS analysis of REE samples, including reporting of total rare earth elements (TREE) and the light/heavy REE (LREE / HREE) breakdown.
- Establish, implement and maintain laboratory QA/QC protocols — field and laboratory duplicates, blanks, certified reference standards and umpire/check-assay programmes.
- Coordinate submission of samples to external referee laboratories (e.g. SGS Luanda)



for check assays or where in-house capacity or analysis type is not yet available.
- Maintain full chain-of-custody for samples from field collection through to final reporting.
- Supervise, train and develop laboratory technicians, sample preparation staff and geo-technicians.
- Maintain, calibrate and schedule preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment; manage reagent and consumables inventory and procurement.
- Ensure laboratory health, safety and environmental procedures are followed, including safe handling and storage of laboratory chemicals and reagents.
- Report assay results (gold grades and TREE / LREE / HREE data) accurately and on schedule to the Head Geologist and mine planning team to support the trial-mining release decision.

- Contribute assay and QA/QC data to resource/reserve classification and JORC / SAMREC-compliant reporting.
- Lead technical scoping and test work for REE beneficiation, including flowsheet development, equipment/process selection and metallurgical test work design, toward a future REE processing plant producing mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC).
- Evaluate REE extraction and beneficiation technology options suited to the deposit's mineralogy and provide technical recommendations to management.
- Liaise with external engineering, EPC and equipment contractors on the design, costing and implementation of REE processing infrastructure.




- Prepare and manage the laboratory operating budget and contribute cost estimates for REE processing plant capital expenditure.
- Maintain accurate laboratory records, certificates of analysis and assay databases.
- Ensure compliance with relevant Angolan regulatory and environmental requirements for laboratory and REE processing operations.
- Perform all other duties as and when assigned by management.

Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

- Degree in Analytical/Metallurgical Chemistry, Extractive Metallurgy, Geology, Chemical or Process Engineering, or a related field; a postgraduate qualification in metallurgy, mineral processing or a related discipline is an advantage.
- Minimum 8 – 10 years of laboratory management experience within mining / minerals industry.
- REE (Rare Earth Elements) laboratory and/or process experience is essential.
- Demonstrated capability to lead the scoping, test work and design of a REE beneficiation/processing pla nt (through to mixed rare earth carbonate).
- Proven hands-on experience with ICP-MS / ICP-OES analysis and fire-assay/gravimetric gold determination methods.
- Strong laboratory QA/QC background, ideally with exposure to ISO/IEC 17025 or equivalent laboratory accreditation standards.
- Working knowledge of JORC / SAMREC reporting codes as they relate to sampling and assay QA/QC.
- Computer literacy: LIMS or equivalent laboratory data systems, MS Excel and relevant laboratory/geological software.
- Demonstrated leadership, staff supervision and training skills.
- Excellent organizational, coordinating, and personal interface skills.
- Proven job diligence, dedication, and attention to detail.
- Willingness to be based at a remote mine site in Angola and to work extended hours on occasion, as required.

📌 Laboratory Manager REE & Gold Laboratory (Angola)
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