Assay Lab Superintendent

Turner Staffing Group is seeking an experienced Assay Lab Superintendent to lead the startup, commissioning, and ongoing operation of a mining assay laboratory supporting exploration, resource definition, and development activities.

This leadership position is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and accurate operation of the laboratory while overseeing analytical quality, personnel, budgeting, equipment maintenance, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will play a critical role in establishing best-in-class laboratory operations and supporting exploration objectives through timely, high-quality analytical results.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Startup & Commissioning

• Lead the startup and commissioning of the assay laboratory.
• Develop laboratory operating procedures, workflows, and quality management systems.
• Coordinate installation, calibration, validation, and commissioning of analytical equipment.
• Establish laboratory safety programs, hazard assessments, and operating procedures.
• Develop staffing plans and training programs for laboratory personnel.

Laboratory Operations

• Oversee daily laboratory operations to ensure safe, efficient, and accurate sample processing.
• Manage sample preparation, crushing, pulverizing, splitting, and assay workflows.
• Monitor laboratory productivity, turnaround times, and resource utilization.
• Coordinate laboratory scheduling to support exploration and drilling programs.

Technical Leadership

• Supervise fire assay operations for gold and silver analysis.
• Oversee multi-element analytical programs utilizing ICP-OES and/or ICP-MS instrumentation.
• Manage carbon, sulfur, and other elemental analyses using LECO instrumentation.
• Review, validate, and approve analytical data prior to release.
• Investigate analytical discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain QA/QC programs and analytical method validation.

Leadership & Team Development

• Recruit, mentor, train, and supervise laboratory personnel.
• Establish performance expectations and support employee development.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate staffing to meet changing operational priorities.

Safety & Continuous Improvement

• Promote a strong safety culture throughout laboratory operations.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Conduct safety inspections, incident investigations, and risk assessments.
• Oversee chemical handling, storage, and hazardous material management.
• Develop and manage laboratory operating and capital budgets.
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency, quality, and turnaround times.
• Evaluate and implement new laboratory technologies and analytical methodologies.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Geochemistry, Metallurgy, Geological Sciences, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in mining, metallurgical, or commercial laboratories.
• Minimum of 3 years in a laboratory leadership role such as Supervisor, Superintendent, or Manager.
• Extensive knowledge of gold and silver fire assay techniques.
• Hands-on experience with ICP-OES and/or ICP-MS instrumentation.
• Experience with LECO carbon and sulfur analyzers.
• Strong understanding of QA/QC programs and laboratory quality systems.
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Strong leadership, organizational, project management, and communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience commissioning or restarting assay laboratories.
• Familiarity with ISO 17025 quality systems.
• Experience supporting exploration drilling and resource development programs.
• Knowledge of statistical quality control and analytical method validation.
• Experience improving laboratory throughput and turnaround performance.

Why Join This Opportunity?

This is an exciting opportunity to build and lead a high-performing assay laboratory supporting a growing mining operation. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to establish laboratory systems, build a strong technical team, and make a lasting impact on exploration and operational success while working in a collaborative, safety-focused environment.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.