Metallurgist II - Leach Optimization

Why You Should Apply for This Job  

At Freeport-McMoRan, we are committed to providing an employment package that recognizes excellence, encourages safe production and a culture supported by our core values. Here, you’ll find a collaborative environment where safety is a top priority, all opinions are valued, and people are empowered to grow in their career. Apply Today!

Where You Will Work    

Our global headquarters is in Phoenix, Arizona. Several hundred employees support global operations in finance, human resources, information technology, planning and more from the main office, satellite offices or online. As a Hybrid employee, you’ll engage in virtual collaboration as well as attend in-person meetings at our Collaboration Hub in Phoenix or at one of our site locations. The Collaboration Hub provides an open, flexible workspace for individuals and teams to come together for various business needs. Amenities at the Hub include a working café, phone booths and meeting rooms with technology tools for virtual and in-person collaboration. In-person attendance may vary based on the position and department requirements. 

Phoenix is the capital of the Grand Canyon State and enjoys mostly bright skies throughout the year. It is the perfect place if you enjoy the outdoors, love sports, concerts and other big city amenities or technology. There are great neighborhoods around Phoenix, with easy access to a major city, nature, the arts and many more amenities.  

What You Will Do

This role is responsible for identifying, enabling, and expanding side slope leaching opportunities across all leach operations. The position focuses on unlocking additional leachable surface area on existing stockpiles through close collaboration with site teams and technical experts, ensuring all activities are executed safely, compliantly, and in alignment with sound engineering practices. With over 350 million square feet of side slope area across the enterprise—of which only approximately 25% is currently utilized for leaching—this role provides dedicated field‑based and technical leadership to unlock incremental areas and drive increased copper recovery.

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize side slope leaching opportunities across all operations, with an emphasis on previously unleached or operationally constrained areas.
• Spend significant time in the field assessing stockpile geometries, side slope conditions, and operational constraints while working directly with site personnel.
• Collaborate with GMX, operations, environmental, and metallurgy teams to technically evaluate side slope opportunities and support approvals for expanded leaching.
• Quantify identified opportunities and ensure side slope leaching initiatives are planned, documented, and incorporated into Ramp‑Up Curve (RUC) production forecasts.
• Support and oversee execution of side slope leaching activities to ensure adherence to approved designs, operational best practices, and safety standards.
• Monitor and evaluate leaching performance, quantify impacts to copper recovery, and communicate results, lessons learned, and best practices to key stakeholders.Perform other duties as required.

What You Bring To Freeport

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Chemistry or related Engineering discipline and three (3) years of experience in Metallurgy or related scientific field OR
• Master’s degree in Metallurgy, Chemistry or related Engineering discipline and two (2) years of experience in Metallurgy or related scientific field

Preferred Qualifications

• Metallurgical expertise in heap leaching and additive chemistry — deep understanding of leach kinetics, mineralogy, and reagent interactions.
• Economic and financial analysis skills — ability to model recovery uplift, cost-benefit scenarios, and ROI for project justification.
• Process design and engineering knowledge — familiarity with dosing systems, fluid handling, and integration into existing operations.
• Project management capability — skilled in planning, coordinating, and tracking milestones across multiple stakeholders.
• Operational readiness and change management — experience driving site engagement, training, and adoption of new technologies.
• Data analysis and performance monitoring — ability to interpret metallurgical test data, validate KPIs, and compare actual vs. forecasted impact.
• Strong communication and stakeholder influence — adept at preparing technical reports, presenting business cases, and fostering cross-functional collaboration.
• High degree of autonomy and time management