Chemist

About Saudi Gold Refinery

Saudi Gold Refinery (SGR) is a premier mining and precious metals entity in Saudi Arabia, focusing on refining gold and other precious metals, producing bullion, and delivering value-added precious metal services. The company operates integrally within the Kingdom’s mining sector, aligned with Vision 2030 and regulated by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. SGR emphasizes responsible sourcing, traceability, and certifications, maintaining compliance with LBMA Good Delivery and ISO quality standards while investing in its people and processes.

Role Summary

We are looking for a detail-oriented Chemist based in Riyadh to conduct precise analytical testing crucial for gold refining and bullion production. This role is vital for sustaining our LBMA Good Delivery accreditation by ensuring exact measurements of metal purity and impurities in dore bars and refined gold products. The Chemist will operate in a modern assay laboratory that follows ISO 17025 standards and adheres to strict chemical safety protocols.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute fire assay and instrumental analyses, including on dore bars and gold bullion, to assess metal content and impurity levels.
• Operate and maintain laboratory instruments such as ICP-OES, AAS, and cupellation furnaces per procedures.
• Prepare chemical reagents like aqua regia and nitric acid, ensuring adherence to safety and waste disposal guidelines.
• Accurately record all testing data into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for full traceability.
• Support internal and external audits by providing validated data packages compliant with LBMA and ISO 17025 standards.
• Collaborate with refining teams to adjust processes based on assay results.
• Manage laboratory inventories of consumables and standards to ensure uninterrupted testing operations.
• Follow all safety protocols, including permit-to-work and lockout/tagout procedures during maintenance.
• Conduct routine preventive maintenance on assay and analytical equipment to guarantee readiness.
• Produce daily reports for the Refining Manager to inform processing decisions in the Miller and Wohlwill circuits.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Metallurgy, or related scientific disciplines from an accredited institution.
• At least three years in analytical laboratory settings, ideally within precious metals or mining operations.
• Proficiency in fire assay methods, including cupellation and gravimetric techniques.
• Experience with ICP-OES, AAS, or XRF instrumentation for elemental detection.
• Strong understanding of ISO 17025 laboratory quality management systems.
• Knowledgeable in safe handling of hazardous chemicals and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
• Competent in Microsoft Excel for data processing and reporting.
• Fluent in English for technical report writing and documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an LBMA-accredited refinery or similar precious metal facility.
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and automated lab workflows.
• Understanding of refining techniques such as Miller chlorination and Wohlwill electrolysis.
• Exposure to Saudi Standards Organization (SASO) or international audits.
• Certification in hazardous waste management or laboratory safety protocols.

Performance Metrics

• Ensure 100% adherence to ISO 17025 documentation and procedures.
• Maintain assay error rates below 0.5% in routine analyses.
• Complete all planned preventive maintenance tasks for laboratory equipment.
• Support two external audits with zero non-compliance issues in lab operations.
• Reduce reagent waste by 10% through optimized preparation methods.
• Train two junior technicians in fire assay and ICP-OES protocols.
• Achieve zero safety incidents related to chemical and lab practices.

Equal Opportunity

Saudi Gold Refinery encourages applications from all qualified individuals and makes hiring decisions based on qualifications, skills, experience, and alignment with Saudization and Vision 2030 objectives.