Job Title: Lead - Hydrometallurgy & Electrochemistry
Location: Calgary
Department: R&D and Process Development
Reports To: Chief Development Officer
About Us
Excir is a Canadian clean technology company delivering proven, proprietary solutions for the recovery of precious metals, addressing structural inefficiencies in the global supply chain through disruptive technology. Our solutions are commercially deployed with strategic, world-class partners, including The Royal Mint, and are being scaled across additional feedstocks and applications.
www.excir.com
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Lab Manager with a strong background in electrochemistry and chemical engineering to lead laboratory operations within Excir’s R&D and process development environment. This role serves as the critical operational link between executive leadership and the development team, ensuring that new metallurgical and chemical processes originating from R&D are translated into structured, safe, and industrially relevant laboratory execution.
The laboratory works across the full spectrum of hydrometallurgical processes for both base metals and precious metals, sourced from primary ores and secondary materials (including recycled and electronic waste streams). The Lab Manager will oversee day-to-day activities covering leaching, solution purification, precipitation, electrowinning, electrorefining, and related unit operations. This is a hands-on leadership role essential to advancing processes from concept through development, pilot testing, and scale-up.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the primary operational interface between executive leadership and the laboratory development team
- Lead, supervise, and mentor laboratory staff working on hydrometallurgical and electrochemical process development
- Translate R&D concepts into structured experimental plans covering leaching, separation, and metal recovery workflows
- Oversee day-to-day laboratory operations, including scheduling, prioritization, and resource allocation
- Design, execute, and review hydrometallurgical experiments, including leaching, solvent extraction, precipitation, and purification steps
- Design, execute, and review electrochemical operations such as electrowinning and electrorefining where applicable
- Ensure safe handling, storage, and use of chemicals in compliance with regulatory and internal standards
- Review, validate, and approve experimental protocols, data quality, and technical results
- Support scale-up from laboratory processes to pilot and demonstration-scale systems
- Maintain laboratory equipment, analytical tools, and electrochemical systems; coordinate maintenance and external services
- Collaborate closely with chemical engineers, metallurgists, and operations teams to integrate laboratory outcomes into process development
- Ensure rigorous documentation, reporting, and traceability of experimental work
- Support collaboration with external partners, research institutions, and industrial stakeholders in the mining, metals, and recycling sectors
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Electrochemistry, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience in hydrometallurgy, electrochemistry, or chemical process development
- Strong foundation in hydrometallurgical principles, solution chemistry, and mass transfer
- Hands-on experience with metal extraction processes for base and/or precious metals
- Working knowledge of electrowinning, electrorefining, or related electrochemical recovery methods
- Demonstrated experience managing laboratory staff and experimental programs
- Solid understanding of laboratory safety, chemical regulations, and industry best practices
- Ability to manage multiple technical projects in a fast-paced development environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Industry experience in base metal or precious metal processing, mining, refining, or recycling
- Hands-on experience supporting scale-up from laboratory processes to pilot or industrial operations
- Demonstrated familiarity with electrowinning, electrorefining, and associated hydrometallurgical flowsheets
- Experience working in multidisciplinary R&D and process development teams
- Proven track record interfacing effectively between technical teams and senior or executive management
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strong leadership presence with the ability to drive execution and accountability
- Clear, structured communication across technical and executive audiences
- Hands-on, practical approach to hydrometallurgical and electrochemical problem-solving
- Ability to translate strategic R&D direction into executable laboratory programs
- High attention to safety, data quality, and operational discipline
- Industry-focused mindset with emphasis on scalable, commercially relevant solutions
Why Join Us
- Play a meaningful role in a growing company within a high-impact, future-focused industry
- Gain hands-on exposure to strategy, and executive decision-making
- Work closely with a collaborative and driven leadership team
- Competitive compensation package ($120K+performance incentives) commensurate with experience
- Opportunity to grow with the organization and take on increasing responsibility
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Profit sharing
- RRSP match
Work Location: In person
