Over 200 jobs for North Queensland jobs are being sought by Glencore

Various copper and zinc operations throughout North Queensland including operations in or near major mining towns such as Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Townsville mean Glencore is seeking to fill over 200 jobs.

The resources company has denied suggestions that it was about to boost production in zinc which was slashed two years ago when prices tumbled. Instead, it said it was hiring across its copper, zinc and logistics business and that vacancies have grown as labour market conditions tightened in North Queensland.

Glencore held an open day on Thursday last week (organised by recruitment firm Hays) to promote the upcoming positions throughout the North Queensland region.

Glencore Zinc Australia human resources manager, Phil Bamber, said the open day was one of its strategies for recruiting the right people.

"We are actively recruiting for more than 200 vacancies across our North Queensland copper and zinc operations, which incorporate Mount Isa Mines, Ernest Henry Mining, the Townsville Copper Refinery and Townsville Port Operations," Mr Bamber said.

"These include our core underground operational and maintenance roles as well as key technical services positions like mine engineers, geologists, and surveyors."

The majority of roles include underground and technical positions with the inclusion of operators, surveyors, environmental advisors and engineers. In addition, the company is advertising relocation reimbursement packages and regional living allowances to further attract prospective talent.

About a quarter of Glencore’s global staff of 16,000 people are currently employed in North Queensland.

In recent years. North Queensland’s industry employment has slowed significantly, therefore this boost is welcome news for prospective employment.

Glencore recently completed an offtake agreement with Altona Mining, in November, for the purchase of copper and gold concentrates from the Cloncurry Copper project, which is to be smelted at Glencore’s Mount Isa facility.

Altona’s Cloncurry project is expected to deliver 600 jobs to the region, 300 of which are through the construction period and nearly 300 more for ongoing positions.

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Source: Australian Mining, Sunshine Coast Daily.