Study Manager

Chandler Macleod is partnering with a well-established, large-scale organisation in the resources / heavy industry space to recruit an experienced Study Manager to lead a major greenfield Concept Study (FEL1). This is a key appointment as the project pipeline grows, offering the chance to influence early investment decisions and shape the definition of a significant future program of work.

This role will suit someone who is confident operating in ambiguity, comfortable facilitating alignment (without losing objectivity), and experienced producing decision-quality study outcomes for senior stakeholders.

The Opportunity

As Study Manager, you will establish and lead the early-phase study approach—bringing disciplined study and project management practices to test strategic fit, technical viability, value, risk, and execution pathways before material capital is committed. You’ll work across a complex, evolving environment with multiple internal and external interfaces, coordinating multidisciplinary inputs and ensuring study recommendations are supported by clear evidence, transparent assumptions, and fit-for-purpose governance.

Key Responsibilities

Health, safety and environment

• Provide visible leadership and ensure study delivery aligns with HSE requirements, policies and critical risk controls.

Study planning and delivery (FEL1 and potentially FEL2–3)

• Define the study strategy, scope, objectives, deliverables, basis of study and execution plan.
• Lead an integrated team to deliver study outputs safely, on time and within budget.
• Build and maintain realistic schedules, resource plans, budgets and forecasts (including forward estimates for subsequent phases).

Business case development

• Develop commercially relevant, decision-ready business cases assessing:
  • Options and trade-offs.
  • Costs, schedule, value drivers and key assumptions.
  • Risks, opportunities and sustainability impacts.
  • Execution and implementation pathways.

Options and trade-off analysis

• Structure and facilitate workshops and working sessions for:
  • Opportunity framing.
  • Optioneering / range analysis.
  • Trade-off decision making.
• Ensure options are evaluated consistently and recommendations are traceable to agreed criteria.

Risk, assurance and governance

• Maintain risk, opportunity, assumptions and decision registers.
• Coordinate peer reviews / technical reviews / independent assurance and close out actions.
• Provide concise reporting on progress, cost, schedule, risk, decisions and required interventions.

Stakeholder management

• Engage across operational, technical, commercial and corporate stakeholder groups.
• Build strong working relationships with senior leaders and external parties.
• Lead decision forums and stakeholder workshops to create alignment while preserving constructive challenge.

External service providers

• Develop scopes of work, support procurement, and manage consultants/service providers to meet safety, quality, cost and schedule expectations.

About You (Selection Criteria)

To be successful in this role, you will bring a strong blend of study leadership, stakeholder influence, and delivery discipline.

Essential

• Demonstrated experience delivering early-phase Concept and/or Pre-Feasibility studies in mining, minerals processing, heavy industry, manufacturing or comparable sectors.
• Strong study/project management capability with an ability to lead multidisciplinary inputs.
• Proven experience managing complex stakeholder groups, including senior executives and external parties.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills (reports, executive papers, presentations, workshops).
• Relevant tertiary qualification (engineering, metallurgy, chemistry, project management, business or related) or extensive equivalent industry experience.
• Willingness and ability to travel to site as required.

Highly regarded

• 15+ years’ experience across resources / heavy industry development, studies or major projects.
• Exposure to complex processing operations (e.g., refineries, concentrators, smelters or similar).
• Formal project/study management training and/or recognised certification.
• Experience facilitating structured processes such as range analysis, opportunity framing and optioneering.
• Risk management / process safety / technical assurance experience.
• Financial/economic evaluation capability (investment concepts, valuation/NPV modelling, business case assessment).

What’s on Offer

• Location: Perth (Hybrid).
• Roster: Monday to Friday.
• Contract term: 6–12 months initially (project-driven; extension possible).
• Start date: ASAP.
• Rate: Approx. $150/hr + super (negotiable for the right person).

If you have a strong early-phase study background and are looking for a role where you can lead a high-profile greenfield concept program, apply now with your CV.