Precious Metal Control Manager

MISSION The Precious Metal Control Manager's mission is to provide business assurance that all precious metal on site is accounted for — continuously, accurately, and to a full metal balance. The job holder will report directly to the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer and will act as a second line of control, independently challenging the design, integrity, and application of controls covering metal custody, movement, and accountability — from receipt and secure storage, through every internal transfer, process step and metal recovery, to dispatch and return of customer-owned metal. The Precious Metal Control Manager will also drive continuous improvement in metal control and provide management with clear insight into metal at risk, variance trends, and control effectiveness regularly. MAIN ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Metal Accountability & Balance Independently assure the site metal balance across the full cycle for each metal Verify fine-weight tracking, assay/sampling/moisture treatment consistency, and integrity of weighing/assay controls Monitor and challenge process loss tolerances set by Production, IT and Finance Control Design & Operating Effectiveness Review, challenge and validate the control framework for custody, movements, adjustments and inventory tracking Drive data quality and support migration from ad hoc tools (e.g. Excel) to proper systems Assess control effectiveness cyclically, flagging gaps and control drift Confirm authorisation routes, audit trails, and segregation of duties for all movements Independent Testing & Verification Test movements, transfers and adjustments against procedure Conduct spot checks Verify third-party and customer-owned metal positions independently Challenge first-line assertions rather than relying on self-reported data Inventory Monitoring & Reconciliation Verify timely, accurate capture of inbound/outbound movements with vaulting operations Oversee reconciliation between physical stock, system records and metal accounts Validate the cycle count programme Variance & Loss Investigation Document control breaches and investigate variances to root cause Escalate suspected loss/tampering and track corrective actions Physical Inventory Counts Support planning and independently validate semi-annual physical counts Ensure separation between first-line execution and independent verification Report outcomes, variances and adjustments Security, Access & Custody Review access controls to secure areas/vaults; challenge access lists Verify custody handover at every shift/area boundary Assess control impact of new processes/equipment before go-live Support insurer, customer and regulatory security requirements Process Improvement & Governance Identify and propose improvements to policies, procedures and system controls Partner cross-functionally (Production, Finance, Logistics, Quality, IT) to close diversion/error opportunities Contribute to shop-floor metal-control culture and training Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement Report regularly to CRCO, CEO, ExCo and factory/functional leadership on balance, variance, loss, inventory accuracy and control results Escalate metal-at-risk and control failures with recommendations Act as SME across departments on metal control Support internal, external and customer audits REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a technical field (e.g. Engineering, Chemistry) Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering or another industrial field Proven experience in inventory control, material control, or a related function within a manufacturing or factory environment Experience in control design, inventory reconciliation, and process improvement in an industrial environment QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Good knowledge of English required; Italian speaking is strongly preferred Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving capability Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in reporting and data reviews Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and communicate findings clearly across functions Proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and risk mitigation Assertive personality with the capability to interact with top management Swiss, EU national or holder of a valid work permit in Switzerland