FQM Jobs in Zambia 2026: How to Apply at Kansanshi and Kalumbila

First Quantum Minerals (FQM) advertises every Zambian vacancy on one place only: its official careers portal at first-quantum.com, which runs on Workday. There is no application fee, no agent and no paper or email route – you create a Workday profile, upload your CV and apply online. On 23 October 2026 the portal listed 41 open roles across Kansanshi (Solwezi) and the Sentinel/Trident site at Kalumbila, from artisans and learners to geologists, metallurgists and a graduate mining engineer. One requirement catches many applicants out: FQM asks that your academic certificates be verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA), so start that process early. This guide explains where the jobs are, who FQM hires, how to apply step by step and how to avoid the fake "FQM recruitment" offers circulating on social media.

Where FQM's Zambian jobs are

First Quantum runs two large copper operations in North-Western Province, and both recruit through the same portal:

Kansanshi Mining PLC, near Solwezi. FQM's flagship mine since 2005, a copper-gold operation with three open pits and a smelter. FQM says Kansanshi employs more than 13,000 people, primarily Zambians. The S3 expansion fed its first ore in July 2025 and was formally inaugurated in August 2025, which is why the portal still carries S3-tagged engineering roles. Vacancies here are listed under the locations "Solwezi" or "Kansanshi".
Sentinel and Enterprise (the Trident project), Kalumbila. Sentinel is an open-pit copper mine about 150 km west of Solwezi; FQM describes the US$2.1 billion build as Zambia's largest infrastructure investment since the Kariba Dam. Enterprise, the neighbouring nickel mine, shares its processing infrastructure. Vacancies here are listed under "Kalumbila".

Company-wide, FQM says over 95% of its workforce is local to the country of operation and that 83% of leadership and skilled roles are filled by in-country talent, so the bulk of these roles are intended for Zambians.

What was open on 23 October 2026

Searching the portal for "Zambia" returned 41 postings. They fall into clear groups, which tells you where demand sits:

Artisans and trades (Solwezi and Kalumbila): fitters, boilermakers, riggers, machinists, electricians, instrumentation and refractory artisans, plus a drill technician and a PDS linesman (the linesman role was posted on 23 October).
Technical and professional: Metallurgist – Process Optimisation at Solwezi (advertised from 21 October to 28 October 2026), Metallurgist – Nickel Processing, Mine Geologist (both sites), Mine Planning Engineer, Senior Process Control Specialist, Hydrogeological Technician, Network Engineer, Software Engineer and an IT Projects Specialist at Kansanshi.
Safety, health and emergency response: Safety Officer, Occupational Hygienist Officer, ERT Supervisor and Fireman at Kalumbila.
Business support: HR Business Partner, Commercial Officer, Procurement and Logistics Officer, Storeperson and a Management Accountant Superintendent at Kalumbila.
Entry level: "Learner" positions at both Solwezi and Kalumbila, and a Graduate Mining Engineer at Kalumbila (posted 21 September 2026, listed until 31 December 2026).

Most postings are marked "posted 30+ days ago" and have no visible closing date, which usually means they stay open until filled. Treat the live portal as the only source of truth: roles are added and removed without notice.

Who can apply: the requirements FQM actually lists

Entry-level "Learner" roles

The Learner postings are FQM's door for school leavers and fresh graduates. The Solwezi posting, for example, lists a full Grade 12 School Certificate plus a trade or craft certificate, diploma or degree in a relevant field. The disciplines named are broad: mining, metallurgical, mechanical and electrical engineering, geology, environmental science, occupational health and safety, HR, training, finance and accounting, business administration, supply chain, IT, corporate social responsibility, public relations, risk and asset management, and administration. Prior industrial attachment, internship or volunteer experience helps but the role is designed for people still learning.

Graduate roles and the FQM Graduate Programme

The Graduate Mining Engineer posting at Kalumbila asks for a degree in a relevant field – mining engineering, mining geology, geoscience, geometallurgy, environmental or civil engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, data science, computer science, statistics or mathematics among others – and states that no prior experience is required. Separately, FQM's structured Graduate Programme is a three-year programme open to people who graduated within the past two years with a bachelor's degree in fields such as mining engineering, geology, environmental science, chemical engineering, health and safety or business. FQM says graduates move into permanent or fixed-term roles afterwards depending on performance and vacancies.

Experienced hires

Technical postings specify the degree or diploma, years of relevant experience and systems knowledge required (for example, the process-optimisation metallurgist post lists gravity gold recovery experience and proficiency in tools such as Power BI and SCADA). FQM's own careers FAQ states that previous mining experience is not always necessary and that it recruits from outside the industry when the attitude and initiative are right, so do not rule yourself out of support and business roles.

The ZAQA verification rule

FQM's Zambian postings state that all academic qualifications and results must be verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority. ZAQA verification confirms that your certificate is genuine and was issued by an accredited awarding body; it is different from the evaluation ZAQA does for foreign qualifications, which places them on the Zambia Qualifications Framework. The process is online:

Go to zaqa.gov.zm, open Verification and Evaluation and click Apply Online to create an account on the ZAQA QMIS portal.
Fill in your details, download and sign the consent form, then upload a copy of each qualification, a clear copy of your NRC (front and back, as one file) or passport, and the signed consent form.
Pay the invoice ZAQA issues (card, bank deposit or mobile money). Fees are set per qualification in ZAQA's published fee schedule and are higher for foreign qualifications.
Download your e-certificate once processing is complete. ZAQA says local qualifications take about 14 working days and foreign qualifications about 60 working days.

Because the turnaround is measured in weeks, apply for verification before you need it rather than after you are shortlisted. Keep the e-certificate ready to upload with your application or present at interview.

How to apply to First Quantum, step by step

Open the official vacancies page. Go to first-quantum.com/careers/join-us. The listings load from Workday; filter by location (Solwezi, Kansanshi or Kalumbila) or search "Zambia".
Read the full posting. Note the job requisition number (it looks like JR19305), the location, the stated qualifications and any closing date.
Click Apply Now and create a Workday candidate account with an email address you check daily. FQM's FAQ says unsuccessful candidates are told by email or phone, so keep your contact details current.
Upload a targeted CV. Lead with the qualification the posting names, the systems or equipment you have used and any mining, plant or workshop exposure. If you need a clean, ATS-friendly layout, the free Jobsiz CV builder produces one in minutes.
Complete the Workday questions honestly. Education and work-history fields feed FQM's screening, and your certificates will be checked against ZAQA records.
Register for job alerts on the same portal and follow First Quantum on LinkedIn. FQM lists these as the two official ways to hear about new roles.
Be patient and reapply if needed. FQM says its recruitment timeline typically spans several weeks and that it encourages unsuccessful applicants to reapply for future openings.

Spotting fake FQM recruitment

First Quantum has published a recruitment-fraud alert after people falsely claiming to represent the company contacted job seekers. The company's position is unambiguous: it never charges fees for job applications or recruitment, it does not request payment or banking details at any stage, and all legitimate opportunities are posted exclusively on its official website. Practical checks:

If a "vacancy" is not on first-quantum.com/careers/join-us, it is not an FQM vacancy – however official the letterhead or WhatsApp message looks.
Any request for a "processing", "medical", "training" or "accommodation" fee is a scam. Report it and do not pay.
Offer letters that arrive without an interview, or from Gmail, Yahoo or WhatsApp accounts, are fake. You can verify a suspicious message by writing to FQM's recruitment team at Careers@fqml.com.
FQM does not hire through intermediaries who charge candidates. Do not hand over your NRC, bank details or passwords to anyone promising to "put your name on the list".

Standing out as a Zambian applicant

With more than 40 roles open and strong local demand around Solwezi and Kalumbila, competition for artisan and learner posts is intense. Three things improve your odds. First, match the trade exactly: a boilermaker posting wants a boilermaker craft certificate, not a general mechanical qualification, so apply for the role that names your qualification. Second, show safety awareness in your CV – every FQM posting leads with health, safety and environmental compliance, and a current first-aid or safety course is a real differentiator. Third, keep your ZAQA e-certificate, NRC copy and certified results together in a single folder so you can respond to a shortlisting request within a day.

If you are also considering other Copperbelt and North-Western employers, Zambia's local-content rules are reshaping who supplies the mines; our guide to Zambia's mining local-content rules and the jobs they create explains where contractor and supplier roles are growing. You can also browse current jobs in Zambia, engineering jobs and entry-level jobs on Jobsiz.

Frequently asked questions

Does First Quantum charge any fee to apply for jobs in Zambia?

No. FQM states it never charges fees for job applications or recruitment and never asks for payment or banking details at any stage. Anyone asking you to pay is not acting for the company.

Where do I apply for Kansanshi or Kalumbila jobs?

Only on the official First Quantum careers portal at first-quantum.com/careers/join-us, which uses Workday. Kansanshi roles are listed under Solwezi or Kansanshi; Sentinel and Enterprise roles under Kalumbila. Email and walk-in applications are not part of the published process.

Do I need ZAQA verification before applying to FQM?

FQM's Zambian postings state that all academic qualifications and results must be verified by ZAQA. Verification is done online through ZAQA's QMIS portal, costs a fee per qualification and takes about 14 working days for local certificates, so it is wise to start before you apply.

Can I apply with a Grade 12 certificate only?

The Learner postings list a full Grade 12 School Certificate plus a trade certificate, diploma or degree in a relevant field. Pure Grade 12 applicants should look at trade training first, then apply for artisan or learner roles once certified.

How long does FQM recruitment take?

FQM says the timeline varies but typically spans several weeks, and that it informs unsuccessful candidates by email or phone. You may reapply for later openings.

Vacancy details were checked on the First Quantum careers portal on 23 October 2026. Always confirm the live posting before applying.