Lead the technical services function for a large gold operation combining underground and open pit mining. The role will bring planning, engineering, geotechnical, survey and project activities together to support safe and reliable production across all planning horizons.

The successful person will balance long term strategy with practical operational support, ensuring technical plans remain achievable as mining conditions and production priorities change.

Company

A major international gold producer operating a substantial mine in Africa. The operation combines underground and open pit production and continues to invest in resource development, technical capability and mine life extension.

Accountabilities

• Lead technical services across underground and open pit mining activities.
• Coordinate mine planning, engineering, geotechnical, survey and technical project functions.
• Establish planning systems that support safe and efficient ore recovery.
• Oversee mine design, scheduling and optimisation across daily, monthly, annual and life of mine horizons.
• Ensure plans reflect operational constraints, available resources and production priorities.
• Lead the preparation and ongoing review of long term mine plans.
• Provide technical input into forecasts, budgets and broader business planning.
• Monitor performance against plan and identify the causes of material variance.
• Improve planning assumptions, processes and technical systems when operating conditions change.
• Assess geological, geotechnical, scheduling and operational risks with the relevant technical teams.
• Build a strong working relationship between technical services and mine operations.
• Ensure technical priorities and production requirements are understood across departments.
• Translate complex plans into clear operational actions.
• Manage the technical services budget, departmental objectives and team performance.
• Allocate technical resources according to production needs and project priorities.
• Develop engineers and technical professionals through coaching, mentoring and structured accountability.
• Promote visible safety leadership throughout planning and technical decision making.
• Establish a culture of continuous improvement across the department.

Qualifications

• Degree in mining engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Extensive experience within hard rock mining operations, preferably gold.
• Strong combined underground and open pit mining experience.
• Previous responsibility for a technical services or mine planning department.
• Substantial long term planning capability supported by practical underground operating exposure.
• Advanced proficiency with Deswik applications.
• Strong capability across mine design, scheduling, optimisation and production planning.
• Sound understanding of underground and open pit mining methods and operational constraints.
• Experience developing mine plans aligned with production and financial objectives.
• Experience contributing to forecasts, annual budgets and life of mine planning.
• Strong understanding of technical governance and statutory mining requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse performance and implement effective corrective action.
• Experience managing departmental budgets, technical projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to align technical and operational personnel.
• Previous experience in Africa or another complex international mining environment would be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Management: Provide direction and mentorship to technical teams, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering a high-performance culture.
• Strategic Planning: Develop, implement, and manage mine planning strategies, including short-term and long-term operational plans.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee technical support for mining activities, ensuring efficient and safe operations that meet production targets.
• Cross-Disciplinary Coordination: Collaborate with geology, mining, and geotechnical teams to optimize resource models, mine design, and ground stability.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance processes, technologies, and methodologies to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Compliance & Reporting: Ensure all activities comply with regulatory requirements, company policies, and safety standards, providing accurate technical reports and updates to stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

• A degree in Mining Engineering, Geology, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in technical services management, preferably in underground, large-scale gold mining operations.
• Proven expatriate experience, with a history of successfully adapting to and leading in diverse, multi-cultural environments.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
• Expertise in mine planning, resource estimation, and technical problem-solving.
• Comprehensive understanding of geotechnical engineering principles and their application in underground mining.
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills.