Technical Director

Functional Area of Responsibility:

• The Technical Director oversees the following centralized technical services, providing expertise and direction across all mining and processing assets:
• Geology and Hydrogeology (Chief Geologist section)
• Geotechnical Engineering (Chief Geotechnician section)
• Mine Surveying (Chief Mine Surveyor section)
• Investment and Strategic Development Planning and Mine Technology Development (Technical and Investment Planning section)
• Mine and Production Planning: Life-of-Mine through to monthly planning (Mining Planning section)
• Transportation and Internal Logistics (ore transport coordination)
• Processing and Tailings Storage Facilities (Chief Beneficiation Engineer section)
• Production Coordination and Dispatching (Production section)
• Internal Engineering and Design (Engineering Center)
• Mining Capital Works, Construction Projects Execution, and Estimating
• Internal railway unit

Purpose of the Role:

• As part of the overall transformation, lead the transformation of all technical functions within COMPANY to improve competitiveness, modernize operating practices, improve safety, and build a sustainable centralized technical services model fit for the next decade. This is a hands-on executive role requiring the Technical Director to rebuild the technical organization from an asset-based, fragmented structure into a centralized shared services function with strong on-the-ground presence across all assets.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead Transformation of the Technical Function:
• Champion and lead the transformation of all technical disciplines as part of COMPANY's overall operational transformation program
• Rebuild the operating model for technical functions: transition from a decentralized, asset-based model to a centralized shared technical services function with on-the-ground presence at all levels
• Streamline processes, eliminate duplication, and establish clear accountability across the technical organization
• Work in close coordination with the Strategic Transformation Director and other members of the Executive Committee
• Strengthen HSE Practices and Culture:
• Drive a step change in Health, Safety, and Environment performance across all technical operations
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable HSE regulations and standards
• Embed a culture of safety leadership, hazard awareness, and proactive risk management within all technical teams
• Target zero fatalities and continuous improvement in TRIFR
• Modernize Technical Processes:
• Bring all technical disciplines to good international practice through introduction of modern methodologies, tools, and standards
• Benchmark current practices against global peers and implement structured improvement programs
• Introduce contemporary technologies and digital tools across geology, geotechnical, surveying, mine planning, and processing functions
• Integrated Mine Planning:
• Overhaul and improve the integrated planning process to a good international standard
• Implement 3D geological and mine modeling using standard industry mine planning software
• Establish seamless integration between Life-of-Mine (LOM), medium-term, short-term, and monthly planning cycles
• Ensure plans are realistic, resource-constrained, and consistently executed
• Geology – Exploration and Resource Confidence
• Strengthen the exploration program to improve resource confidence levels and long-term visibility of ore quality and quantity
• Improve geological data management, interpretation, and reporting to support better planning and decision-making
• Enhance understanding of ore body characteristics to reduce mining dilution and improve grade control
• Geotechnical Engineering and Ground Control:
• Strengthen the geotechnical function to reduce risks of rockfalls and ground failure events
• Apply contemporary ground control approaches and geotechnical design standards
• Implement regular digital scanning (LiDAR/photogrammetry) and monitoring of underground openings and stopes
• Innovate geotechnical monitoring and data analysis to enable predictive risk management
• Investment Program and Strategic Development:
• Develop and maintain a rational investment program aligned with strategic priorities:
• Improve HSE performance and assure regulatory compliance
• Assure business continuity of aging underground infrastructure
• Improve operational efficiency and reduce unit costs
• Comply with ecological and environmental standards
• Introduce innovative technology and equipment
• Ensure robust business case evaluation and prioritization for all capital projects
• Operating Model Transformation:
• Redesign the technical services operating model from an asset-based structure to a centralized, professional shared services function
• Ensure technical specialists are present on the ground at all assets while maintaining functional reporting lines to the Technical Director
• Standardize processes, templates, and reporting across all technical disciplines and sites
• Capability Building:
• Assess current skill levels across all technical functions and identify critical gaps
• Develop and implement structured training and professional development programs
• Increase the depth and breadth of technical skills to reduce reliance on external consultants
• Build a pipeline of future technical leaders within the organization including targeted outside recruiting
• Success Measures / KPIs:
• TRIFR and zero fatalities target
• Production volumes in mining and processing (ore, copper, zinc, silver)
• Equipment utilization and availability
• Production cost per tonne for ore and concentrate
• Yield and recovery rates at concentrators
• Labour productivity across technical and production functions
• Employee engagement and turnover in technical teams

Education & Qualifications:

• Mining engineering degree or equivalent technical qualification
• Additional qualifications in mine planning, geotechnics, or processing advantageous

Experience:

• 15+ years in mining with at least 10 years in a senior technical or operational management role
• Proven experience leading technical services across large, complex mining assets (preferably underground)
• Demonstrated track record of transformation and modernization of technical functions with measurable outcomes
• Experience overseeing processing operations and understanding of concentrator performance drivers
• Familiarity with integrated mine planning, 3D modeling, and contemporary mine planning software

Leadership Capabilities:

• Strong change management capability with proven ability to lead organizational restructuring
• Able to build high-performing centralized teams across geographically dispersed operations
• Excellent communication skills – credible with workforce, specialists, executives, and board
• Decisive, data-driven, and comfortable challenging the status quo
• Resilience and stamina for a demanding role

Language:

• Fluency in Russian required
• English language proficiency required
• Kazakh language capability advantageous