Senior Engineer - Medium Term Mine Planning

Role Details:

Gold Fields Ghana is seeking to employ an experienced, competent and self-motivated individual for the position of Senior Engineer - Medium Term Mine Planning who will be responsible for Medium Term Mine Planning activities (covering a period of 1 month to 3 years) in a high-volume selective mining environment and provide high-level technical and professional support to the mining team. The incumbent in addition to developing plans consistent with the mine’s strategic goals, is expected to influence the main cost drivers in his/her area of responsibility in line with Tarkwa’s continuous improvement and cost control initiatives.

About the role:

• Develop a comprehensive Medium Term plan integrating Grade Control, Drilling, Blasting, Detailed Trucking and Maintenance Schedules into the plan based on Blast Master or Bench Progression Strategy.
• Develop detailed practical or minable designs for implementation to ensure mine plans are realistic and achievable
• Provide strategic direction and guidance to the Short-Term team in the preparation or generation of mine plans to ensure that Short Term mine plans are consistent with Medium Term and Long Term mine plans.
• Institute plan on plan compliance to ensure that deviation of Short Term and/or Medium Term mine plans from Long Term mine plans is understood and plans put together to mitigate any potential impact on the Life of Mine plans
• Collaborate in building mine planning assumptions at the beginning of each planning cycle for operational, Business and Life of Mine Plans.
• Assist in the development of Operational, Business and life of mine plans including Pit Optimization, Pit and Dump Designs, Mine Scheduling and Costing.
•  Support the Long Term (Life of Mine) planning process by providing comprehensive mine design and production schedules covering the first 3 years of the Life of Mine plan. Champion the compilation of technical reports in accordance with prescribed standards and legislation.
• Regularly update designs of interim pits, covering periods of 1 month to 3 years, to ensure a logical mining sequence with maximum economic benefits in line with the Life of Mine plan.
• Ensure pit and dump engineering designs are available and meet all technical and safety requirements for planning purposes.
• Support the Short-Term planning process (1 week to 1 month), ensuring compliance to the medium-term planning horizon of 1 month to 3 years.
• Ensure effective dump management from footprint preparation to rehabilitation under required legal framework.
• Provide technical support to other sections, departments and consultants as required
• Coach and develop the skills of junior engineers.

About you:

•  Tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering or its equivalent from a recognized institution.
• Work experience in open pit gold mining of which at least 5 years must have been in an open pit-planning role, preferably in a high-volume selective mining environment.
• Be able to act as a competent person for Mineral Reserve Estimation for Tarkwa Mine.
• Demonstrated open pit production and equipment scheduling experience.
• Sound business acumen and the ability to influence the main cost drivers in his/her environment.
• Excellent communication skills in English as well as the ability to interact with people of diverse cultures.
• Proficiency in the mine optimization software mainly Whittle.
• Proficiency in the use of mine scheduling packages Xpac and ALASTRI, and general mining software packages such as  SURPAC and DATAMINE would be an advantage.
• Medical fitness for the position and environment.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and must be willing and able to acquire a site driving permit.