Head of Mining Operations

MatchaTalent; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 280,000 - 405,000; Full time

Job summary

The Head of Mining Operations in Papua New Guinea leads all underground mining activities, directing development, production, and safety across a remote FIFO operation. You will drive performance, mentor leaders, and ensure compliant, commercially successful outcomes.

Working with Technical Services, Geology, Processing and Executives, you will shape short- and long-term plans, manage budgets, and optimize contractor and workforce capability in challenging conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years underground mining experience with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles.
• Experience leading underground mining operations in remote FIFO environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for underground mining operations, ensuring safe, productive, and efficient execution of mine development, production, ground support, ventilation, and mine services.
• Collaborate with Technical Services and Geology to develop and execute short-, medium-, and long-term mine plans.
• Champion safety by ensuring compliance with mining legislation, safety standards, and Mine Safety Management System.

Skills

Mining Engineering

Mine management

Underground mining

Leadership

Safety compliance

Contractor management

Production planning

Team leadership

English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Job description

This role requires the candidate to work in Central Province, Papua New Guinea.

Client Overview

Our client is a rapidly growing mining and natural resources company focused on the exploration, development, and production of gold and base metal assets across Papua New Guinea. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), the company is leading the redevelopment of a historic underground gold mining operation while expanding its portfolio of high-potential exploration licenses within one of the world's most prospective mineral regions.

Operating in a highly remote and logistically complex environment, the organization manages underground mining infrastructure, mineral processing facilities, transportation networks, and site support operations to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable production. With a strong commitment to operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and community engagement, the company continues to invest in modern mining practices, workforce capability, and long-term resource development.

Job Role

The Head of Mining Operations is the senior site leadership role responsible for directing all underground mining activities, ensuring safe, efficient, and commercially successful production across the operation. This position provides strategic leadership for mine development, production planning, contractor management, operational performance, and workforce capability while maintaining strict compliance with statutory mining regulations and international safety standards.

Working closely with Technical Services, Geology, Processing, and Executive Management, the successful candidate will drive production performance, optimize operational efficiency, manage large multidisciplinary teams, and foster a high-performance safety culture within a challenging remote FIFO mining environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for underground mining operations, ensuring safe, productive, and efficient execution of mine development, production, ground support, ventilation, and mine services.
• Collaborate with Technical Services and Geology teams to develop and execute short-, medium-, and long-term mine plans aligned with production targets and business objectives.
• Champion safety leadership by ensuring full compliance with mining legislation, statutory requirements, and the Mine Safety Management System.
• Manage departmental budgets, operational costs, capital expenditure planning, and continuous cost optimization initiatives.
• Oversee contractor performance to ensure compliance with productivity targets, contractual obligations, operational standards, and safety requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Mining Superintendents, Shift Bosses, Supervisors, Engineers, and operational personnel while supporting succession planning and leadership development.
• Monitor production performance, identify operational risks, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to maximize mine productivity and operational reliability.
• Foster strong collaboration across mine operations, technical services, maintenance, processing, and support functions to achieve overall site performance objectives.

Candidate Requirements

• Open to all nationalities with eligibility to obtain the necessary work permits and travel authorization for Papua New Guinea.
• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Must hold a valid PNG Metalliferous Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency (CoC), or demonstrate immediate eligibility to obtain one.
• Valid driver's license.
• Minimum 10 years of underground mining experience with at least 5 years in senior mining leadership roles such as Mine Manager, Underground Manager, Head of Mining, or equivalent.
• Proven experience leading underground mining operations within remote FIFO environments.
• Strong operational experience in narrow-vein underground mining methods.
• Comprehensive knowledge of mine planning, production scheduling, ground support systems, mine ventilation, contractor management, and mine management technologies.
• Strong leadership, decision‑making, stakeholder management, and operational planning capabilities.
• Excellent understanding of mining safety systems, statutory compliance, and operational risk management.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.

Job Code: #787