Senior Strategic Mine Planning Engineer, Copper SA - Adelaide

BHP; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

BHP's Copper SA is seeking a Senior Strategic Mine Planning Engineer in Adelaide to guide long-term mine planning across Olympic Dam and related assets. You will work with a multidisciplinary team to develop strategies, designs, and schedules that optimise value while maintaining safety and technical integrity.

This role requires extensive underground planning experience, expertise in block caving, and strong communication with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mining Engineering with a strategic mindset.
• Extensive underground mine planning experience across multiple operations.
• Experience with block caving and ore reserve workflows is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop long-term mine planning strategies for Copper SA assets.
• Produce underground designs and schedules across methods to optimise value.
• Support Ore Reserve estimation and reporting processes.
• Lead cross-functional teams and engage external stakeholders.

Skills

Underground planning

Block caving

Strategic mine planning

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Mining Engineering degree

Tools

Deswik

Cave scheduling

Job description

Senior Strategic Mine Planning Engineer, Copper SA - Adelaide

BHP is a global resources company operating across more than 90 locations worldwide. Through Copper South Australia (Copper SA), we are building a leading copper portfolio that supports the global energy transition, supplying materials essential for renewable energy, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure.

BHP's copper province in South Australia (Copper SA) comprises the Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena underground mines, with smelter and refinery complex at Olympic Dam. The company is also progressing the Oak Dam exploration prospect.

For you, this is an exciting opportunity to grow your career, make a meaningful impact, and help shape the future of one of Australia's leading copper businesses.

About Copper SA Operations at BHP

BHP is a global resources company operating across more than 90 locations worldwide. Through Copper South Australia (Copper SA), we are building a leading copper portfolio that supports the global energy transition, supplying materials essential for renewable energy, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure.

BHP's copper province in South Australia (Copper SA) comprises the Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena underground mines, with smelter and refinery complex at Olympic Dam. The company is also progressing the Oak Dam exploration prospect.

For you, this is an exciting opportunity to grow your career, make a meaningful impact, and help shape the future of one of Australia's leading copper businesses.

About the Role

Reporting to the Superintendent Strategic Mine Planning, you will be part of a team supporting growth studies, Life of Asset planning and Ore Reserve reporting for the Copper SA assets.

Through insight and innovation, you will play a critical role in long-term strategic mine planning to support and align with business priorities.

This unique role can influence and inform strategic mine planning outcomes across multiple sites using various underground mining methods while interfacing with project teams to deliver value.

Your extensive industry experience will enable you to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide stakeholder group with the ability to communicate at all levels of the organisation.

This role is based in Adelaide with occasional site travel required.

In this role you will:

• Develop mine planning strategies to support growth opportunities within the Copper SA province.
• Produce underground mine designs and schedules across multiple mining methods to optimise long-term value
• Support the integration and optimisation of Copper SA.
• Utilise industry experience to develop continuous improvement initiatives
• Leverage your expertise and industry connections to bring new technologies and ways of working to the business to improve safety and productivity.
• Promote mine planning as the vehicle that supports, collates, and drives forward all technical disciplines and asset optionality.
• Support the annual Ore Reserve estimation and declaration.
• Provide technical support for significant mine planning projects, studies, and reviews.
• Apply divergent thought to value optimisation for the operations.
• Communicate and collaborate with other Planning and Execution teams.
• Develop scopes of work to engage additional external stakeholders as required to support business needs.
• Project management of packages of work as required to support studies.
• Monitor and maintain progress for all design work, using the relevant team tools.

About You

• Degree qualified in Mining Engineering (or equivalent), with a strategic mindset.
• Extensive experience in underground mine planning and operations across various operations/projects.
• Expertise in underground hard rock mining methods including block caving.
• Demonstrated successful communication of complex issues and influencing positive change.
• Adept at leading and influencing diverse groups in a large organisation.
• Deep technical knowledge of mine planning as an integrated activity with all other technical disciplines.
• Sound written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in delivering studies through to operations readiness and execution
• Previous experience as a Competent Person for Ore Reserves Reporting is advantageous.
• Proficiency in Deswik and/or Cave mining method production scheduling software.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Grow your career your way, with opportunities to develop and move across BHP
• Be rewarded with competitive pay, performance bonuses and our BHP employee share plan
• Work in an inclusive team where people support each other every day
• Enjoy flexibility and family-friendly options that help you balance work and life
• Access wellbeing support, including 24/7 confidential assistance for you and your family
• Build your future with benefits like paid parental leave, recognition programs, etc.

About Our Process

We are committed to employing individuals who align with the BHP Charter Values and meet the requirements of the role. As part of the recruitment process, there are several checks which may be conducted to demonstrate applicants' suitability for a role including police / criminal background checks, medical, drug and alcohol testing, due diligence checks, right to work checks, and/or reference checks.

We Support a Diverse Workforce

At BHP, we believe diversity makes us stronger. We're committed to creating a safe, inclusive workplace where everyone is treated fairly and can thrive. Our workforce reflects the communities where we operate, and we value all aspects of identity; gender, age, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, neurodiversity, education, and more.

We ensure that our recruitment process is fair, accessible, and equitable. If you have a disability and need adjustments, please contact us at @bhp.com.