Driller

Skeena Gold + Silver; Area A (Nass Valley/Bell Irving); On-site; CAD 55,104 - 77,145; Full time

Job summary

Skeena Gold + Silver invites you to join a dynamic drilling team at the Eskay Creek Mine in northwestern British Columbia. As a Driller you will operate DTH rigs, follow blasting layouts, and maintain strict safety and ground control standards in a remote camp environment.

We seek skilled operators with 3–5 years of DTH experience, a high school diploma, and a valid Class 5 license. This role requires rotating shifts and strong situational awareness in challenging outdoor conditions.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License.
• 3–5 years’ experience operating DTH drills in open-pit mining.
• Experience operating DTH drills in a mining environment.
• Strong understanding of open-pit mining hazards, drill pattern requirements, ground conditions and wall control principles.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and equipment awareness.
• Ability to work rotating shifts in a remote or industrial environment with exposure to varying weather conditions.

Responsibilities

• Operate drilling equipment in accordance with site safety policies, procedures, and applicable mining and occupational health & safety regulations.
• Follow drill patterns, layouts, and survey markings.
• Ensure hole quality meets blasting and engineering requirements.
• Minimize hole deviation, re-drilling, and delays.
• Meet daily and shift production targets while maintaining safety and quality.
• Maintain accurate production and inspection records.
• Oversee and manage crew lineups, timecards, and daily reports.
• Ensure work aligns with QC/QA management plans and survey requirements.
• Utilize GPS equipment and surveying tools to support operational accuracy.
• Communicate equipment issues promptly to maintenance and supervision.
• Train, mentor, and supervise a Driller Helper in safe work practices and drilling fundamentals.

Skills

DTH drilling

Ground control

GPS & surveying

Safety compliance

Team supervision

Rotating shifts

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Valid Class 5 Driver’s License

Tools

Sandvik DTH rigs

GPS equipment

Surveying tools

Job description

As a Skeena employee, you will become part of a dynamic, innovative, and results-driven work environment. Together, alongside colleagues of diverse backgrounds and experience you will help us operate safely, protect the environment, positively contribute to our local communities and build a state of the art mine in Canada. Come join our team to be a part of this amazing opportunity!

Job Title: Driller

Reporting to the Supervisor, Drill & Blast, the Driller is responsible for the safe, efficient, and accurate operation of a down-the-hole (DTH) drill to achieve planned production drilling in accordance with mine design, safety standards, and operational requirements. The Driller will operate multiple drill platforms, including Sandvik DTH rigs and excavator-mounted drills, and will assist with D&B activities as required. The role ensures drill patterns are completed to specification while maintaining equipment integrity, ground control awareness, and high safety performance.

Operational Responsibilities

• Operate drilling equipment in accordance with site safety policies, procedures, and applicable mining and occupational health & safety regulations.
• Follow drill patterns, layouts, and survey markings.
• Ensure hole quality meets blasting and engineering requirements.
• Minimize hole deviation, re-drilling, and delays.
• Meet daily and shift production targets while maintaining safety and quality.
• Maintain accurate production and inspection records.

Safety & Compliance

• Participate in pre‑shift meetings, toolbox talks, and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs).
• Maintain awareness of ground conditions, highwalls, crests, berms, and exclusion zones.
• Identify and report hazards, near misses, incidents, and unsafe conditions.
• Identify and report ground conditions, deviations, or drilling challenges that may impact blast outcomes.

Operational Execution

• Oversee and manage crew lineups, timecards, and daily reports.
• Ensure work aligns with QC/QA management plans and survey requirements.
• Utilize GPS equipment and surveying tools to support operational accuracy.

Communication & Team Support

• Communicate equipment issues promptly to maintenance and supervision.
• Train, mentor, and supervise a Driller Helper in safe work practices and drilling fundamentals.

Additional Responsibilities

• All other duties as reasonably assigned

The Ideal Candidate

Education / Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must possess a valid Class 5 Driver’s License

Experience / Skills

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience operating DTH drills in an open-pit mine
• Experience operating DTH drills in a mining environment.
• Strong understanding of open-pit mining hazards, drill pattern requirements, ground conditions and wall control principles.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and equipment awareness.
• Ability to work rotating shifts in a remote or industrial environment with exposure to varying weather conditions.

Work Location & Conditions

This is a site-based camp job at Eskay Creek Mine site. This position involves working at a remote mine site on a 15 days on/13 days off rotation. The Eskay Creek Revitalization Project is located within the Coast Mountains of Northwestern British Columbia and Tahltan Territory. Ground transportation will be provided from local communities to the Eskay Creek Site facilities. For those applicants located elsewhere in western Canada, flight transportation from major urban centers will be provided to the Terrace or Smithers airports, from which shuttles will provide transportation to the Eskay Creek Camp facilities. Travel time and expenses are subject to Skeena’s Travel Policy. There will be exposure to extreme temperatures in all seasons including working outdoors in snow, mud, ice, and water conditions, walking to and from different locations on uneven ground, prolonged periods of standing and physically handling/lifting/moving heavy objects.

Compensation

The expected hourly rate for this position is CAD $48, in line with the competitive job market for such roles carried out in British Columbia. Salary ranges are guidelines and any job offer received by a candidate will be determined on a number of factors such as relevant education, training, and/or experience.

All Applicants MUST be legally entitled to work in Canada. Priority hiring consideration will be given to Indigenous Nations members who reside within the territories our projects are located.

We thank all candidates for their interest, however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted.