Drill & Blast Manager (Open-Cast Coal Mining)

Ikwezi Mining (Pty) Ltd; Dundee; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ikwezi Mining (Pty) Ltd in the United Kingdom is seeking a senior Drill & Blast professional to lead planning, execution and safety oversight across open-pit operations. The role focuses on designing blast plans, optimizing burden and delay factors, and coordinating with production and planning teams to achieve targets.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in open-cast mining, a valid blasting certificate, and a Mine Manager's certificate (advantageous).

Qualifications

• Degree or National Diploma in Mining Engineering.
• Valid Blasting Certificate for Opencast Mines.
• Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency (advantageous).
• Minimum 10 years' open-cast mining experience.
• At least 5 years in a Drill & Blast management role.
• Coal mining experience is essential.
• Experience managing drilling and blasting contractors.
• Knowledge of the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA).
• Valid driver's licence.

Responsibilities

• Ensure MHSA, Explosives Act and company standards compliance.
• Develop and maintain drill and blast procedures.
• Lead risk assessments, pre-blast inspections and post-blast evaluations.
• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure safe storage, transport and use of explosives.
• Develop daily, weekly and monthly drill and blast schedules.
• Design blast patterns based on geological conditions.
• Optimise burden, spacing, stemming and powder factors.
• Coordinate drilling, charging and firing activities.
• Ensure blast readiness with production and mine planning teams.
• Monitor fragmentation quality.
• Minimise fly rock, overbreak, backbreak and vibration.
• Improve diggability and downstream crusher performance.
• Analyse blast results and implement continuous improvements.
• Manage drilling and explosive service providers.
• Monitor contractor productivity and compliance.
• Conduct performance reviews.
• Ensure contractual obligations are achieved.
• Control explosive consumption and reconciliation.
• Manage explosive inventory.
• Monitor blast costs.
• Prepare production and blasting reports.
• Analyse KPIs and recommend improvements.
• Present monthly operational performance.
• Report on costs, productivity and safety.
• Lead Drill & Blast Supervisors and technical personnel.
• Coach and mentor team members.
• Manage departmental budgets.
• Participate in production planning meetings.
• Support operational excellence initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Planning

Drill & Blast engineering

Analytical thinking

Cost management

Contractor management

Education

Degree or National Diploma in Mining Engineering

Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency

Blasting Certificate for Opencast Mines

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with MHSA, Explosives Act and company standards.
• Develop and maintain drill and blast procedures.
• Lead risk assessments, pre-blast inspections and post-blast evaluations.
• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure safe storage, transport and use of explosives.

Blast & Blast Planning

• Develop daily, weekly and monthly drill and blast schedules.
• Design blast patterns based on geological conditions.
• Optimise burden, spacing, stemming and powder factors.
• Coordinate drilling, charging and firing activities.
• Ensure blast readiness with production and mine planning teams.

Blast Performance

• Monitor fragmentation quality.
• Minimise fly rock, overbreak, backbreak and vibration.
• Improve diggability and downstream crusher performance.
• Analyse blast results and implement continuous improvements.

Contractor Management

• Manage drilling and explosive service providers.
• Monitor contractor productivity and compliance.
• Conduct performance reviews.
• Ensure contractual obligations are achieved.

Explosives Management

• Control explosive consumption and reconciliation.
• Manage explosive inventory.
• Monitor blast costs.
• Ensure accurate reporting and statutory records.

Operational Leadership

• Lead Drill & Blast Supervisors and technical personnel.
• Coach and mentor team members.
• Manage departmental budgets.
• Participate in production planning meetings.
• Support operational excellence initiatives.

Reporting

• Prepare production and blasting reports.
• Analyse KPIs and recommend improvements.
• Present monthly operational performance.
• Report on costs, productivity and safety.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree or National Diploma in Mining Engineering.
• Valid Blasting Certificate for Opencast Mines.
• Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency (advantageous).
• Minimum 10 years' open-cast mining experience.
• At least 5 years in a Drill & Blast management role.
• Coal mining experience is essential.
• Experience managing drilling and blasting contractors.
• Knowledge of the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA).
• Valid driver's licence.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)
• Drill availability and utilisation
• Blast compliance (% completed as planned)
• Powder factor optimisation
• Fragmentation quality
• Blast-induced vibration compliance
• Explosive cost per BCM/tonne
• Drilling productivity
• Coal recovery
• Contractor performance
• Budget adherence
• Production target achievement

Competencies

Strong leadership and people management Excellent planning and organisational skills Technical expertise in drill and blast engineering Analytical and problem-solving ability Cost management Contractor management Communication and stakeholder engagement Decision-making under pressure Continuous improvement minds