Head of Mining Operations (Gold Mine)

PT Talenta Eksekutif Asia; Kampung Malaysia Tambahan; On-site; MYR 164,000 - 273,000; Full time

Job summary

PT Talenta Eksekutif Asia is seeking a Head of Mining Operations to lead all underground mining activities at a remote Papua New Guinea site, ensuring safe, productive and commercially successful production. The role requires strategic mine development, production planning, contractor oversight, and the development of workforce capability, while maintaining strict safety standards and compliance.

You will work with Technical Services, Geology, Processing and Executive Management to optimize

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of underground mining experience with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles.
• Must hold a PNG Metalliferous Mine Manager's CoC, or be eligible to obtain one.
• Valid driver's license.
• Proven experience leading underground mining operations in remote FIFO environments.
• Strong knowledge of mine planning, production scheduling, ground support, and ventilation.
• Excellent leadership, decision-making, and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for underground mining operations, including mine development, production, ground support, ventilation, and services.
• Develop and execute short-, medium-, and long-term mine plans aligned with targets and business goals.
• Ensure full compliance with mining legislation, safety standards, and Mine Safety Management System.
• Manage budgets, costs, capex planning, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Oversee contractor performance to meet productivity, safety, and contractual obligations.
• Mentor and develop Mining Superintendents, Shift Bosses, Supervisors, and Engineers.
• Monitor production, identify risks, and implement continuous improvement to maximize productivity.
• Collaborate with multiple functions to achieve site performance objectives.

Skills

Mining leadership

Underground mining

Strategic planning

Safety compliance

Stakeholder management

Team development

Education

Bachelors 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