Superintendent - Drill & Blast

OceanaGold; Macraes; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Residential role

9-day fortnight roster

Bonus (short-term & long-term)

Healthcare & Life Insurance

Car provided for business & personal

Job summary

OceanaGold is seeking an experienced Drill & Blast Superintendent to lead safety-driven drill and blast operations in Otago, NZ, supporting production targets and cost efficiency. The role requires coordinating blasting activities, reviewing schedules with engineering, and delivering compliant results with a focus on risk management.

You will manage a multi-disciplinary team, liaise with geotechnical and maintenance teams, and drive optimisation projects while maintaining high standards of

Qualifications

• Requires NZ Certified Handler License for Storage, Handling and Use or ability to obtain quickly.
• Requires NZ A Grade Quarry Manager Certificate of Competence (preferred, or ability to obtain within 12 months).
• 10+ years of open pit mining experience including significant drill and blast experience.
• Experience in managing large scale drill and blast operations with team leadership.
• Demonstrated contractor and commercial management experience.
• Strong knowledge of drilling operations including different drilling methods.
• Strong knowledge of explosives products including current electronic blasting practices and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture across drill and blast operations.
• Ensure compliance with all legislative and company requirements.
• Lead incident investigations and risk assessments within drill and blast area.
• Work closely with the engineering team to review drill and blast schedules and commit to schedule delivery.
• Coordinate all drilling, charging, blasting and reporting activities in accordance with the mine plan.
• Identify and implement drill and blast optimisation opportunities.
• Collaborate with engineering, geotechnical, geology, maintenance and operations teams to deliver broken rock meeting business requirements.
• Lead and develop drill and blast supervisors and operational teams.
• Foster and implement a high performance culture focused on safety, accountability and service delivery.
• Monitor drilling, blasting and contractor costs.
• Manage drill consumable supply and specifications to minimise drilled cost/m without compromising safety or quality.
• Manage explosives service and supply contracts in line with contract provisions and OGC frameworks.
• Work with Continuous Improvement team to deliver drill and blast improvement projects.
• Benchmark drill and blast performance against industry best practice.

Skills

Drill & blast leadership

Safety culture

Team leadership

Risk assessment

Contract management

Education

NZ Certified Handler License

NZ A Grade Quarry Manager Certificate

Job description

OceanaGold is a global intermediate gold and copper producer with more than 35 years of exploration, development and operating experience. We have four operating mines – Haile in the USA, Macraes and Waihi in New Zealand, and Didipio in the Philippines and a global workforce of ~5,400 employees and contractors.

Our people, assets, and strategy are core to our success. Guided by our values—Care, Respect, Integrity, Performance, and Teamwork—we strive to be a trusted company people want to work for, partner with, supply and invest in, to create value. We are committed to safe and responsible mining that generates strong returns and contributes to sustainable development in the regions where we operate. OceanaGold is listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges (TSX: OGC; NYSE: OGC).

Job Description

Ditch the FIFO lifestyle! Live and work in the stunning region of Otago. Enjoy a great outdoors lifestyle with walking, biking, hunting & fishing spots on your doorstep. Situated a 1 hour drive of Dunedin, with its great schools and education through to University level. Spend more time exploring with a Mon-Fri 9-day fortnight roster, so you can enjoy a long weekend, every other week.

This new position has been created to deliver safe, efficient, and cost-effective execution of drill and blast programs that support production targets, optimize fragmentation, minimize dilution, and maintain compliance with statutory and company requirements.

Key tasks & responsibilities:

• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture across drill and blast operations
• Ensure compliance with all legislative and company requirements
• Lead incident investigations and risk assessments within drill and blast area
• Work closely with the engineering team to review drill and blast schedules and then commit to schedule delivery
• Coordinate all drilling, charging, blasting and reporting activities in accordance with the mine plan
• Identify and implement drill and blast optimisation opportunities
• Work closely with the engineering, geotechnical, geology, maintenance and operations teams to deliver broken rock that meets business requirements, including diggability, ore dilution and wall control
• Lead and develop drill and blast supervisors and operational teams
• Foster and implement a high performance culture focussed on safety, personal and team accountability and service delivery
• Monitor drilling, blasting and contractor costs
• Manage drill consumable supply and specifications to minimise the drilled cost/m without compromising safety or quality
• Manage the explosives service and supply contract(s) in accordance with the contract provisions and within OGC contract management frameworks with the aim of delivering the most value for OGC
• Work closely with the Continuous Improvement team to deliver drill and blast improvement projects.
• Benchmark drill and blast performance against industry best practice.

Qualifications

• NZ Certified Handler License for Storage, Handling and Use (or ability to obtain quickly)
• NZ A Grade Quarry Manager Certificate of Competence (preferred, or ability to obtain within 12 months)
• 10+ years of open pit mining experience including significant drill and blast experience
• Experience in managing large scale drill and blast operations, including team leadership.
• Demonstrated contractor and commercial management experience.
• Strong knowledge of drilling operations including different drilling methods
• Strong knowledge of explosives products, including current electronic blasting practices and regulatory requirements,

Additional Information

WHAT'S ON OFFER:

• Residential role, live and work in the stunning region of Otago, NZ.
• Mon-Fri 9-day fortnight roster - enjoy a long weekend every other week.
• Competitive salary + short-term and long-term bonus
• Discounts on retail and services
• Free Southern Cross Healthcare and Life Insurance
• Long service recognition
• Living Our Values recoginition program
• Car provided for business and personal use
• Study assistance
• Access to OceanaGold Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Exceptional working environment where people are valued and respected
  

YOU MATTER: OceanaGold is committed to providing equal employment opportunities. We believea variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. Should you require any assistance applying for this opportunity, please contact usat [emailprotected]

Applications close 24 September 2026. Shortlisting will commence immediately. Please note that a valid New Zealand working Visa will be required for this position.