Drill & Blast Supervisor

GOLDEN QUEEN MINING COMPANY LLC; Mojave (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Health insurance plans

PPO/HMO plans

Paid holidays

Vacation accruals

Job summary

Golden Queen Mining Co., LLC is seeking a Drill and Blast Supervisor for our Mojave-area operation. The role leads all drilling and blasting functions, directing a team of drillers, laborers, and techs while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in mining, strong leadership, and a solid track record in budget management and process improvement. Proficiency in MS Office and Wenco is preferred; duties include reporting, training, and budget control.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of mining experience preferred.
• At least 2 years of open-pit drilling experience required, or 4 years in construction drill & blast.
• Strong leadership abilities with a proven track record mentoring teams.
• Extensive knowledge of drilling and blasting techniques, safety protocols and regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, control costs and enhance operational efficiency.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficient in MS Office; working knowledge of Wenco software.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, coordination, and oversight of all drill/blast functions at the site.
• Manage a team of 16 drillers, 8 laborers, and 2 drill techs.
• Develop best-practice guidelines for blasting, including controlled methods.
• Participate in safety policy development for mining operations.
• Attend mine planning and safety meetings as needed.
• Develop relationships with internal and external customers to meet objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Drilling & Blasting

Budgeting

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

MS Office

Tools

Wenco

MS Office

Job description

Description

Drill and Blast Supervisor Job Description

Who We Are

Andean is a fast-growing precious metals producer operating across top-tier jurisdictions in the Americas. With two cornerstone assets — the San Bartolomé processing facility in Potosí, Bolivia, and the Soledad Mountain Project in Kern County, California — we are expanding our footprint and shaping the future of responsible mining.

Through Golden Queen Mining Co., LLC, we operate a modern gold and silver open-pit, heap-leach mine just outside Mojave. The site uses conventional open-pit mining, cyanide heap leaching, and Merrill-Crowe processing to recover gold and silver from crushed and agglomerated ore. This is mining at scale, powered by innovation, discipline, and a commitment to doing things the right way.

At Andean, our people are our most valuable resource and critical to our success. Our culture fosters inclusion, collaboration, and rewards success, positioning us to be the employer of choice in the communities where we operate.

Who You Are

You have five years of mining experience, including expertise in open-pit drilling and construction drill and blast operations. You excel in leading teams, ensuring safety, and optimizing operational efficiency. You possess strong knowledge of drilling techniques, safety standards, and regulatory compliance, along with proven skills in budget management and cost control. Your ability to analyze data, drive process improvements, and build effective relationships with stakeholders has consistently contributed to successful project outcomes. Additionally, you are proficient in MS Office Suite and mining-specific software like Wenco.

This is a safety sensitive position. As the Drill & Blast Supervisor you report to the Mine Operations General Foreman.

What You Do

• Lead the development, coordination, and oversight of all drill/blast functions.
• Manage a team of 16 drillers, 8 general laborers and 2 drill techs.
• Assess blasting operations and formulate specialized best practice guidelines, incorporating controlled blasting methods.
• Participate in the development and support of company Safety Policies regarding mining operations.
• Attend and participate in the Mine Planning, safety, and job meetings as needed.
• Develop professional networking relationships with both internal and external customers to successfully meet objectives.
• Create and manage drill and blast department budget.
• Oversee and develop mitigation processes to manage underground workings.
• Identify high-risk blasting situations and mitigate hazardous situations. Arrange appropriate training to close training gaps.
• Assist in the development and presentation of blasting plans and procedures
• Provide inter-company technical reports on blasting applications, product testing, procedures, and results.
• Remain current with and make recommendations to purchase/acquire/lease new technologies and equipment.
• Manage drilling and blasting consumables stock control.
• Provide effective communication for successful implementation of field designs and blast patterns including tie-in plans, with the Drill and Blast Engineer
• Manage the training, coaching, and mentoring of subordinate personnel.
• Implement a program of ongoing training and development to improve skills and knowledge transfer for successful succession planning, including SOP’s.
• Implement employee performance management processes to ensure optimum employee performance in D&B operations, with trackable KPI’s including Wenco data.
• Demonstrate a high level of communication with the mining operations personnel and other departments.
• Interface with all parties to ensure successful and safe blasting operations.
• Ensure that activities are carried out in strict conformance with all company policies regarding employment, cultural, social, safety and environment.
• Promote a positive Site safety and environmental management culture.
• Direct field personnel to complete projects around the mine site for development of future haul roads and mining areas.
• Maintain drill logs and blasting logs
• Verify correct billing for invoices and utilize the requisition system for services and product purchases.
• Produce end-of-month reports for drilling and blasting production.
• Fill in for the Mine Operations General Foreman and/or Mine Operations Superintendent as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• Minimum of 5 years of mining experience preferred.
• At least 2 years of open-pit mine drilling experience required, or 4 years in the construction drill and blast industry.
• Strong leadership abilities with a proven track record in supervising and mentoring teams.
• Extensive knowledge of drilling and blasting techniques, safety protocols, and industry regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, control costs, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, adept at building productive relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions and implement process improvements.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, with a working knowledge of mining-specific software (e.g., Wenco).

What We Offer

A competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, which includes the following:

• 401(k) with company matching
• PPO and HMO health insurance plans
• 9 paid holidays
• Vacation accruals

Notice to Recruitment and/or Staffing Firms:

The Company will not pay any fees for recruitment activities related to the hiring of a candidate for any position unless a services agreement has been entered into between the Company and the recruitment and/or staffing firm.

Go to www.goldenqueenllc.com for information on the Company and the Project.