Exploration Safety Manager Africa & Middle East

Barrick Gold Corporation; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A global mining company is seeking an experienced Exploration Safety Manager for the Africa & Middle East region. This role focuses on providing safety leadership and technical support across exploration programs. Responsibilities include implementing safety management frameworks, leading incident investigations, and coaching field teams. The ideal candidate should have 8-15 years of experience in safety leadership within high-risk sectors and willingness to travel extensively throughout Africa. Join our dynamic team and make a lasting impact in the exploration industry.

Benefits

Comprehensive compensation package including bonuses

Opportunities for career growth and learning

Qualifications

• 8–15 years in safety leadership within mining or high-risk sectors.
• Direct experience supporting remote mineral exploration in Africa.
• Operational exposure to contractor-based activities.

Responsibilities

• Implement Barrick’s Fatal Risk Management framework across projects.
• Lead incident investigations and ensure corrective actions.
• Coach field teams on safe planning and execution.

Skills

Safety leadership

Incident investigation

Risk assessment

Contractor management

Education

NEBOSH International Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Exploration Safety Manager – Africa & Middle East

Position Description

The Barrick Africa & Middle East Exploration Team is proud to be home to leading technical experts. It combines the resources of a global, multibillion-dollar company with local, discovery-driven teams operating in many of the most prospective, world-class Au and Cu exploration districts.

We are seeking to recruit an Exploration Safety Manager to join the Barrick Africa & Middle East Exploration Team.

The objective of the Exploration Safety Manager role is to provide strong safety leadership, technical support, and assurance across exploration programs in the Africa & Middle East region, ensuring all activities are planned and executed in alignment with Barrick’s Safety & Health Policy, Fatal Risk Management program, ‘Journey to Zero’ initiatives, and all applicable legal requirements. The role aims to build capability at the field level, enabling safe and efficient exploration from generative stages through to resource delineation. The role drives organizational alignment and continuous improvement by facilitating the sharing of lessons learned and best practices across projects and other regions.

Through regular field engagement, structured site assurance activities, and detailed performance and data analysis, the Exploration Safety Manager identifies trends, emerging risks, and improvement opportunities that enhance overall safety outcomes. The position supports leadership in delivering safe, compliant, and efficient drilling while championing proactive safety initiatives, behavioural based safety programs, meaningful workforce engagement, and strong contractor focused safety performance.

Core Values

• Honestly, Transparently, and Acting with Integrity
• Results-Driven
• Fit for Purpose
• Building a Sustainable Legacy
• Responsibility and Accountability
• Zero Harm

Responsibilities

• Critical Risk & Field Safety Management
  • Implement Barrick’s Fatal Risk Management framework across exploration projects.
  • Implement an OHS management system in accordance with ISO45001.
  \ verification activities for drilling (diamond, RC, aircore, auger), remote camps, mobile camps, ground transport & vehicle operations, helicopter and fixed‑wing aviation support, geophysics programs, hazardous materials (fuel, explosives, geochem).
• Ensure emergency response planning is fit for remote environments.
• Monitor contractor compliance with Barrick standards and country legislation.

Safety Performance & Incident Management

• Lead incident investigations using Barrick’s methodology and ensure quality corrective actions and track implementation.
• Track and report exploration safety performance according to corporate reporting requirements.
• Facilitate cross‑region and cross‑departmental learning and event sharing with other Barrick regions and departments.

Capability Building & Field Support

• Coach Exploration Managers, Senior Geologists, and local field teams on safe planning and execution.
• Strengthen safety leadership behaviours throughout the exploration organization, including contractors.
• Support development of local HSE talent in host countries consistent with Barrick’s localization objectives.
• Optimising procedures including reviewing and aligning with international best practice annually.

Assurance & Compliance

• Schedule and conduct field assurance programs, audits, and critical control verifications.
• Ensure compliance with Barrick internal standards & policies, Journey to Zero Initiatives, Regional HSEC directives, local regulatory requirements.
• Participate in due diligence for new country entries, JV opportunities, and land access agreements.

Stakeholder & Contractor Management

• Work closely with drilling contractors, camp/logistics providers, aviation contractors, JV partners, and service companies to align with Barrick’s expectations and standards.
• Manage external relationships with regulators, inspectors, and government bodies as required.

Training

• Provide training at exploration sites on risk assessment processes, including FLRA and Critical Control Verifications (CCV).
• Support the rollout and adoption of new safety initiatives at drill locations to ensure consistent understanding and application across all crews and sites.
• Review and verification of drilling contractors training program and compliance.

Qualification Requirements

• Formal HSE qualifications (NEBOSH International Diploma, CSP, or equivalent).

Experience and Skills Requirements

• 8–15 years in safety leadership roles within mining, exploration, or high‑risk industrial sectors.
• Direct experience supporting remote mineral exploration programs in Africa.
• Strong operational exposure to contractor‑based activities (drilling, geophysics, aviation).
• Experience with critical risk frameworks and incident investigation.
• Willingness to travel extensively throughout Africa and the Middle East.
• Geological or exploration background beneficial but not mandatory.
• Experience with multinational exploration/mining operators.

What We Can Offer You

• A comprehensive compensation package including bonuses.
• The ability to make a difference and lasting impact.
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high‑performing team.
• Opportunities to grow and learn with industry colleagues.
• Access to a variety of career opportunities across the organization.

Please forward applications before: 4 February 2026

We are committed to a safe work environment, sending every person home safe and healthy every day and leaving a sustainable legacy on our host communities.