Lead Mine Planning Engineer - Open Pit Operations

Placements24; George; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid and retirement benefits

Career advancement

Industry training

Large-scale project exposure

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Mine Planning Engineer for operations near George, Western Cape. You will manage long- and short-term mine plans, lead a team of engineers, and collaborate with geology, processing, and operations to meet production targets.

Responsibilities include pit design, scheduling, resource integration, feasibility studies, and securing safety and regulatory compliance. On-site role with hands-on leadership in a challenging, rewarding environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in mine planning, with at least 3 years in a lead or supervisory role, preferably in open-pit operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in Deswik, Vulcan, or Surpac.
• Strong understanding of open-pit mining methods, geotechnical principles, and mine design.
• Proven ability to develop and manage complex mine plans and production schedules.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with economic analysis and feasibility studies is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with South African mining regulations and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain long-term and short-term mine plans for open-pit operations.
• Utilize Deswik, Vulcan, Surpac for pit design, scheduling, and waste dump planning.
• Collaborate with geologists to integrate resource models into mine plans and optimize extraction sequencing.
• Work with operations to ensure practical, safe, and executable mine plans.
• Conduct feasibility studies and economic evaluations for new projects or expansions.
• Supervise and mentor a team of mine planning engineers and technicians.
• Monitor performance against plan and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare detailed reports on mine planning activities, production forecasts, and performance for senior management.

Skills

Leadership

Open-pit mining

Mining engineering

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Deswik

Vulcan

Surpac

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a prominent mining company seeking an experienced and strategic Lead Mine Planning Engineer to manage all aspects of mine planning for their operations near George, Western Cape . This vital role involves the development and execution of long-term and short-term mine plans, ensuring efficient resource utilization, operational safety, and economic viability. The successful candidate will lead a team of engineers and technicians, collaborating closely with operations, geology, and processing departments to achieve production targets. This position is based on-site, requiring a hands-on approach to mine planning and execution within a challenging yet rewarding operational environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive long-term and short-term mine plans for open-pit operations.
• Utilize mine planning software (e.g., Deswik, Vulcan, Surpac) for pit design, scheduling, and waste dump planning.
• Collaborate with geologists to integrate resource models into mine plans and ensure optimal extraction sequencing.
• Work closely with the operations team to ensure mine plans are practical, safe, and efficiently executable.
• Conduct feasibility studies and economic evaluations for new projects or mine expansions.
• Supervise and mentor a team of mine planning engineers and technicians.
• Monitor mine performance against plan and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare detailed reports on mine planning activities, production forecasts, and operational performance for senior management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or a related field from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in mine planning, with at least 3 years in a lead or supervisory role, preferably in open-pit operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in mine planning software such as Deswik, Vulcan, or Surpac.
• Strong understanding of open-pit mining methods, geotechnical principles, and mine design.
• Proven ability to develop and manage complex mine plans and production schedules.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with economic analysis and feasibility studies is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with South African mining regulations and best practices.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package commensurate with experience, including performance incentives and comprehensive medical aid and retirement benefits.
• This role provides significant opportunities for career advancement within a growing organization.
• The company is committed to employee development and provides access to industry-leading training programs.
• Candidates will have the opportunity to work on large-scale projects in a region known for its natural beauty.
• The position is based at the operational site near George .