Manager Mine Planning UG Mechanised

Valterra Platinum; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful work

Learning & progression

Diversity & inclusion

Safe operations

Job summary

Valterra Platinum is seeking a Senior Mine Planning Lead to drive mechanised bord-and-pillar design, scheduling, and Life of Mine execution. You will integrate geology, geotech, ventilation, and finance inputs to optimise NPVs while leading multidisciplinary teams.

The role requires 5+ years in mechanised mining, strong Deswik skills, and a track record of delivering value through innovative planning approaches.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Mining Engineering (or equivalent) required.
• 5+ years in mechanised bord-and-pillar mining with life-of-mine planning experience.
• Advanced Deswik capability for mine design, scheduling, and scenario analysis.
• Proven leadership, stakeholder engagement, and teaming abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and governance for mechanised bord-and-pillar mine planning.
• Lead development and governance of mine designs, schedules, and extraction strategies.
• Ensure designs maximise safety, resource recovery, and asset value.
• Act as technical authority for Deswik planning across the operation.
• Develop and maintain Life of Mine plans with cross-disciplinary inputs.
• Lead continuous improvement in mining methods and planning efficiency.

Skills

Mechanised bord-and-pillar

Mine design

Life of Mine planning

Leadership

Education

Bachelor degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Deswik

Job description

Company Description

Valterra Platinum, formerly Anglo American Platinum, is a leading primary producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), with integrated mining, smelting, and refining operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, marketing the metal we produce globally. Following our demerger from Anglo American plc, Valterra Platinum is now an independent, publicly listed company with a primary and secondary listing on the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges respectively.

Company Description

Valterra Platinum, formerly Anglo American Platinum, is a leading primary producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), with integrated mining, smelting, and refining operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, marketing the metal we produce globally. Following our demerger from Anglo American plc, Valterra Platinum is now an independent, publicly listed company with a primary and secondary listing on the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges respectively. As we embark on this exciting new chapter, Valterra Platinum is positioned to define and pursue its own strategy, anchored in operational excellence, sustainability, and value creation for the long-term. With full accountability for our performance and growth, we are focused on strengthening our capabilities across the entire PGM value chain, from mine to market. Our independence empowers us to deepen our commitment to stakeholders and lead with purpose – to Unearth Value to Better Our World. We remain steadfast in our ambition to be the world’s foremost producer of platinum group metals, while embedding safety and sustainability in everything we do. If you're driven by purpose and the opportunity to make a lasting impact, we invite you to join us. This role is based in 144 Oxford Road, Melrose

Job Description

Provide leadership, governance, and technical direction for mechanised bord-and-pillar mine planning activities, ensuring the safe, optimal, and sustainable extraction of Mineral Reserves through robust mine design, scheduling, and Life of Mine (LoM) planning.

Performance and Delivery

• Strategic Mine Design and Scheduling Leadership
• Serve as the recognised subject matter expert in mechanised bord-and-pillar mining methods.
• Lead the development, optimisation, and governance of mine designs, production schedules, and extraction strategies.
• Ensure designs maximise safety, resource recovery, equipment productivity, and asset value.
• Act as the primary technical authority and super user for the Deswik planning suite, driving best practice utilisation across the operation.
• Life of Mine Planning and Value Optimisation
• Lead the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Life of Mine plans.
• Integrate geological, geotechnical, mining, infrastructure, ventilation, and financial inputs into executable plans.
• Evaluate mining scenarios and optimisation opportunities to enhance Net Present Value (NPV)、resource utilisation, operational flexibility, and reserve conversion.
• Ensure LoM plans comply with corporate governance requirements and reporting standards.
• Continuous Improvement and Mining Method Optimisation
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement initiatives within mechanised bord-and-pillar operations.
• Demonstrate successful implementation of optimisation projects that improve production, productivity, cost performance, safety, or reserve extraction.
• Benchmark internal practices against industry-leading operations and emerging technologies.
• Drive the application of advanced planning tools, analytics, and automation to improve planning outcomes.
• Operational Planning Excellence
• Translate strategic plans into practical short-, medium-, and long-term mining schedules.
• Monitor planning assumptions, constraints, and modifying factors to ensure delivery against business targets.
• Provide technical guidance on panel layouts, extraction ratios, pillar configurations, equipment deployment, and mining sequences.
• Support operational teams in achieving production, development, and cost objectives.
• Stakeholder Leadership and Integration
• Build strong relationships across Mining, Geology, Survey, Rock Engineering, Ventilation, Projects, Processing, Finance, and Operational Management teams.
• Facilitate alignment between technical and operational stakeholders to ensure integrated planning outcomes.
• Present planning strategies, opportunities, risks, and recommendations to senior management and governance forums.
• Technical Governance and Risk Management
• Ensure all mine planning activities comply with legal, regulatory, and company standards.
• Identify and manage technical, operational, and strategic risks associated with mechanised mining operations.
• Maintain planning standards, design criteria, assurance processes, and auditable documentation.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirement: Bachelor degree in Mining Engineering.
• Demonstrated application of mining qualifications in application adding signification value to Underground mine optimisation and design.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in mechanised bord-and-pillar mining, preferably within a platinum or hard-rock mining environment.
• Demonstrated experience in the development and approval of Life of Mine plans.
• Advanced Deswik capability with proven experience in mine design, scheduling, scenario analysis, and resource optimisation.
• Proven track record of implementing optimisation initiatives and delivering measurable business value.
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement, and influencing skills.
• Evidence of continuous professional development and progressive leadership growth, including leading multidisciplinary teams and strategic business initiatives.

What We Offer

At Valterra Platinum, you will join a team committed to excellence and impact.

We Offer

• Meaningful work in a high-performance, values-led environment.
• Market-aligned reward and recognition.
• Opportunities for learning, development and progression.
• A culture that respects diversity and encourages innovation.
• A clear commitment to safe Operations.

Inclusion and Diversity

Valterra Platinum is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfill their potential. Valterra Platinum has a zero tolerance to dignity harms, these include all acts of gender based violence, bullying, harassment and victimisation. Ensuring the safety of our employees extends beyond physical safety and includes the eradication of harmful behaviours from our workplace. This responsibility extends to everyone at Valterra Platinum both during work hours and outside of work. We are unconditional in creating a respectful, inclusive, and safe working environment to ensure that no colleague will be violated or harassed under our watch.

Closing Date

20 September 2026