Mine Planning Engineer - Open Pit Operations

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Retirement fund contributions

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, seeks a Mine Planning Engineer to optimize open-pit operations. You will develop short- and medium-term mine plans, pit layouts, blast designs, schedules, and haul-road optimization while ensuring safety and environmental compliance.

You must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering with 5+ years in mine planning, and be proficient in Surpac, Deswik or Xact. Pr.Eng or ECSA registration is preferred; relocation assistance may be considered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering required.
• Minimum 5 years of open-pit mine planning experience.
• Proficiency with Surpac, Deswik or Xact.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain short-term (daily/weekly) and medium-term (monthly/quarterly) mine plans for open-pit operations.
• Design and optimize pit layouts, including benches, haul roads, and ramp systems, considering safety, geotechnical, and operational constraints.
• Create detailed blast designs to ensure efficient fragmentation and wall stability.
• Generate production schedules and sequences, coordinating with drilling, loading, and hauling activities.
• Perform resource estimation and reconciliation between planned and actual production.
• Utilize mine planning software for modeling, scheduling, and reporting.
• Collaborate with survey teams to ensure accurate geological and topographical data integration.
• Work closely with operations management to implement mine plans effectively and address deviations.
• Conduct feasibility studies and economic evaluations for potential mine expansions or modifications.
• Ensure all planning activities comply with safety regulations, environmental permits, and company policies in Port Elizabeth.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Surpac

Deswik

Xact

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading mining operator, has an immediate opening for a skilled Mine Planning Engineer to join their established team in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape . This role is central to optimizing the extraction of resources from their open-pit operations. You will be responsible for developing short-term and medium-term mine plans, including pit designs, blast designs, scheduling, and haul road optimization, to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical skills in mine planning software, a solid understanding of open-pit mining methods, and excellent analytical abilities. You will work closely with operations, geology, and survey teams to achieve production targets while adhering to safety and environmental standards. This is a hands-on role requiring commitment and precision.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain short-term (daily/weekly) and medium-term (monthly/quarterly) mine plans for open-pit operations.
• Design and optimize pit layouts, including benches, haul roads, and ramp systems, considering safety, geotechnical, and operational constraints.
• Create detailed blast designs to ensure efficient fragmentation and wall stability.
• Generate production schedules and sequences, coordinating with drilling, loading, and hauling activities.
• Perform resource estimation and reconciliation between planned and actual production.
• Utilize mine planning software (e.g., Surpac, Xact, Deswik) for modeling, scheduling, and reporting.
• Collaborate with survey teams to ensure accurate geological and topographical data integration.
• Work closely with operations management to implement mine plans effectively and address any deviations.
• Conduct feasibility studies and economic evaluations for potential mine expansions or modifications.
• Ensure all planning activities comply with safety regulations, environmental permits, and company policies in Port Elizabeth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in mine planning, with a specific focus on open-pit operations.
• Proficiency in mine planning and design software such as Surpac, Deswik, Xact, or similar.
• Solid understanding of open-pit mining methods, equipment capabilities, and production optimization techniques.
• Knowledge of blast design principles and fragmentation analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret geological and survey data.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Experience with geotechnical considerations in mine design is an asset.
• Ability to work effectively on-site and contribute to a safe working culture.
• Pr.Eng or ECSA registration is preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund contributions.
• Paid time off and holiday leave.
• Professional development opportunities and continuous learning support.
• Exposure to diverse open-pit mining challenges.
• A supportive team environment focused on operational excellence.
• Assistance with relocation to Port Elizabeth may be considered.