Mine Planning Manager

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Relocation assistance

Annual leave

Career development opportunities

Bonus structure

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Mine Planning Manager for a mining operation near Bloemfontein, Free State. The role combines strategic office planning with on-site oversight, leading the mine planning team to optimize ore extraction, schedules and economic value.

The candidate will coordinate with geology and operations, guide the use of Deswik, Vulcan and Whittle, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance while delivering cost-efficient results and mentoring engineers and technicians.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive mine planning experience.
• Proven leadership of planning teams and departments.
• Experience with economic evaluation and feasibility studies.
• Willingness to travel to site regularly for hybrid work.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the mine planning team.
• Develop short-, medium-, and long-term mine plans.
• Optimize designs, schedules, and production targets.
• Oversee mine planning software implementations.
• Collaborate with geology, operations, and engineering.
• Ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
• Conduct feasibility studies and economic evaluations.
• Monitor performance and implement corrective actions.
• Mentor and develop junior staff.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Team management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Deswik

Vulcan

Whittle

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major player in the mining industry, is seeking an experienced Mine Planning Manager for their operations near Bloemfontein, Free State. This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining strategic planning in the office with essential on-site oversight. You will lead the mine planning department, responsible for developing and implementing short-term and long-term mine plans that maximize safety, efficiency, and economic value. Your expertise will guide the optimization of ore extraction, resource utilization, and scheduling processes. This position requires strong leadership, excellent technical skills in mine planning software, and the ability to foster collaboration between planning, operations, and geology teams. We are looking for a seasoned professional with a proven track record in managing complex mining projects and driving operational excellence. This is a key leadership role with significant responsibility and opportunity for growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the mine planning team, ensuring efficient execution of planning activities.
• Develop and maintain short-term, medium-term, and long-term mine plans for open pit and/or underground operations.
• Optimize mine designs, schedules, and production targets to achieve economic and operational objectives.
• Oversee the application of mine planning software (e.g., Deswik, Vulcan, Whittle).
• Collaborate closely with geology, operations, and engineering departments to ensure integrated mine management.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Conduct feasibility studies and economic evaluations for mine planning initiatives.
• Monitor mine performance against plans and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Mentor and develop mine planning engineers and technicians.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in mine planning and operations.
• Demonstrated experience in managing mine planning departments and teams.
• Proficiency in leading mine planning software packages.
• Strong understanding of mine design principles, scheduling, and optimization techniques.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with economic evaluation and feasibility studies.
• Ability to travel to the mine site regularly as part of the hybrid work arrangement.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive bonus structure.
• Excellent health insurance and retirement savings plan.
• Relocation assistance available.
• Significant opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• Generous annual leave and other company benefits.