Mining Manager (Section 3.1 (a) Appointee)

Orion Minerals Ltd; Prieska; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Orion Minerals Ltd seeks a Mining Manager (Section 3.1(a) Appointee) to lead underground mechanised mining operations in Prieska, with full statutory accountability under MHSA. You will drive TMM performance, mechanised development, and stoping while ensuring safety, production and cost targets.

The role requires extensive experience in underground mechanised mining, senior certificates, and strong regulatory knowledge to coordinate diverse support functions and regulators.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include a B degree/ B-Tech/ Higher Diploma in Mining Engineering or equivalent (NQF 7).
• Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency (Metalliferous) and Mine Overseer’s Certificate of Competency are required.
• Blasting Certificate (Underground, Metalliferous) is required.
• Professional registration (SAIMM, AMMSA/MMSA) is desirable.
• Management Development Programme is desirable.
• Experience includes 12–15 years total mining experience, with 5+ years in underground mechanised (trackless) mining, and 3–5 years as Mine Overseer in underground mechanised operations.
• Strong knowledge of MHSA, MPRDA, and related mining and environmental laws; proficiency in coordinating HR/IR, survey, ventilation, geology, and engineering.

Responsibilities

• Hold the Section 3.1(a) legal appointment under the Mine Health and Safety Act, with full statutory accountability.
• Ensure safe, productive, and cost‑effective day‑to‑day management.
• Provide tactical and strategic leadership to meet production, efficiency, cost, and safety targets.
• Drive optimal performance of Trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM) fleets, including planning, utilization, maintenance coordination, and productivity improvement.
• Oversee and optimize mechanised development and mechanised stoping operations.
• Implement and maintain robust health and safety systems, ensuring compliance with MHSA, MPRDA, and related mining and environmental legislation.
• Lead risk identification and management processes, including hazard identification, incident investigation, and corrective actions.
• Ensure effective mine planning and scheduling aligned with the mine plan, budgets, and business strategy.
• Manage and develop a competent team, including supervisors, section managers, and contractors.
• Collaborate with support functions to ensure integrated and efficient section performance.
• Monitor and control section costs and budgets, identifying opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency gains.
• Serve as interface with regulators (e.g., DMRE) on safety, production, and compliance for underground mechanised sections.

Skills

Leadership

Safety Management

Regulatory Compliance

Team Management

Strategic Planning

Education

B degree / B-Tech / Higher Diploma in Mining Engineering (NQF 7)

Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency (Metalliferous)

Mine Overseer’s Certificate of Competency

Blasting Certificate (Underground, Metalliferous)

Professional registration (SAIMM, AMMSA/MMSA) – desirable

Management Development Programme – desirable

Job description

The Mining Manager (Section 3.1(a) Appointee) is responsible for the safe, lawful, and efficient day‑to‑day management and operation of the underground mechanised mining section(s) in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996. The role carries full legal accountability for ensuring that all reasonable measures are taken to protect the health and safety of employees and contractors, to maintain discipline, and to comply with the MHSA, MPRDA, and related mining and environmental legislation. The incumbent provides both tactical and strategic leadership over people, equipment, and systems to achieve production, cost, quality, and safety targets, with particular emphasis on optimizing Trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM) fleets, mechanised development, and mechanised stoping operations. The role is critical to ensuring that PCZM’s underground mining activities are directed by a suitably qualified and experienced statutory appointee who drives regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and a strong safety culture from the outset.

Key responsibilities would include:

• Hold the Section 3.1(a) legal appointment under the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996, with full statutory accountability.

• Ensure safe, productive, and cost‑effective day‑to‑day management.

• Provide tactical and strategic leadershipto meet agreed production, efficiency, cost, and safety targets.

• Drive optimal performance of Trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM) fleets, including planning, utilization, maintenance coordination, and productivity improvement.

• Oversee and optimize mechanised development and mechanised stoping operations.

• Implement and maintain robust health and safety systems, ensuring compliance with the MHSA, MPRDA, and related mining and environmental legislation.

• Lead risk identification and management processes, including hazard identification, incident investigation, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.

• Ensure effective mine planning and scheduling aligned with the mine plan, budgets, and business strategy.

• Manage and develop a competent team, including supervisors, section managers, and contractors, ensuring appropriate training, authorization, and performance management.

• Collaborate with support functions (survey, ventilation, rock engineering, geology, engineering, finance, HR, ER/IR) to ensure integrated and efficient section performance.

• Monitor and control section costs and budgets, identifying opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency gains without compromising safety or compliance.

• Serve as a key interface with regulators (e.g., DMRE) and internal stakeholders on matters relating to safety, production, and compliance for the underground mechanised sections.

Minimum Requirements:

• B degree/ B-Tech / Higher Diploma in Mining Engineering or equivalent (NQF 7).
• Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency (Metalliferous).
• Mine Overseer’s Certificate of Competency.
• Blasting Certificate (Underground, Metalliferous).
• Professional registration (SAIMM, AMMSA/MMSA) – desirable.
• Management Development Programme – desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum 12–15 years’ overall mining experience, with at least 5 years in an underground mechanised (trackless) mining environment.

• Minimum 10 years’ experience either holding a Section 3.1(a) legal appointment or acting as a subordinate (2.6.1) manager under such an appointment.

• At least 3–5 years’ experience as a Mine Overseer in an underground mechanised operation.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Shift Supervisor or Production Supervisor in a mining environment.

• Proven track record of managing trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM) fleets, including mechanised development and mechanised stoping operations.

• Strong working knowledge of:

  • Stoping, mine development, and shaft/decline systems;

  • Core mining disciplines: survey, ventilation, rock engineering, geology, accounting, and engineering;

  • Human resources and employee/industrial relations (ER/IR);

  • Key legislation: Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA), MPRDA, and related mining and environmental laws.