Senior Mine Planner - Open Pit Operations

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

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus (performance-based)

Health Insurance

Retirement Savings Plan

Professional Development

Hybrid Work Model

Relocation Assistance

Exposure to diverse projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Mine Planner near Pretoria, Gauteng, to lead strategic open-pit mine planning. You will develop 5–20 year plans, optimize pit designs, and coordinate with geology, engineering, and safety teams in a hybrid work setup.

The role requires 10+ years in mine planning, proficiency with Deswik/Vulcan/Whittle/Gemcom, and strong analytical and leadership abilities. Travel to sites will be occasionally required as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in mine planning for open-pit operations.
• Proficiency with Deswik, Vulcan, Whittle, or Gemcom.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and ability to influence stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to mine sites around Pretoria, Gauteng.

Responsibilities

• Develop long-term (5–20 years) strategic mine plans for open-pit operations.
• Create medium-term (1–5 years) and short-term (monthly/quarterly) mine plans with pit phasing and production scheduling.
• Use Deswik, Vulcan, Whittle, or Gemcom to design pits, optimize shells, and schedule production.
• Collaborate with geology, geotechnical, and engineering teams to integrate data into plans.
• Conduct economic evaluations of mining scenarios considering costs, prices, and recovery.
• Perform sensitivity analyses and scenario planning to assess risks and opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental regulations, and permits.
• Present plans to senior management and regulators; mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Open-pit mining knowledge

Analytical thinking

Communication & influence

Risk assessment

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Deswik

Vulcan

Whittle

Gemcom

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent mining conglomerate, is seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Mine Planner to join their strategic planning department near Pretoria, Gauteng . This role is critical in developing and optimizing long-term and short-term mine plans for large-scale open-pit operations. You will leverage advanced mine planning software and geological data to design efficient extraction sequences, maximize resource utilization, and ensure operational viability while adhering to safety and environmental standards. The successful candidate will possess a deep understanding of open-pit mining methods, economic evaluation, and geostatistical analysis. This is a significant opportunity to shape the future of mining operations in a key region of Gauteng , contributing to strategic decisions with a direct impact on profitability and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and optimize long-term strategic mine plans (5-20 years) for open-pit mining operations.
• Create detailed medium-term (1-5 years) and short-term (monthly/quarterly) operational mine plans, including pit phasing, production scheduling, and waste stripping.
• Utilize advanced mine planning software (e.g., Deswik, Vulcan, Gemcom/Whittle) to generate mine designs, optimize pit shells, and schedule production.
• Collaborate closely with geological, geotechnical, and engineering teams to integrate technical data and constraints into mine plans.
• Conduct economic evaluations of different mining scenarios, considering operational costs, commodity prices, and metallurgical recovery.
• Perform sensitivity analyses and scenario planning to assess risks and opportunities associated with mine plans.
• Ensure mine plans comply with all relevant health, safety, environmental regulations, and permit requirements.
• Present mine plans and justifications to senior management, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies.
• Mentor junior mine planning engineers and foster best practices in mine planning.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in mine planning, with a substantial focus on open-pit operations.
• Proven expertise in using industry-standard mine planning software such as Deswik, Vulcan, Whittle, or Gemcom.
• Strong understanding of open-pit mining methods, geotechnical considerations, and resource modelling.
• Experience with economic evaluation and optimization of open-pit mines.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in interpreting geological and survey data.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to mine sites in the Pretoria, Gauteng area and beyond.

Benefits

• A competitive senior-level salary and attractive performance-based bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement savings plan.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and career advancement.
• A hybrid work model that balances strategic planning with operational insights.
• Relocation assistance for candidates relocating to the Pretoria, Gauteng region.
• Exposure to diverse and challenging open-pit mining projects.