DRILL AND BLAST | MINING CAREER AT NORTH MARA GOLD MINE, TANZANIA

Category: Engineering | Requisition number: 091303 | Location: North Mara Gold Mine, Mara Region, Tanzania  |Reporting to: Shift Supervisor-Shovels

Apply now

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

North Mara Gold Mine Limited is seeking to recruit a two Drill and Blast Engineers to join Mining Underground team. The successful candidates for this position will carry out assigned engineering tasks within the guidelines of Company Standard Operating Procedures and Best Practice as well as other assigned tasks within the range of competencies. The position will report to the Senior UG Long-Term Planning Engineer. This is a permanent contract role, with the work roster beingsix weeks onsite and three weeks off.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure that systems and programs in place promote employee compliance with operating standards and safe work procedures.
• Actively participate in and promote health, safety, and environment initiatives, aligned with the company’s overall business strategy
• Create a working environment that ensures that subordinate employees gain new skills and achieve their full potential by developing and implementing effective training and mentoring/coaching programmes.
• Effective management of Drill & Blast activities in North Mara Gold Mine and outside the mining area in accordance with Barrick safety, quality and environmental policies and standard procedures from operational point of view.
• Effective management of the drill fleet to ensure a high level of efficiency and productivity is achieved.
• Participate in the development of work schedules to ensure Drill & Blast activities and requirements are achieved within the desired work schedules and budgeted targets.
• Participate in the development, implementation and reporting of Drill & Blast continuous improvement and KPI initiatives.
•  Preparation of drill plans and charge plans for longhole stoping operations at Gokona underground.
• Progress tracking plans in line with schedule
• Monitoring the quality of blasting and optimising requirements for operational activities.
• Assist with preparation of budgets and forecasts of explosives and drilling consumables
• Identify opportunities to optimise drill and blast activities that result in business improvements
• Monitor and review long-hole drilling and stope bogging performance
• Contribute to mine planning, stope note, stope closures and level extraction plan process, and keep records of associated documents.
• Development and implementation of weekly drill and blast schedules to meet monthly targets
• Monitor blast performance with particular emphasis on controlling of fragmentation, overbreaks and underbreaks.
• Provide technical expertise and liaison with explosives supplier to resolve product quality issues and manage explosive product stock levels.
• Collaborate to provide technical support to ensure Drill and Blast activities and plans are timely, reliable, and realistic.  
• Ensure there are proper allocations of the drill rigs by delivering the required results as per the existing budget.
• Collaborate to provide technical analysis of drill and blast activities with the aim of improving optimization.
• Prepare weekly and monthly Drilling and Blasting reports for EOM reporting to Mining Engineers for reconciliation.
• Ensure that QA/QC sheets are being done and recorded prior to the blasting activities.
• Provide the Mining Manager with advice/ initiatives that seek to reduce costs in drilling and blasting activities.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:                                                              

• Degree in Mining Engineering and must be registered as a mining or professional engineer.
• Having a valid blasting certificate as per Tanzania regulations and or act(s).
• Mine Overseers/Captain Certificate of Competency or the equivalent will be an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• 2 years of progressive underground experience in the mining industry including experience in large underground drilling and blasting activities
• Experience in coordinating and managing a sizable drill fleet in tough working conditions
• Experience as a Drill & Blast coordinator in underground environment
• A tertiary qualification in related field is highly desirable

SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:

• Understanding of basic Mines Health & Safety Act
• A good knowledge and recognition of building materials is essential.
• A full driving license.
• Good listener and team player.
• Methodical, organized and able to work on own initiative.
• The ability to provide an effective courteous service.
• A flexible approach to working arrangements.
• Good command of written and spoken English communication skills
• Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment