Who We Are

Vale is a global mining company headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We are leaders in the production of iron ore and one of the largest global producers of nickel. In Canada, Vale employs approximately 6,000 people in our corporate office in Toronto and at sites in Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador, where we produce nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum group metals, gold and silver.

Our open-pit mine and concentrator in Voisey’s Bay - Vale’s only fly-in/fly-out operation in Canada - produces nickel-cobalt-copper concentrate and copper concentrate. An underground expansion will see a transition to a leading edge underground mine. Our state-of the-art facility in Long Harbour is the first nickel processing plant in the world to use hydrometallurgy technology to produce Plating RoundsTM from hard rock (sulphide) concentrate, with zero emissions. Our offices in St. John’s and Goose Bay provide support to the Newfoundland and Labrador Operations

Through their hard work, innovation and forward thinking, it is our employees, and a wholesome orebody of course, that ensures a bright future for Vale in Canada – a future we want you to be a part of.

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking TWO (2) MINE TECHNOLOGISTS to join our Operational Readiness Team at our remote mine site in Voisey’s Bay, Labrador, a fly-in fly-out operation. These permanent positions will be on a 2 week in/2 week out rotation.

The Mine Technologist is responsible for providing intermediate level technical support for surveying, geotechnical, ground control, and ventilation functions within the mine daily while following the safety plan developed for the operations department in conjunction with the Mines Technical Services (MTS) Safety Plan. Mine Technologists will provide feedback for creation of the drilling, development and production layouts and monitor mine development, production, and construction excavation projects with respect to lines, grade, and conformance to short term production plans raising issues of non-conformance to the supervisor.

The Mine Technologist works collaboratively with their peers within the mining and technical services team and cross functionally with all other areas of the mine to complete tasks in their area of accountability. In this position, you will carry out duties over the following disciplines:

Ground Control:

• Check and interpret daily instrumentation readings; relaying information to the operations;
• Monitor the field ground support testing and be familiar with the local ground support standards and hardware;
• Audit installed ground support;
• Complete group support installation checklist;
• Ground Control Log Book for each portal face;
• Monitor the seismic activity;
• Solve micro-seismic system hardware and software issues;
• Install instrumentation including seismic sensors;
• Assist with the preparation of reconditioning plans for issue;
• Understand the non-conformance process;
• Map faces for support.

Survey:

• Maintain survey equipment, survey software and source surveying supplies;
• Perform and conduct surveying including:
  • Cavity Monitoring Surveys
  • Install line and grade
  • Complete check surveys within closure tolerances
  • Pick up collars and breakthroughs of miscellaneous and production boreholes
  • Tope openings and create as-builts in the field
  • Mark up drill lines in a production stope, for service holes or diamond drills
  • Complete miscellaneous construction survey work;
• Upload survey information and update drawings following standards, including sections;
• Issue driving layouts for operations usage;
• Complete Safety Notices.

Ventilation:

• Setup ventilation reading stations;
• Update fire drawings and ventilation plans for the mine;
• Design auxiliary systems and issue plans for ventilation.

Geotechnical:

• Complete dig plans;
• Complete material classification for appropriate grading;
• Complete face mapping and upload into Deswik for planning purposes;
• Complete Deswik data entry;
• Complete the probing and grade control.

About You

• Education:
  • Mineral Exploration/Mining Technology Diploma
  • Professional Technologist (P.Tech) Designation
  • Mining Engineer-in-Training (EIT) applications are also welcome
• Experience:
  • A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in an underground mining environment focusing on ventilation, surveying, and ground control monitoring.
• Able to perform routine procedures or calculations requiring basic training in more than one specialty as pertaining to surveying, ventilation and ground control fields.
• Strong digital literacy, including surveying tools, Datamine, AutoCAD, Deswik, and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Solid initiative and collaboration skills.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Dedication to continuous improvement to identify, analyze, and recommend opportunities for safety, efficiency, and cost improvements.
• Able to work in underground mining environment as frequent underground travel is required.

Difference Makes All the Difference

At Vale, we are committed to ensuring an inclusive work environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. Vale encourages everyone to express their ideas and opinions and Vale values the plurality of individual profiles. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or any other personal consideration that makes us different.

Vale is an equal opportunity employer seeking to increase diversity across our operations and improve equal opportunity at Vale and in the mining industry.

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application online at www.valejobs.ca or by forwarding their application to their Vale Aboriginal Employment Coordinator.

Deadline to Apply: Thursday, March 4 th , 2021