18 Jobs in New Zealand

• Advance your career and be part of a high-performing mining company in Laos, with growth projects in SE Asia
• Live a great expatriate lifestyle, either living residentially in Vientiane or FIFO
• Laos based residential role on 9/5 roster, or FIFO on 28/14 roster

Phu Bia Mining Limited (PBM) is a Lao-registered company, 90 per cent owned by PanAust Limited, an Australian-headquartered copper and gold mining company, with the Government of Laos owning the remaining 10 per cent. Phu Bia Mining owns and operates two award winning operations – Phu Kham Copper-Gold and Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver, both located in Xaisomboun Province, 120km north of Vientiane.

PanAust has operations in Laos and Chile, and pre-development assets in Papua New Guinea.

This is a unique time to join Phu Bia Mining. The Company’s Phu Kham Copper-Gold and Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operations are world-class in terms of safety, production and performance. The Company is committed to continuing to deliver outstanding operational results while developing a mine closure plan that will provide sustainable outcomes for the Government and people of Laos.

The position will be positioned between both Phu Kham and Ban Houayxai operations.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Superintendent Geology, the Underground Geology Superintendent is responsible for providing technical leadership and strategic oversight of underground geology activities, ensuring accurate resource definition and reliable geological data to support safe, efficient, and productive mining operations.

The key responsibilities for the role include:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of underground geologists and technicians, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement underground mine geology processes and procedures.
• Oversee day-to-day grade control geology, including face mapping, sample collection, and interpretation of ore zones in hard rock environments (gold, copper, or similar commodities).
• Supervise geological data collection, logging, and database management to ensure accuracy and consistency across all underground workings.
• Interpret structural geology, alteration, and mineralisation trends to support short- and long-term mine planning.
• Collaborate closely with mine planning, survey, and geotechnical teams to optimise stope design, development headings, and ore extraction strategies.
• Review and validate resource models, ensuring geological interpretations align with production data and reconciliation outcomes.
• Drive ore/waste contact marking and communicate dilution risks to production and technical teams in a timely manner.
• Manage underground diamond drilling programs, including drill hole planning, supervision, and logging.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and company standards for geological reporting and documentation.
• Contribute to exploration targeting and brownfields programs to support mine life extension.
• Coach and mentor local staff in best-practice underground mining techniques.

To be successful in this role, you will require:

• Bachelor’s degree in Geology or related discipline
• More than 10 years’ experience in underground mining operations, ideally with Superintendent-level experience
• Experience working through highly variable ground conditions.
• Experience in LHOS and Sublevel Caving methods preferred
• Experience with Deswik CAD, Datamine, Surpac or alternative modelling software, including Leapfrog Geo.
• Experience in both owner-operator and contractor underground operations
• Previous expatriate experience and working in a tropical environment will be an advantage
• Recent experience in both technical and leadership roles will be highly regarded
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and contractor management skills
• High levels of enthusiasm and energy combined with a proactive approach
• Experience in study level (Concept through to feasibility)
• Experience in underground project start-up operations

As a mining company operating in high-risk environments, maintaining the highest safety standards is fundamental to the success and sustainability of our operations. An unwavering focus on safety is a non-negotiable when joining our team.

The candidate will be willing to relocate to Laos, working on a 9/5 roster between both sites. However, FIFO arrangements can be considered for the right candidate on a 28/14 roster with travel in company time.

Our culture

High performance outcomes, Respect for people, Integrity, Excellence in communications, High-calibre people and Alignment of employee to company objectives.

Benefits

We offer a competitive remuneration packaging including bonus incentive (potential tax advantages), health insurance cover, parental leave and more. This role is offered either residentially based in Laos or on a fly in – fly out basis that includes travel in company time with transport to and from site provided by the company, with travel in company time. Our modern mine camp provides a range of Western and Asian food, wet mess as well as sporting and recreational facilities, including football field, gym and pool tables.

PanAust is focused on building a workforce that embraces diversity and inclusion, creating an environment of belonging that brings us all together through employee connection, security and community, harnessing what make each other unique. As an Equal Opportunity employer, we encourage and welcome applications from all genders, abilities, generations and cultural backgrounds.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted regarding their application status.

We are not working with agencies to recruit this role.

If you’d like to learn more about us, please visit www.PanAust.com.au