Senior Specialist - Mine Planning

Newcrest is one of the world's largest gold mining companies. As a global business, we aim to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported to bring their whole unique self to work.

We recognise that our different backgrounds and perspectives help us find better ways to: solve problems; attract and retain the best people; explore, develop, and produce more gold safely and profitably; and help make Newcrest a better place to work.

Our Red Chris mine is located on the traditional territory of the Tahltan, and we encourage qualified applicants from the local communities to apply. We offer several designated marshalling points within BC including Nanaimo, Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Prince George, Smithers, and Calgary AB.

The Specialise LTP Engineer is responsible for implementing best practice strategic mine planning alongside current and future systems to ensure alignment with the business operations plan and regulatory obligations of the Red Chris operations. The role is responsible for integrated delivery and communication of quality, stable, and understood Life Of Province Plan (LoPP) and LT site plans with clearly defined outcomes and scoped forward-supporting work. A primary focus for this role is to provide support in the implementation and reporting of required improvements to eliminate Safety and design risks associated with the mine planning, design, and execution process.

This role is required to work closely with growth projects to assist in the integration the current operational strategy into the project and study aspirations. Specifically for Red Chris, this role is the bridge between the open pit operation planning and the transition to block cave mining in terms of planning to maintain metal production continuity and include key expansion and mine closure projects into the LoPP, budget and quarterly forecast.

Accountabilities

Scheduling

• Provide strategic mine planning that integrates with site schedules through effective planning and communication.
• Track and communicate high level compliance to Mine Plans.
• Efficient identification of resources (people and equipment) to achieve and exceed planned levels (targets).
• Lead the team that integrates planning with the Operations (Mine, Mill & TIA) Technical and Mobile Maintenance teams on requirements, customer needs, equipment availabilities and milling requirements.
• Plan development, design, and delivery in enabling Production flow is a major focus.

Production Planning & Design

• Delivery of robust, well understood LoPP, Budget and Quarterly forecasts that set the direction for the short-range planning team.
• Ensure application of safe and best practice Planning and Design standards in all aspects of the operation including meeting the regulatory requirements under the BC Mining Act and Health Safety & Reclamation Code regulations.
• Ensure pit stage designs and site quarry designs (TIA, 17km, 21km, etc.) are completed to site standard and approved well ahead of operational execution.
• Compliance with Group Planning Standards and development/maintenance of site planning standards.
• Meet Planning process targets/timelines in accordance with the Long-Term Mine Plans.
• Develop and maintain the Open Pit and Rock Storage Area Closure Plan in conjunction with the Environment and Closure teams
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to increase planning /production value by considering improvement methods and initiatives - EDGE
• Measure and ensure LoPP compliance is at acceptable levels and deviations corrected and clearly explained
• Ensure effective communication with Mine Management in the provision of accurate planning and operational performance and information on compliance and escalation of critical issues.
• Ensure delivery of a robust integrated LoPP (Open Pit and Underground) to agreed timelines.
• Ongoing assessment of LTP/MTP tools and methods and upkeep of selected tool.
• Ensure identification and management of material risks to plan delivery, including specific contingency plans.
• Ensure communication of site plans are effective for the business.
• Ensure delivery of a robust integrated technical support to agreed timelines to enable the safe and efficient mining rate ramp up.
• Reconciliation of technical service deliverables and outputs to actual performance.
• Development/maintenance of site technical standards.
• Ensure communication of technical support are effective for the business.
• Drive improvement initiatives using the EDGE process.

QA/QC

• Effective management of quality measures delivered against best practice Mine Planning, Design and Execution
• Monitor Plan Compliance with operational parameters and assist Production achieve and maintain the required mine plan compliance levels.
• Maintain efficient levels of technical support to meet mine production delivery levels

Liaison

• Liaise closely with the Operations (Mine-Mill-TIA) superintendents and coordinators on mine plans and execution issues, schedules and medium- to long-term planning
• Geomet projects teams (site Metallurgy)
• Maintenance Department on equipment strategy, LoPP and medium-term assumptions.
• Process Operations for optimum crusher/mill feed - Ore Blends
• Other stakeholders (CR, Finance)
• TIA and Processing for sand and dam construction material planning

Resources and Reserve Reporting

• Provide support in annual R&R reporting complaint with NML and site standards and timelines.
• Deliver all statutory reports and plans a as required.

Leadership and Mentoring

• Actively lead the technical support of the NML 3 pillar of safety of NewSafe CCM and Process Safety.
• Train and mentor in all aspects of role. Support overall department to work towards the agreed personnel development and succession plans.
• Support the training and development of the team members so that the necessary skills are obtained and retained to ensure the most effective utilisation of equipment.
• Create a forum and environment for open and collaborative work practices.
• Ensure availability, maintenance and training in the use of appropriate tech services systems and tools.

Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to performance improvement by participation in all continuous improvement projects across the department utilizing the EDGE process where required.

Budget and Costs Management

• Assist Management with projections for capital and operating expenditure.
• Manage consultant expenses and costs as required.
• Responsible for, and advising on, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of all aspects of Mine Planning

Health & Safety

• Effectively promote health and safety programs targeting zero harm work-related injuries and illnesses within the team.
• Maintain a culture of safety awareness underpinned by an understanding of the principles of duty of care
• Ensure regulatory blasting requirements are executed and upheld at all times
• Active participation and leadership with NewSafe, CCM and HBP processes and programs.

Environment

• Awareness of the respective Newcrest Mining environmental programs.
• Maintain a culture of environmental awareness underpinned by an understanding of the principles of environmental impact and mitigation.
• Active role in AMD management and surface water management and ensure incorporated into LOPP plans
• Active role in mine closure planning

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Mining or related field
• Member or eligible for EGBC (Engineers and Geologists of British Columbia)
• Minimum 10+ years of experience working as Mining Engineer or similar; preferably in an open pit mine.
• Experience working with and manipulating block models
• Working knowledge of mining software and scheduling software, preferably MineSight 3D, Deswik and XACT
• An understanding of pit & dump design creation with geotechnical parameters

Desirable

• Proficient in Microsoft suite
• Understands basic field operations and equipment limitations
• Experience with supervising a technical team
• Experience dealing with regulators and other 3 rd party organizations
• Strong operational safety focus and strong focus on safety in design
• Strong communicator to all levels of the organisation
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment and work well with multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers
• Enthusiastic self-starter and able to handle multiple tasks
• Detail oriented with good organizational skills
• Highly analytical
• Adaptable to all work conditions (office/outdoor)

At Newcrest, we hold core values that focus on caring about people, working together, and achieving a high-performance culture through innovation and problem solving.

Newcrest's commitment to diversity and inclusion respects both the rights of every individual to work to their highest potential, free of discrimination, as well as the cultures, religions, and governing codes applicable to each country in which we operate.

If you share our values and feel that you could make a meaningful difference in this role, please apply online before the advertised application closing date.