Newmont Mining Corporation is a leading global gold producer with key assets in Nevada, Peru, Australia, Ghana and Suriname.

Newmont’s Africa Operations holds two gold mining operations in Ghana: the Ahafo Mine located in the Brong-Ahafo region and the Akyem Mine located in the Eastern region. There is also near mine exploration and development focus in Ghana to annually replace gold reserves. Newmont Africa also has early-stage exploration programs in the African countries of Ethiopia and Morocco.

Our Africa operations employ approximately 5,900 employees and contractors, with the majority working at the Ahafo Mine. We offer an unparalleled blend of opportunity and career satisfaction with all the benefits you would expect from a global company. This, combined with our growth opportunities, makes Newmont a great company to work.

Our Akyem and Ahafo mines have made significant sustainable community development investments in our host communities. These include establishing Development Funds at our Akyem and Ahafo operational areas with each mine contributing US$1 per ounce of gold sold and 1% of net pre-tax annual profit into its community development fund.

The only gold company listed in the S&P 500 index, Newmont in 2007 became the first gold company selected to be part of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. Newmont’s industry leading performance is reflected through our Africa operations’ high standards in environmental management, health and safety for our workforce and creating value and opportunity for our employees, host communities and Newmont’s shareholders.

About This Role

• To coordinate, direct and lend technical support to all on-site blasting activities, in a safe manner, and coordinate resource allocations to effectively complete the activities.

In This Role You Will

Blast Operations Planning

• Execute short and long-term mine blasting plans.
• Implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the area.
• Oversee and coordinate the weekly plan for the initiating of blast schedules.
• Coordinate, prioritise and assign blasting tasks for completion to meet blasting target goals.
• Examine blast pattern designs to determine explosive type and quantity to be used.
• Oversee the availability of blasting material and explosives at designated blasting times and dates.
• Conduct pre-blasting assessments on blasting areas to provide assurance on the safety of all equipment and staff, and to prevent the possible damage of machinery.
• Send all blasting requisition requests to the General Foreperson for review and obtain sign-off from both the General Foreperson and the Mine Manager.
• Oversee and coordinate the activation of all pit sirens, prior to blasting activity.

Blast Operations Execution

• Receive guidance from the General Foreperson – Drill and Blast for optimal blasting locations.
• Install physical critical controls (i.e. demarcations, flags, cones), prior to blasting.
• Coordinate and pair the blasting crew with the relevant equipment required to execute tasks.
• Schedule and supervise all blasting activities, by overseeing and evaluating works-in-progress and ensure that all activities meet specifications, codes and regulations.
• Identify opportunities for both short and long-term interval controls, based on the blasting plan, and make any necessary adjustments and changes to the shift, to meet daily target projections.
• Oversee all blasting activities such as:
  • areas to be blasted.
  • areas to be developed.
  • rate of development required.
  • distribution of labour, supplies and equipment.
• Oversee all contractors assigned to designated blasting work areas within the department.
• Provide technical guidance and transfer of knowledge to the blast crew through active coaching and mentoring.
• Hold blast crew accountable for the work completed by:
  • Administering discipline and facilitating corrective actions.
  • Monitoring crew key performance indicators (KPI’s).
  • Explaining the blasting plan to the crew and providing clear instructions.
  • Implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Managing shift changeovers between crews.
• Oversee the administration and maintenance of the DIP plus system to monitor the drill hole depth.
• Collaborate with ORICA to ensure the timely and high-quality supply of blasting material.
• Analyse daily blasting production and cost data to confirm that the department is operating within overall blasting production and budget forecasts.
• Coordinate the maintenance of blast equipment with the Mine Maintenance section.
• Provide feedback reports regarding blasting activities to the General Foreperson – Drill and Blast for review.
• Maintain accurate records and archives of all blasting activities.

Blast Optimisation and Continuous Improvement

• Assess and continually improve current blast practices by:
  • controlling blast design, pattern prep, pattern mark-up and accurate execution of drilled blast holes.
  • booster placements in blast holes.
  • explosive discharge hose placement in blast holes.
  • explosive column height.
  • blast hole stemming.
  • reconciliation of explosives waste on blast patterns.
• Assess and continually improve current blast processes with respect to:
  • bench standards and co-ordination.
  • blast reports.
  • blast schedules.
  • blast designs.
  • blast plans.
  • having monthly blast improvement meetings with ORICA.
• Report and escalate all accidents and incidents occurring in the shift to the General Foreperson – Drill and Blast for immediate review.

Stakeholder Management and Engagement

• Send out communication to the surrounding communities regarding blasting times and dates.
• Communicate directly with other Mine Operations sections regarding the packing of blasting equipment.
• Communicate directly with the Security department via two-way radio announcements to inform all personnel to vacate the blasting area.
• Liaise with various Ghanaian government authorities to ensure that all national codes and standards are met and complied with in assigned blasting activities.
• Coordinate activities with all departments to ensure continuity of the total mine operation.
• Obtain suggestions from other Newmont departments, in identifying opportunities for improving blasting efficiency and productivity.
• Liaise with the Learning & Development department to arrange the receipt of training schedules and times for the national workforce.
• Oversee that blasting shift work meets established statutory standards.

Health and Safety Management

• Verify that the demarcated blast areas are safe and secure to promote worker health and safety.
• Adhere strictly to internal Newmont health and safety standards.
• Comply with safe blasting procedures for both Newmont and Contractor Staff.
• Accept personal responsibility for the health and safety of every employee under or assigned to his / her supervision.
• Provide hands-on assistance during operations activities and ensure that safe work practices are followed by the Operators.
• Coordinate the inspection of drill areas on a consistent basis to detect and resolve immediate safety, personnel and production problems.
• Revert to the Engineering team to potentially change shift plans for a particular area, arising out of work hazard detection.
• Conduct periodic safety meetings and safety inspections.
• Lead daily pre-shift staff debriefings.
• Attend monthly safety inspection and meetings.

Staff Supervision

• Create a suitable shift work environment to motivate Operators to achieve optimum effectiveness and productivity.
• Supervise all direct reports by:
  • participating in the recruitment and selection of staff.
  • recommending the selection of new staff.
  • conducting crew assessments.
  • developing the team to perform at their best capabilities.
  • contributing to performance appraisals.
  • participating in team performance management calibrations.
  • recommending further / relevant training courses and development actions in accordance with Newmont’s people development program(s).
  • implementing training schedules for staff.
  • coaching and mentoring staff.
  • enhancing communication with staff through regular feedback, contact, meetings and briefings.

Your Training, Skills & Experience Checklist

Formal Qualification (including Professional Registrations):

• Bachelors’ Degree in Mine / Civil Engineering, Geology or related field.

Additional Knowledge

• Mine Foreman Certificate.
• Detailed knowledge of various explosive types.
• Detailed knowledge in blasting accessories.
• General knowledge in heavy equipment operation.

Experience

• Minimum of 4 – 5 years’ blasting experience in large open pit mining environments, of which at least 2 – 3 years’ experience should be in a shift supervisory capacity.
• Experience in electronic detonation.

Technical Skills

• Advanced planning, organising and prioritising skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong technical communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Strong computer literacy skills – MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), MS Project.
• Strong information monitoring and management skills.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Strong facilitation and consultation skills.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong supervisory skills.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills.
• Ability to adapt to constant shift changes.

Behavioural Attributes

• Accuracy.
• Approachable.
• Customer focused.
• Decisive.
• Detail oriented.
• Goal oriented.
• Takes initiate.
• Proactive.
• Reliable and independent.
• Results driven.
• Safety conscious.
• Team player.
• Technically inclined.

Working Conditions

• Position is located at the Ahafo North mine site.
• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representatives of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job.
  • Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
  • Physical Demands: While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required to sit at a desk for extended periods, climb stairs, walk and stand.
  • Work Environment: The noise level in the field environment is high.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Work requires mandatory PPE such as helmet, goggles, high visible clothing, safety harness, ear plugs and dust mask according to working conditions.
• Incumbent occasionally has to work overtime.

We understand no candidate will meet every single desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you!