Technical Services Manager - Nouakchott

Job Description

Lead the execution of the long-term strategy for technical services, ensuring alignment with the organization’s overall strategy. Formulate intermediate and short-term tactical plans to drive the execution of the strategic objectives and to maximize operational efficiencies and profitability.  Develop the technical services team to increase team capability, improve customer delivery and stakeholder and employee satisfaction.

Job Responsibilities

Develop and operationalize long-term strategies for technical services and to ensure Kinross meets its strategic objectives

Drive the development of the long-term mine plan in collaboration with the Strategic Business Plan team, ensuring the plan meets business objectives, incorporates business improvements and acknowledges operational realities and risk mitigations

Collaborate with the Strategic Business Plan Team and Regional/Corporate support to explore strategic options to improve long-term asset value through the optimization of planning assumptions, mine sequencing and/or the addition of new/updated ore reserves

Ensure resource and reserve models are updated and accurate

Formulate and intermediate and short-term tactical plans to drive the execution of the strategic objectives

Develop a highly functioning planning cascade from the long-term strategic plan to daily scheduling, providing guidance to Operations in order to achieve strategic objectives and maximize operational efficiencies and profitability

Develop a highly functioning planning review process to ensure planning process performance is understood and improvements implemented. In conjunction with Operations, identify risks to plan obtainment and determine improvements required.

Ensure grade control and ore mining activities are optimized for maximum profitability and advise Operations on the cost and benefits of tactical options

Manage site tonnes and grade reconciliation process, ensuring issues are understood, escalated, and required corrective actions are implemented

Act as a change agent and project sponsor for key initiatives in technical services; model organizational values, set the cultural tone, and prioritize business goals

Advise and cooperate with all other departments affected by changes in mine operations and assist in overall mine management through interaction with other departments

Job Responsibilities

Develop the Technical Services team to increase team capability

Identify team capability opportunities and implement plans to improve priority development areas

 Identify strategies and key performance goals and act as an advisor to direct reports; work to overcome challenges and barriers and minimize risk

Set performance targets and measure, monitor, and manage overall performance of the function and direct reports

Build the capabilities of the team by managing performance, hiring appropriately, leveraging the talents of the function, and taking corrective action where necessary

Ensure there is a comprehensive and effective succession management strategy in place for the function; identify succession role requirements and high potential talent, and actively develop key talent

Set priorities and allocate resources

Manage the human, financial, and operational resources of technical services

Formulate the annual operating and capital budgets for technical services, consistent with Kinross’ established financial guidelines and business planning process

Initiates and justifies capital expenditures

Lead the Technical Services Department in a manner that would promote achieving safety and production goals

Sustainability Expectations

Develops policies and procedures relating to safety, the environment and individual and organizational development. Ensures that direct reports and respective work areas are in compliance with Health and Safety policies and regulations. Ensures direct reports have the necessary training, skills, knowledge, and tools to do their jobs safely. Provides support to all areas on issues that jointly involve production and safety. Observes operations to detect violation of safety regulations and compiles safety and production records. Assists in accident and incident investigations and ensures that recommendations are implemented by agreed upon dates.

Scope of Responsibility & Complexity

Work is performed within general authority, receiving little direction. Work involves non-routine situations where established procedures do not always apply and problem resolution requires making significant modifications to existing analytical techniques and/or methods of operation. Work is technical and advanced in its complexity and involves a high degree of independent judgement. Ensures established results are achieved for the function, involving support or technical activities of a group of managers or professionals. Work is reviewed for attainment of objectives and effectiveness of results. Determines the plans for the function based on defined department goals. Provides general direction to staff with an emphasis on the execution of plans and delivery of services.

Education and Experience

University degree

Additional specialized education of up to 4 years including master’s level degree or equivalent preferred

8 - 12 years of related work experience

Previous leadership experience

Experience leading teams within the mining industry

Knowledge of engineering techniques as they apply to ore body evaluation and mine operations

Knowledge of geological resource models and grade control processes

Knowledge of requirements of “Qualified Person” in reporting ore reserves

Formal professional registration preferred

General knowledge of mining and the integration of the geology, mining, milling, and maintenance functions