Jop Purpose:
To provide both technical services and operational support to the underground operations team for paste backfill.
Job Description:
Health, Safety, and Environmental
- Review, update/create, and administer standard working procedures for Pastefill functions and other underground backfill operations.
- Perform routine task observations to ensure adherence to safe and efficient work procedures.
- Provide working knowledge of incident response and investigation, including root cause analysis and systematic controls.
- Participate in and lead minor investigations and support ICAM investigations.
- Identify occupational hazards and complete risk assessments, implementing appropriate controls and mitigations.
- Champion and enforce a strong safety culture throughout the project to meet HSES & AGA standards and incorporate safety aspects in paste designs.
- Ensure adherence to mining legislation and company/site standards in all aspects of pastefill design, planning, and operational processes.
Pastefill Engineering and Design
- Assist in mine design, scheduling, and provide work instructions relevant to ensure paste backfill supports short- and long-term mine production.
- Design and develop paste reticulation systems and specifications in accordance with best industry practices.
- Review and update pastefill barricades with monitoring systems to ensure factors of safety.
- Develop and continually improve/optimize pastefill mix designs.
- Develop scopes of work for contractor services as required.
- Develop and maintain pastefill operations, engineering, and planning procedures.
- Improve quality assurance and quality control practices of backfilling including: procedures, testing, and audits.
- Lead CAPEX projects.
- Participate in mining trials, research, and paste development projects.
- Develop budget, forecasting, and LOM planning requirements for pastefill and other backfill activities.
- Monitor backfill expenditures and ensure adherence to the approved budget.
- Undertake QA/QC analysis alongside Geotechnical Engineers to ensure suitability for paste redevelopment and adjacent mining.
- Work with the Underground Geotechnical/Planning Superintendent to design and schedule the underground backfill backbone.
- Assist with management of open pit/underground interactions, particularly void management processes.
- Provide solutions to fill historical voids through existing or new infrastructure.
Pastefill Operations
- Coordinate underground activities with paste reticulation and barricades daily.
- Coordinate management of the pastefill plant and its personnel.
- Coordinate supply logistics, orders (warehouse/inventory), and working tools for all backfill consumables; review and update the existing system.
- Assist to ensure timely delivery of short-term mine plans.
Business Improvement
- Initiate and perform time and motion studies to monitor operations and identify improvement opportunities.
- Benchmark cost and productivity against industry peers and investigate variances.
- Estimate maximum theoretical productivity and assess utilization, availability, and delay improvement potential.
- Lead business improvement projects within mine planning and operations.
- Identify variances and non-conformances to plans and rectify bottlenecks.
Administration
- Develop the operation and technical skills of the national workforce.
- Complete performance appraisals, employee development pathways, and succession plans for national workforce.
- Provide training to Graduate Paste/Geotechnical Engineers and Geotechnical Engineers in Pastefill operations.
- Support the Graduate and Paste Crew Development Program
Job Requirements
- Degree in Mining Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or equivalent.
- Driving license and underground driving permit.
- 7–10+ years of industry experience, including underground mining.
- Experience in underground mining methods (Open Stoping, Cut and Fill, Narrow Vein).
- Experience in paste fill or similar backfilling systems (CRF/CHF/Rock fill) and sequencing.
- Familiarity with geotechnical and geological data integration into mine planning.
- Experience with paste modeling software such as PumpSIM.
- Practical experience in operational mining practices.
- Competent in underground mine design and planning tools (Surpac, Deswik, or equivalent software).
- Strong working knowledge of operations reporting and infrastructure design.
- Familiar with cost accounting, civil construction, and project management.
- Computer literacy in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and work as part of a team.
- Effective oral and written communication skills; competency in English is highly regarded.
- Analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
- Knowledge of safe work practices and ability to recognize occupational hazards.
