Technical Services Manager

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
• 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

Education and Experience

• University degree in mine engineering or related discipline
• 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