Mining Study Principal

NEWRANGE COPPER NICKEL LLC•Minneapolis, MN

1d•$150,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Study Manager, the Mining Study Principal is the technical lead for the mining, mine geotechnical and mine waste scope of the Sunrise study, through concept, pre-feasibility and subsequent study phases. The role develops the mine plan, is responsible for pit optimization and scheduling, and directs the external mining, geotechnical and tailings consultants who perform specialist design work. The role is accountable for the technical quality, cost, schedule and risk of this scope, delivered through consultants and the project team. The scope includes rock storage and tailings storage facilities, and the role is the position through which owner’s-side accountability for mine waste and dam safety is exercised for Sunrise. All roles at NewRange serve as a courageous safety leader, leading by example and fostering a proactive safety and sustainability culture based on the common values of health, safety, environment, and communities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering or a related discipline.
Professional Engineer (PE) license in good standing in mining, geological or a related engineering discipline.
Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in mine planning, mine design or mining engineering, including open pit mining.
Demonstrated experience leading the mining discipline through at least one concept, pre-feasibility or feasibility study to a completed gate decision.
Demonstrated experience with pit optimization and mine scheduling software, and with the interpretation of geotechnical inputs to slope design.
Experience with mine waste and tailings storage facility concept development, and familiarity with dam safety governance expectations.
Experience developing scopes of work for, and technically directing, external mining, geotechnical and tailings consultants.
Ability to build a defensible mine plan on incomplete geological and geotechnical information, stating assumptions and their consequences explicitly.
Strong command of mine planning, pit optimization and scheduling software.
Sound judgment on geotechnical and dam safety risk, and the confidence to escalate it when the answer is unwelcome.
Recognized authority in the mining discipline, able to provide advice and guidance to others across the organization on approaches and issues.
Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with peers, the Study Manager, the President & General Manager and Joint Venture member representatives.
Strong technical writing, presentation, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to make a technical case to a non-technical audience and to a shareholder review.
Ability to independently lead a technical discipline, setting priorities and sequencing work with limited daily direction.
Willingness to challenge both external consultants and the internal team on technical substance, and to push for value while keeping outcomes practical and achievable.
Commercial judgment in scoping work to the level of definition each study stage requires.
Commitment to continual learning in industry standards, community considerations, and advances in the mining discipline.

Nice To Haves

Experience contributing to public Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve disclosure, including serving as a Qualified Person or Competent Person, is considered an asset.
Advanced degree is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Lead mining method selection and mine design development for Sunrise to the level of definition required by each study gate.
Develop pit optimization, phase designs, cut-off strategy and life-of-asset production schedules, and test them against processing throughput and product requirements.
Define the mining equipment strategy, fleet requirements, productivities and mining rates.
Develop mine capital and operating cost inputs, including the basis of estimate and the productivity assumptions behind it.
Define mining dilution and ore loss assumptions and reflect them in the production schedule.
Lead the mine geotechnical scope, including the pit slope design basis, ground conditions and the geotechnical data required to support them.
Define and manage geotechnical drilling, logging, instrumentation and laboratory programs, and integrate the results into slope design and mine planning.
Assess geotechnical risk to the mine plan and define the work required to reduce it before the next gate.
Lead development of the mine waste strategy for Sunrise, including waste rock characterization, rock storage facility siting and concept design, and stockpile strategy.
Hold owner’s-side accountability for tailings storage facility siting, concept selection and dam safety governance for Sunrise, exercised through directed consultant scopes and independent technical review, and ensure concepts meet applicable dam safety, regulatory and NewRange governance requirements.
Ensure waste rock and tailings geochemical characterization programs are scoped jointly with the Environmental & Permitting Principal and that their results are carried into facility concepts and closure assumptions.
Develop scopes of work, evaluation criteria and budgets for mining, geotechnical, tailings and mine waste consultants.
Direct and technically review consultant deliverables, and accept or reject them against the study design criteria and applicable standards.
Commission independent technical review where dam safety or slope stability risk warrants it, and act on its findings.
Maintain the technical relationship with providers, with the commercial relationship held by Supply.
Maintain the mining, geotechnical and mine waste entries in the Sunrise risk and opportunity register and drive the actions that close them.
Prepare and present the mining sections of study reports, gate submissions and shareholder-facing material to the President & General Manager, the Board of Managers and technical committees.
Contribute the mining inputs to Sunrise Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates and technical reports, and support their internal technical review.
Provide mining inputs to the project economic model and test them for sensitivity.
Interface with NorthMet Technical Services (mining engineering, geotechnical engineering and the tailings and rock storage consultant arrangements) to share standards, data and lessons, while maintaining the independence of the Sunrise study scope and schedule.
Provide technical coaching and mentorship to less experienced engineers and technical staff supporting the scope.
Maintain the mining design basis, key assumptions, models and consultant records so the discipline can be handed over or covered without loss of continuity.
Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned to meet operational needs.