Senior Mine Backfill Engineer

Company description:

Gold Fields' mining assets in the Australia region (GFA) include a 100% interest in the St Ives, Agnew, and Granny Smith mines and a 50:50 interest in the Gruyere JV project with Gold Road Resources.

Our four Australian mines - Agnew, St Ives, Granny Smith, and Gruyere - are in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia where over 1,600 staff are employed on a residential and fly-in, fly-out basis.

Job description:

Role Details:

Gold Fields Australia is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Backfill Engineer to join our regional team based in the Perth Office. As a key member of our Technical Team, you will be responsible for the provision of Mine Backfill technical and operational support to all the Gold Fields Australia operations. You will play a crucial role in developing and implementing value add technical backfill solutions and ensuring best practice methodologies and processes are being employed across the backfill value chain. This includes engagement of Life of mine studies and projects through to troubleshooting of operational issues in the backfill plants and reticulation systems and may include international projects.

If you thrive in a collaborative environment, possess strong problem-solving skills and have a proven track record in Backfill Engineering with a continuous improvement focus we invite you to apply and contribute to our innovative projects.

As an employee at Gold Fields, we expect all levels of employees to act in a manner that seeks to align and enhance the values, safety culture and performance of Gold Fields to create enduring value beyond mining.

This role is offered on a 9-day fortnight roster at our Perth corporate office permanently, for this role we will consider full-time, part-time or job share options.

Benefits include:

• Private Health Insurance Allowance
• Annual bonus scheme and long term incentive plan
• Flexible work arrangements on offer
• Increased annual leave entitlements plus long service leave pro rata after 5 years of continuous service
• Educational assistance

About the role:

• Provide technical services through optimisation of paste backfill systems, including improvements to rheology, reticulation, QA/QC and backfill strength design whilst ensuring that all backfill risks are considered, evaluated and have adequate controls;
• Participate in projects to optimise and expand paste backfill distribution infrastructure and implement design of barricades accommodating continuous pouring where feasible;
• Ensure quality assurance and quality control programs are maintained and executed as per the backfill management plan;
• Update standards and procedures related to paste backfill as required, ensuring standardisation across the region;
• Provide guidance related to the design strength of cemented paste backfill for the appropriate mining method and stope sequencing requirements. Ensure that adequate geotechnical and backfill consideration is captured in all aspects of mine design, planning and scheduling including shot, mid and longer-term projects;
• Collaborate with key mining and mill operations personnel to troubleshoot challenges within the paste backfill system, ensuring appropriate rheology, composition, and flushing occur to prevent blockages;
• Assist in the training and development of geotechnical and mining engineers on the various functions of backfill in the mine, including upskilling the workforce;
• Actively seek out new technologies, systems and practices to improve on current practices.

About you:

• Hold a Bachelors Degree in Geotechnics, Mining Engineering, Civil Engineer, Geological Engineering or Geology
• Membership of AusIMM desirable
• Extensive experience in geotechnical or Backfill Engineering, preferably with experience at a Senior level on operating mine sites
• Experience in Project/Cost/Contractor Management
• Detailed working knowledge of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act & Regulations
• Valid manual drivers licence

Applications can be submitted via: https://careers.goldfields.com/Australia

Gold Fields is committed to achieving an inclusive workforce. We recognise that the diverse talent of our people will ultimately determine our growth, performance and success. We strongly encourage applications from female, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, as well as candidates with culturally diverse backgrounds.

We offer:

• Stability - excellent solid gold mining company
• Perth based office
• Annual Performance Bonuses and Cash Long-Term Incentive Plan
• Private Health Insurance Allowance
• Salary continuance scheme and life insurance
• Virgin Velocity reward points
• Continual training and the ability to expand your career
• Salary Sacrifice options