Senior Superintendent - Mining Operational Excellence

Golden Star (Wassa) Limited, (a member of Chifeng Gold Group), is a gold mining company situated at Akyempim in the Wassa East District of the Western Region, in Ghana – Africa. Since its conception of surface operations in 2005, the consistent growth and development of the mine saw in 2017 its first commercial underground production.

To support our continued growth, we are seeking a qualified candidate in the position of Senior Superintendent – Mining Operational Excellence. This role is crucial to the overall development and success of the operations.

Reporting directly to the Head of Mining Production, this role will be responsible for the management of Wassa Mine Operations Centre (MOC) and its Mining Operational Technologies (MOT) as well as for the Continuous Improvement of the Mining Department. Driving operational continuous improvements across key departments. Analyse and integrate production and costing data for the Mining Department. Create and manage the ongoing develop and implementation of MOC, MOT and Cost Management systems.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Champion the integration and adoption of Wassa's Operational Excellence (OE) Framework within the Mining department, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and aligning operational processes with the framework's principles.
• Lead Continuous Improvement (CI) projects, employing methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints, and Short Interval Control, to guide the department and improve project outcomes.
• Oversee the development and management of Mining Systems, ensuring they meet technical specifications and contribute to operational efficiency, data integrity, and strategic goal alignment.
• Act as the custodian of departmental data, ensuring its integrity, overseeing the entire reporting system, and serving as the primary source of data and insights for all departmental reporting needs.
• Serve as the department's cost management strategist, identifying opportunities for cost optimization and ensuring alignment between resource utilization and financial objectives.
• Collaborate with the finance team and mining stakeholders to develop, manage, and adjust budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring they reflect operational requirements and strategic goals.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs, enhancing the Mining OE team's skills in CI methodologies, root cause analysis, and change management, while also mentoring the team to cultivate an environment of continuous learning and operational efficiency.
• Spearhead the implementation of best practices for mine management systems, leveraging CI principles to drive site productivity, reduce costs, and streamline reporting
• Foster robust collaboration with cross-functional teams, including mine planners, geologists, drill & blast engineers, and the production team, to promote integrated and strategic operational approaches.

Qualification, skills and experience:

• Degree in Mining Engineering. Over 10 years in a similar role, including 5 years of focused technical experience.
• Some underground experience (long hole open stoping and cut a fill) would be preferrable but not essential.
• Proven aptitude in managing process change and improvement, with a track record of successful outcomes in processing operations.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines through effective planning, prioritization, and delegation.
• Strong knowledge of health, safety, and environmental practices in processing plant operations.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, including VBA programming, and proficiency in Power BI.
• Proficient in English, both written and verbal.
• Essential previous expatriate experience having worked in developing countries.
• Training and development of the national workforce

This is a renewable fixed term position. The onsite camp facilities at Wassa include fully serviced air-conditioned rooms, dining halls, sports bar convenience store, gym and sporting facilities, swimming pool and a fully equipped medical Center. An attractive expatriate salary package including a performance-based incentive and other benefits is on offer.

The closing date for this position will be 15March 2024. Interviews will be conducted as CV’s are received; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. Golden Star is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of age, gender, marital status, race, nationality, religious belief, ethnicity, disability, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements, which cannot be shown to be justifiable.