Drill and Blast Engineer

SUMMARY:
Our Client operating within the opencast mining environment seeks to employ a suitably qualified and experienced Drill and Blast Engineer to oversee all drilling and blasting activities across an opencast mine, ensure safe, cost-effective, legally compliant, and productive operations. The Drill & Blast Engineer is responsible for blast design, execution, contractor management, fragmentation quality, vibration control, explosive management, and continuous improvement to support production targets.

POSITION INFO:
Key Role Responsibilities: Drill & Blast Planning and management Design blast patterns based on geological conditions. Optimise burden, spacing, stemming and powder factors. Coordinate drilling, charging and firing activities. Develop daily, weekly and monthly drill and blast schedules. Ensure blast readiness with production and mine planning teams. Safety & Compliance Ensure compliance with MHSA, Explosives Act and company standards. Develop and maintain drill and blast procedures. Lead risk assessments, pre-blast inspections and post-blast evaluations. Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions. Ensure safe storage, transport and use of explosives. Blast Performance Analyse blast results and implement continuous improvements. Monitor fragmentation quality. Minimise fly rock, overbreak, backbreak and vibration. Improve diggability and downstream crusher performance. Contractor Management Monitor contractor productivity and compliance. Conduct performance reviews. Ensure contractual obligations are achieved. Explosives Management Manage explosive inventory. Monitor blast costs. Ensure accurate reporting and statutory records. Control explosive consumption and reconciliation. Technical Reporting Prepare production and blasting reports. Analyse KPIs and recommend improvements. Present monthly operational performance. Report on costs, productivity and safety. People Management and Leadership Lead Drill & Blast Supervisors and technical personnel. Coach and mentor team members. Manage departmental budgets. Participate in production planning meetings. Support operational excellence initiatives. Minimum Inherent Requirements Bachelors Degree in Mining Engineering. Valid Blasting Certificate for Opencast Mines. Minimum 10 years' open-cast mining experience, within opencast mining operations. 5-7 years in a Drill & Blast supervisory\/management role. Experience within explosives industry is highly advantageous. Contractor management Knowledge of the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA) and the Explosives Act 15 of 2003. Valid driver's licence. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Blast compliance (% completed as planned) Powder factor optimisation Fragmentation quality Blast-induced vibration compliance Explosive cost per BCM\/tonne Contractor performance Drill availability and utilisation Budget adherence and Cost management Individual Competencies Proven people management skills Good decision-making skills under pressure Excellent planning and organisational skills Analytical and problem-solving ability Communication and stakeholder engagement