Production Manager – Mining Surface Operations – Expat FIFO

About the Opportunity
A career-defining opportunity awaits an experienced Prodcution Manager – Mining Surface Operations for a landmark APAC mining ‘mega project’ at the greenfield development stage. This is your chance to lead the safe and efficient operation of the open pit mining. The role leads production performance across drill, blast, load and haul, dumps and stockpiles, optimizing an ultra-class truck–shovel system (Komatsu 4100XPC electric rope shovels and 400t class Komatsu 980E electric-drive haul trucks) through disciplined operating routines, effective resource deployment and structured performance management.

The Role
The Production Manager ensures sustained workfront availability and safe access through integrated readiness planning, including dewatering execution and in-pit electrification operational enablement (cable management/relocations and exclusion controls). The role drives integrity and adoption of surface operations technology (Dispatch/FMS, delay coding, shift reporting and performance dashboards) to enable reliable plan/actual control and continuous improvement.

Key Duties & Responsibilities
We are particularly interested to hear from experienced Surface Production or Mine Managers with experience in establishing large open pit mining operations, managing ultra-class fleet and in-pit electrification.
People, Safety & Cost

• Lead the production function (Mining Superintendents, Supervisors, Dewatering and Cable Crew) and set requirements for Dispatch/FMS and Training/Competency to ensure performance standards, reporting integrity and competency/authorization for critical roles.
• Manage production and enabling contractor performance (as applicable), ensuring alignment to operating standards, HSE requirements, and the production operating cycle.
• Enforce critical controls and operating standards for surface operations, ensuring HSE/environmental compliance, and drive unit cost and continuous improvement through disciplined resource deployment and delivery of improvement initiatives.

Production Delivery

• Accountable for delivery of the short-term production plan (drill, blast, load & haul, dumps and stockpiles), meeting movement targets, and ROM/quality outcomes through effective prioritization and disciplined optimization of the execution plan.
• Lead the production management system and governance – set targets, run daily/weekly performance reviews, own plan vs actual variance/recovery, and ensure consistent dispatch/FMS utilization and reporting integrity.

Fleet & Operating Performance

• Set operating strategy, standards and KPI targets for the ultra-class truck – shovel system (electric rope shovels and 400t class haulage) and hold Superintendents/Supervisors accountable for consistent execution across crews and shifts.
• Drive productivity and cost performance through disciplined Dispatch/FMS compliance, accurate delay coding, and structured loss elimination focused on cycle time, payload, queuing, and availability/utilization.

Workfront Readiness & Enablement

• Own end-to-end workfront readiness by integrating drill & blast readiness, equipment relocations, haul road/trafficability, dump/stockpile capacity, and dewatering as required—removing constraints to protect safe access and continuous production.
• Lead inpit electrification execution in the operating areas (cable management/relocations, exclusion controls, interface with Maintenance and Technical Services) to enable safe, reliable shovel operations and minimize disruption.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering or related discipline (highly desired).
• Unrestricted Quarry Manager Certificate (or equivalent statutory appointment/eligibility relevant to jurisdiction).
• Critical Control Management and incident investigation training (ICAM or equivalent).
• Formal leadership development (superintendent/manager level program or equivalent)

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years’ experience in large-scale open-pit mining operations, including at least 5 years in a leadership/managerial role.
• Demonstrated leadership in truck–shovel optimization (cycle time, payload, queue management, spot time) with measurable productivity and unit cost outcomes.
• Experience aligning drill & blast execution with production priorities to deliver safe, reliable diggability and minimize disruption to loading and haulage.
• Experience managing high-volume workfront readiness and enabling functions (haul road standards/trafficability, dump & stockpile strategy, equipment relocations, dewatering coordination).
• Experience with ultra-class equipment including electric rope shovels, and in-pit electrification interfaces (trailing cable management/relocations, exclusion controls, power and maintenance interfaces).

Technical Expertise:

• Advanced knowledge of inventory and materials planning systems, especially SAP S4HANA, Ariba, and Microsoft Power BI
• Experience with related systems such as Celonis or SAP Signavio
• Understanding of Supply chain interfaces with SAP FI/CO, SAP PM and other construction-related projects

Skills and Capabilities:

• Proven ability to lead through leaders (Superintendents and Supervisors), setting clear expectations, holding teams accountable, and building a high-performance culture.
• Strong operational judgement and prioritization—able to manage competing constraints and make timely, risk-based decisions to protect safety, production and cost.
• Strong geotechnical awareness and discipline in applying ground control requirements (highwall controls, crest management, exclusion zones, pit access/berms and water controls), working closely with Technical Services to manage geotechnical risk and protect workfront availability.
• Demonstrated ability to drive production performance using data—strong dispatch/FMS literacy, disciplined reporting governance, and translating insights into executable actions.
• Strong contractor management capability, including performance management, standards compliance, and integration of contractor activities into the production operating rhythm.
• Strong safety leadership and critical control discipline for surface operations, with the ability to embed operating standards and verify frontline compliance.

What We Offer:

A competitive salary package is offered, with short and long-term incentives, commensurate with the seniority and complexity of this role.

Apply today for an immediate response, and full brief, in assured confidence.