Section Manager (Underground Gold Mining/ Mine Production Management/ Mine Health & Safety)

Job Description:

The Section Manager is responsible for the safe, legal, efficient and cost-effective management of a designated mining section within a deep-level hard rock underground gold mining operation. As the holder of a 2.6.1 legal appointment in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA), the incumbent is accountable for ensuring that all mining activities within the section are planned, executed and controlled in compliance with legislative requirements, Company Standards, Mandatory Codes of Practice (COPs), Mining Standards and production objectives. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to deliver sustainable production, maintain safe working conditions, optimize mining costs, develop people, ensure equipment availability and drive continuous improvement initiatives. The Section Manager plays a pivotal role in building and maintaining a culture of Safety First, Operational Excellence, Accountability, Teamwork, Discipline, Continuous Improvement, Employee Engagement and High Performance.

Responsibilities:

• Lead all mining activities within the section, ensuring safe, efficient and continuous production delivery.
• Ensure compliance with the Mine Health and Safety Act, mining regulations, COPs, standards and legal appointment requirements.
• Drive safety performance through Visible Felt Leadership, inspections, risk assessments, critical control reviews, incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Manage stoping, development, ore reserve extraction, face advance and production planning to achieve gold production and development targets.
• Oversee mining infrastructure, equipment and asset availability, including ventilation, pumping, ore passes, shafts, trackless infrastructure and maintenance effectiveness.
• Manage labour, contractors, operating and capital costs, budgets and resources to improve cost per tonne, cost per ounce and overall operational efficiency.
• Lead workforce development, performance management, succession planning, coaching, mentoring and employee engagement to build a competent, high-performing team.
• Maintain accurate production, safety, risk, labour and budget reporting while ensuring operational reliability, resource optimization, risk mitigation and business continuity.

Requirements: Qualification and Skill

• Medical & Security: Complete occupational medical, fitness, vision, hearing and relevant screening, plus required background and security checks.
• Qualifications & Experience: Grade 12, Blasting Certificate, Mine Overseer’s Certificate, Mine Manager Certificate of Competence and valid driver’s licence; 10+ years’ underground mining experience, including 3+ years at Mine Overseer level.
• Mining Expertise: Expert in underground mining operations, production management, risk management, safety management and legal compliance; Advanced in mine planning, with strong knowledge of deep-level gold/hard-rock mining.
• Operational & Business Management: Advanced capability in cost management and asset management, with strong knowledge of production planning, mining economics, budgeting, contractor management and continuous improvement.
• Leadership Competencies: Advanced strategic and people leadership, change leadership, coaching and mentoring, decision-making, stakeholder management and business acumen.
• Legislative & Risk Management: Strong knowledge of MHSA, MPRDA, Mining Charter, labour and environmental legislation, with the ability to manage geological, operational, financial, labour and compliance risks.
• Behavioral Competencies: Expert integrity, accountability, professionalism and safety consciousness, supported by Advanced resilience, results orientation, continuous improvement and collaboration.
• Professional Leadership: Demonstrate visible safety leadership, strategic thinking, decisive decision-making, employee development, accountability and a results-driven approach while maintaining high standards of safety and operational performance.

Benefits and Contractual information:

• Reporting: Reports to the Mine Manager and oversees Mine Overseers, Shift Bosses, Miners, Supervisors, production teams and contractors.
• Support: Works with Engineering, Rock Engineering, Survey, Ventilation, Geology, HR, Safety, Supply Chain, Metallurgy and Finance.
• Stakeholders: Engages with DMRE Inspectors, contractors, suppliers, organized labour, communities and technical consultants.
• Safety & Compliance: Accountable for employee safety, legal compliance, risk management, COPs, critical controls and safety performance.
• Production & Performance: Drives production, development, infrastructure, cost, equipment reliability and people KPIs.
• Reporting: Responsible for production, cost, safety, risk, compliance, labour, contractor, equipment, budget and management reports.
• Working Conditions: Includes extensive underground travel, inspections, climbing and exposure to heat, dust, noise, humidity and seismic conditions.
• Contractual Demands: Includes standby, emergency response, overtime and weekend work, with continuous legal accountability and decision-making under pressure.

If you wish to apply for the position, please send your CV to Lucia Baeza at [email protected]

Please visit www.mining-recruitment-jobs.com for more exciting opportunities.

Lucia Baeza

Senior Executive Talent Consultant              

Mining Division

CA Mining will respond to short-listed candidates only. If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful, however your CV will be kept on our database for any other suitable positions.

CA Global Headhunters is an international staffing company with a specific focus on recruitment in Africa. Our extensive, diverse candidate network built up over 10 years comprises the most skilled and experienced candidates. We recruit talent of the highest standards across African sectors, including Mining, Oil & Gas, Engineering, Banking, Finance, Legal, Insurance, Commodities, and Agriculture. As African markets continue to grow and develop, so too does our skill and expertise, ensuring that we deliver the best service to both clients and candidates.

Thanks to our access to global networks and resources, we understand our clients’ cultures, operations, business strategies, and industries. We are always on par with the latest technologies and trends which assist us in sourcing the best talent for clients. Whatever stage of the project lifecycle, we can put forward the right candidates with the right skills.