Principal Geotech OP/UG at De Beers Group

Job Description:

ROLE CONTEXT & PURPOSE

• The Mining function within Technical & Sustainability enables safe, efficient and value-driven mining operations across De Beers Group by providing technical governance, assurance, standards development and specialist expertise.
• The purpose of this role is to serve as the Group subject matter expert for Underground Geotechnical Engineering, providing technical leadership, governance and assurance across operations, projects and growth initiatives.
• The role is accountable for the development of geotechnical strategy, management of geotechnical risk, establishment of technical standards, and delivery of assurance activities supporting safe, sustainable and optimised mining operations.

TYPICAL TASKS

Geotechnical Strategy & Governance

• Develop and maintain Group geotechnical strategy.
• Define geotechnical standards, frameworks and leading practices.
• Drive implementation and embedment of geotechnical governance requirements.
• Support operational compliance with geotechnical standards.

Technical Leadership & Subject Matter Expertise

• Provide specialist geotechnical support to operations and projects.
• Guide operations on management of geotechnical risk.
• Support mine design, excavation design and waste dump design reviews.
• Provide technical input to Life of Asset Planning activities.
• Evaluate geotechnical risks and opportunities across the portfolio.

Assurance & Risk Management

• Provide second-line assurance activities.
• Coordinate third-line assurance reviews.
• Assess compliance against technical standards and requirements.
• Support project assurance and readiness reviews.
• Review operational geotechnical strategies and performance.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities for modernisation and improvement.
• Support development of technology roadmaps.
• Drive adoption of emerging geotechnical technologies.
• Promote innovation and technical excellence across operations.

Operational & Project Support

• Support operations facing critical geotechnical risks.
• Provide specialist input to significant projects.
• Review project specifications and design criteria.
• Support business planning and operational improvement initiatives.

Capability Development

• Identify discipline capability gaps and development needs.
• Support succession planning for critical geotechnical roles.
• Provide coaching and mentoring across the discipline.
• Promote knowledge sharing and technical development.

Qualifications:

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Mining Engineering, Geology, Rock Mechanics or related discipline.
• Government Certificate of Competency.
• Valid Driver’s Licence.
• Postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• Professional membership (e.g. SANIRE) advantageous.
• Minimum 10 years' senior operational, consulting or management experience in underground and open pit mining.
• Experience leading geotechnical investigations, design and monitoring programmes.
• Experience supporting major mining projects and operational risk management.

Mental Processing Ability

• Operates at Systems level work complexity.
• Discerns trends and patterns across multiple operations.
• Translates technical data into strategic improvement opportunities.
• Develops and improves systems, standards and technical frameworks.
• Anticipates emerging operational and geotechnical risks.

Knowledge & Technical Skills

• Advanced geotechnical engineering knowledge.
• Underground and open pit mine design principles.
• Geotechnical monitoring systems and methodologies.
• Mining legislation and risk management practices.
• Project assurance and governance processes.
• Technical standards development and implementation.
• Contract and commercial management principles.
• Technology evaluation and implementation.
• Operational risk assessment and mitigation.
• Contemporary geotechnical software and modelling tools.

Social Process Skills

• Influences senior stakeholders and operational teams.
• Builds effective cross-functional relationships.
• Facilitates technical alignment across multiple operations.
• Communicates complex technical concepts effectively.
• Provides coaching, mentoring and technical leadership.
• Negotiates and drives outcomes in complex environments.

Application & Energy

• Demonstrates strong ownership and accountability.
• Maintains a high level of technical curiosity and learning agility.
• Remains resilient within complex operational environments.
• Drives excellence and continuous improvement.
• Committed to safe, sustainable and productive outcomes.

Other Requirements

• Medical fitness certification.
• Regular domestic and international travel.
• Ability to provide support across multiple commodities and mining methods.

KEY ROLE OUTPUTS

• Group geotechnical strategy developed and implemented.
• Geotechnical risks identified, governed and effectively managed.
• Technical standards maintained, updated and embedded across operations.
• Assurance reviews completed and improvement actions tracked.
• Operations supported to achieve safe and compliant geotechnical performance.
• Projects reviewed and supported through technical assurance.
• Geotechnical technology roadmaps developed and progressed.
• Continuous improvement and innovation opportunities implemented.
• Capability development and succession initiatives delivered.
• Technical input provided to Life of Asset Planning and strategic business planning.
• Portfolio-wide geotechnical performance and risk visibility improved