Principal: Technical and Mining Systems at De Beers Group

Job Description:

Purpose of the Role:

• To define, develop, and guide the implementation of an integrated technology strategy for mining operations across land and marine environments.
• This includes developing technology value pathways for each operation, determining research and development priorities, modelling complex systems end-to-end, and ensuring technology initiatives deliver maximum economic and operational value.
• This role reports into the Head of Technology

Key Responsibilities:

Technology Strategy Development:

Define long-term technology strategies aligned to business objectives.

• Develop technology roadmaps (pathways to value) covering the entire mining value chain guided by total systems thinking.
• Guide investment decisions in technology and innovation for Upstream Technology to ensure our differentiating value and right to offer technical services to the Group.

Systems Modelling & Analysis:

• Model total mining systems, including macro and micro cycle times, throughput, logistics, and constraints.
• Develop systems and select smart software to and evaluate macro and micro process interdependencies to determine optimal outcomes and identify the strategic levers to pull to deliver performance.

Value Optimisation:

• Quantify economic benefits of technology initiatives and build interactive models which enable different scenarios and opportunities to be evaluated.
• Identify opportunities to improve system productivity and reduce costs.
• Develop business cases and secure buy-in from senior leadership.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Support the operations in developing their pathways to value against the baseline of Diamond Future Smart opportunities aligned to the mines development cycles.
• Collaborate with operations leadership teams, R&D, finance, and commercial teams.
• Engage with external partners, OEMs, and technology vendors.

Technology Governance:

• Establish standards, frameworks, and KPIs for technology development and deployment.
• Monitor progress and adjust strategies as required.

Qualifications:

Formal Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Engineering
• MBA or other qualification in Business/Commercial disciplines (advantageous).

Additional Requirements:

• 10–15+ years in mining, heavy industrial, or marine operations, including significant exposure to end-to-end systems and technology strategy.
• Advanced Systems Engineering knowledge.
• Proven experience modelling large-scale operational systems.
• Track record of linking technical initiatives to economic value creation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and projects.

Technical Skills and Competencies:

• Advanced systems engineering and process modelling.
• Deep understanding of mining operations or other large industrial businesses.
• Financial acumen to model value and risk.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies (automation, digital, decarbonisation, total system control, etc).
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinking and scenario planning.

Personal Attributes:

• Visionary mindset with practical delivery focus.
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking.
• Able to navigate ambiguity and complexity.
• Resilient and adaptable.
• Strong communication ability to create clarity for others on difficult concepts

Closing Date: 28 July 2025