VP Technical & Operations in Whitby

Anglo American is a leading global mining company, and our products are the essential ingredients in almost every aspect of modern life. Our portfolio of world-class competitive mining operations and undeveloped resources provides the metals and minerals that enable a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world and that meet the fast-growing consumer-driven demands of the world’s developed and maturing economies.

We are constructing a state-of-the-art underground mine to enable the extraction of Polyhalite – a unique multi-nutrient fertiliser – along with the necessary infrastructure both above and below ground that will be required for transport, processing, and distribution. POLY4 is our flagship multi-nutrient fertiliser product. Made from polyhalite, it contains four of the six macro-nutrients and many micronutrients that are essential to plant growth. It allows farmers to maximise their crop yield, increase quality and improve soil structure with one simple product.

Join us as the Vice President Technical & Operations to lead the operational readiness and technical disciplines, developing the strategy and plans for the future Woodsmith Operation, aligned with Anglo American standards and industry best practice, while maintaining a fit for purpose mentality. You will report to the Woodsmith Project Director and oversee the Geology, Technical Services, Mine Technology, Process Development, Operational Readiness, and Asset Strategy and Reliability teams.

Duties will include:

• Safety & Health
  • Oversee consistent application of Safety & Health principles in all discipline interactions and take personal responsibility for safety of self and others to ensure zero harm and elimination of fatalities.
  • Ensure safety in design and alignment with risk management principles.
• General
  • Drive best practice and a culture of demonstrating innovation for value in the development of operational plans (geology, mining, processing and port operations).
  • Oversee drilling campaigns and other geological methods to enhance understanding and confidence in the Woodsmith orebody.
  • Produce integrated quantitative assessments of the Project’s operational output which link resource knowledge through the full operational process from mine face to product sales.
  • Responsible for developing a feasibility plan for Woodsmith operations and ensure operational readiness.
  • Actively pursue and deliver opportunities to enhance the Woodsmith business case and mitigate risk.
  • Manage operations inputs and feasibility study chapters to the preapproved budget, ensuring financial discipline, transparency, and alignment with investment governance.
  • Accountable for business case assumptions and projections for mining, processing and overall operations.
  • Support Group Investment Assurance (GIA) reviews, ensuring readiness and alignment with governance requirements.
• Leadership & Team Management
  • Lead the Technical and Operations team to develop a robust plan for future Woodsmith operations which meets feasibility requirements, mitigates risks in resource uncertainty and grade variability while retaining the flexibility needed to build a resilient business for the evolving market for polyhalite products.
  • Collaborate extensively with the project study team, engineering service providers, Solutions and Marketing and site execution teams to ensure integration between operations, project and marketing.
  • Visibly demonstrate SHE leadership in the course of all engagements, incorporating applicable SHE considerations into design and delivery of work and actively engage in Visible Felt Leadership interactions as appropriate.
  • Create a purpose-led, technically brilliant, high-performing culture within Technical and Operations that is aligned with the company values, is inclusive and promotes diversity.
  • Build the future Woodsmith operations team.
• Technical Knowledge
  • Key value drivers for processes across full mine-to-market value chain (Endowment, Geosciences, Mine Planning, Mining Extraction, Minerals Processing, Smelting & Refining (where appropriate), Asset Strategy & Reliability, Marketing), safety, sustainability and interdependence of key levers.
  • Key principles and elements of the Operating Model (Operational Planning, Work Management, and Feedback) and understanding of how to maintain its integrity on site.
  • Project management fundamentals.
  • New technologies and their impact on operational activities.
  • Business improvement tools and techniques.
  • Mineral types, composition of the ore body and implications for downstream operations.
• Commercial
  • Commercial/business drivers in mining and processing industry, business performance variability and underlying causes that define subsequent actions.
  • Financial metrics & budgeting (performance/cost/capital management, value driver analysis).
• Management
  • Integration and management of both up- and downstream activities across value chain.
  • Operational Risk Management techniques and critical controls.
  • Leadership tools for creating a culture of purpose-led high performance and change.
  • AA organisation model concepts and principles.
• Compliance
  • Safety, health and environment, legislative, statutory, regulatory and permitting requirements.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate qualification (Bachelors / Honours degree or equivalent).
• Registered with a recognized engineering institute as a professional / charted engineer.
• Proven track record with extensive experience, in large, complex underground mining and processing operations.

Technical Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of underground mine planning, geotech, ventilation, maintenance and mine ops.
• Demonstrated experience in a senior leadership role (General Manager level) within an operating underground mine with integrated processing facilities.
• Experience with complex project studies following the Anglo American Investment Development Model (IDM) and Investment Criteria By Stages (ICBS), or similar external to Anglo American.
• Track record of applying business acumen in achieving risk based fit for purpose outcomes.
• Lead technical discussions to ensure that interrogation of performance is implemented, to adapt to varying situations and ensure that the best interests of Anglo American and its stakeholders are represented.
• Requires working over several disciplines with awareness of the relationship between complex organisational systems and practices to an overall strategy, and understands first order consequences of actions and need to link holistic policies and practices to improve organisational performance and enable full impact decision-making.
• Operates with a high level of autonomy.
• Motivated, commits significant personal and discretionary effort to deliver future value.
• Consistently strives to exceed performance objectives.
• Displays tolerance and resilience and is not easily discouraged or deterred from achieving required outcomes.

Travel: Regular international and local travel will be required.

Additional Information

Who we are: We aim to lead the industry by pursuing ever safer and more responsible ways of working, demonstrating integrity and showing care and respect for people and the planet. That means we are constantly seeking new opportunities to mine and process our products sustainably, using less water, less energy and more precise extraction technologies. As the custodians of coal and other precious natural resources – diamonds (through De Beers), copper, platinum and other precious metals, iron ore and nickel – our extraordinary teams work safely and collaboratively, with the utmost consideration for local communities, our customers and the world at large.

What we Offer: When you join Anglo American, you can expect to enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package. But more than this, you’ll find yourself in an environment where the opportunities for learning and growth are second to none. From technical training to leadership programs, we bring out the best in our people. There are plenty of opportunities to move onwards and upwards too. We’re a large, successful multinational company – and we’re still growing all the time.

How we are committed to your safety: Nothing is more important to us than ensuring you return home safely after a day’s work. To make that happen, we have the most rigorous safety standards in the industry. Not only that, we’re also continually investing in new technologies – from drones to data analytics – that are helping to make mining safer.

Inclusion and Diversity: Anglo American is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfil their potential.