Senior Mine Planner in Cornwall, Pool

The Company Cornish Metals is an AIM listed Company working towards re-opening the 100% owned South Crofty underground tin mine in Pool, Cornwall. In March 2025, we raised £57.4 million, anchored by the UK's National Wealth Fund and Vision Blue Resources to advance South Crofty towards tin production once again. Tin is essential for electronics, renewable energy and modern technology and demand is projected to increase by 30% in the next decade. We are committed to ethical, responsible and domestic tin production and are proud to have strong local and national support.

The Senior Mine Planner will be responsible for developing safe, efficient and cost effective mine designs, plans and schedules that support sustainable tin extraction. South Crofty is a hard rock, primary tin deposit in a multi-narrow vein system. The Senior Mine Planner will have a key role working with geological, technical, processing, backfill and operational teams to ensure safety, maximise value and meet long term strategic objectives.

Cornish Metals is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Policy is available on request.

Principle responsibilities/role tasks

• Mine Planning & Scheduling: Develop short, medium, and long term plans for tin extraction based on geological models and production targets. Create detailed development and production designs. Optimisation of mine layouts driven to maximise tin recovery and minimising dilution in a narrow vein environment, experience in multiple narrow-vein design and scheduling is a key requirement of the role. Scheduling development and production activities considering ore variability, geotechnical constraints, ventilation requirements, and equipment availability. Use mine planning software (e.g., Deswik, Vulcan, Surpac, Datamine) to prepare detailed designs and schedules.
• Resource & Grade Control Integration: Collaborate with geologists to integrate geological models and update based on new drilling or mapping data. Conduct reconciliation of planned vs. actual production to improve resource accuracy and future planning quality.
• Operational Coordination: Integration of scheduling to mine operations is a key part of the role and a focus for Cornish Metals as a company for the modern operations at South Crofty. Provide clear planning deliverables to operations, engineering and processing teams. Participate in daily/weekly meetings to review progress, adapt schedules and solve operational challenges. Implement Continuous Improvement (cut-off grades, stope sizes, and extraction sequences) based on changing economics and resource understanding.
• Technical & Economic Analysis: Perform scenario analysis to evaluate mining sequences, development strategies, and ventilation or access layouts to ensure realistic planning assumptions. Support engineering studies, life of mine (LOM) planning, and optimisation projects.
• Safety & Environmental Compliance: Ensure mine plans comply with and include best practice with UK mining regulations, safety legislation and environmental standards. Mine designs will incorporate geotechnical guidance to maintain ground stability. Contribute to long-term closure, rehabilitation and water management plans which are especially important in tin mining due to potential historical legacy issues.

Working Environment

Primarily office based, however the role will require frequent underground inspections.

Underground Conditions: Lighting is limited; headlamps are often the only light source. Conditions are wet and muddy, including water from above and slippery, uneven ground underfoot. Close contact with muddy and ochre stained equipment and rock is common. Temperatures vary significantly: as low as 2 C in shallow areas and up to 30 C in deep workings. High humidity (up to 100%) and frequent draughts due to ventilation. Terrain includes steep gradients, loose ground, and confined spaces. The environment is often very noisy, requiring regular hearing protection. Work may involve heavy, vibrating handheld tools and manual handling up to 20kg.

Access & Underground Movement: Main access to the deep workings is via an 8 person cage in an 800m deep shaft. A secondary emergency "bullet cage" (4-person, 800mm diameter) is also used. Spaces can be narrow with restricted height, requiring comfort in confined areas.

Physical & Safety Requirements: Ability to climb ladders in dark, wet conditions. Good level of physical fitness for manual handling and movement across difficult terrain. Ability to ride in small, confined shaft cages. Must wear and operate fall arrest harnesses and restraint equipment. Work at height, including on ropes and fall restraint systems. Required participation in regular health assessments.

Key relationships: The role will report to the Technical Services Manager, but there will be frequent interaction with the General Manager and Mine Manager, as well as the technical and operational staff involved in the development and refurbishment projects.

Skills and experience:

• Essential: Degree in Mining Engineering or a related field. Experience in narrow vein hard rock mining underground operations. Proficiency in mine planning and design software (Deswik Suite preferred). Knowledge of geotechnical principles relevant to mine design. Effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Desirable: Familiarity with ore sorting, gravity separation, or tin-specific processing flowsheets. Experience of UK Mining Regulations. Experience of working / managing existing mine workings. Project management experience in mine development or expansion. Experience of operational planning and integration will be favoured.

Hours of work and work location: Full Time 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 4:00pm. Some event participation may be required outside of these hours. Part time will be considered, minimum of 30 hours. Pay: £65,000.00-£70,000.00 per year. Work Location: In person.