About Talent House Ltd:

We are a leading recruitment and HR consulting firm that operates as a link between people and companies in achieving a shared purpose. We offer creative, effective and flexible solutions that not only help individuals discover their career paths but provide organizations with talent they can recruit, develop and retain.

About the role:

Our client is seeking a Drilling Foreman that will be responsible for supervising and coordinating all drilling activities at the mine site, ensuring that drilling operations are carried out safely, efficiently, and in accordance with production targets, geological requirements, company procedures, and applicable mining regulations. The successful candidate should have 10–15 years of practical drilling experience, with substantial experience in supervising drilling crews and operating or overseeing drilling equipment in an open-pit or mining environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise daily drilling activities and allocate work to drill operators and support personnel.
• Plan and coordinate drilling activities in accordance with mine plans, production schedules, and geological requirements.
• Ensure drilling patterns, depths, angles, hole diameters, and locations meet specified design requirements.
• Monitor drilling progress and ensure production targets are achieved safely and efficiently.
• Conduct pre-start inspections and ensure drilling equipment is safe and fit for operation.
• Monitor equipment performance and report mechanical or operational defects promptly.
• Coordinate with Mining, Blasting, Maintenance, and Survey departments.
• Ensure drill holes are correctly positioned, drilled to the required depth, and properly identified or recorded.
• Monitor drilling consumables, including drill bits, rods, tooling, lubricants, and other materials.
• Minimize downtime through effective planning, troubleshooting, and coordination with maintenance teams.
• Maintain accurate drilling records, production reports, shift reports, and equipment utilization records.
• Enforce company safety standards, mining regulations, and environmental requirements.
• Conduct toolbox talks, pre-shift meetings, and safety briefings.
• Identify and manage operational hazards and ensure appropriate control measures are implemented.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, equipment damage, and unsafe practices as required.
• Train, coach, and mentor drill operators and junior personnel.
• Monitor employee performance and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Maintain good housekeeping and environmental standards within drilling areas.
• Ensure drilling operations are conducted without compromising the integrity of highwalls, benches, underground workings, utilities, or other mine infrastructure.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing drilling productivity, reducing costs, and improving drill-hole quality.

Minimum Requirements:

• Technical qualification in Drilling, Mining, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• 10–15 years of practical drilling experience, preferably within the mining industry.
• Proven experience as a Drilling Foreman, Senior Drill Operator, or similar supervisory role.
• Significant experience supervising drilling crews and drill operators.
• Experience working in an open-pit mining environment.
• Strong knowledge of drilling operations, including drilling patterns, hole depths, angles, diameters, and positioning.
• Good knowledge of drilling equipment, tooling, drill rods, drill bits, lubricants, and consumables.
• Ability to conduct or oversee pre-start inspections and identify equipment defects.
• Strong understanding of mine safety standards, mining regulations, environmental requirements, and hazard controls.
• Experience conducting toolbox talks, pre-shift meetings, and safety briefings.
• Ability to maintain accurate drilling, production, shift, and equipment utilisation records.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to train, coach, and mentor drill operators and junior personnel.
• Good communication and coordination skills, particularly when working with Mining, Blasting, Maintenance, and Survey teams.
• Ability to monitor production targets, drill productivity, equipment utilisation, and downtime.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet planned production targets.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Drilling Foreman will be assessed against, among others:

• Drilling metres achieved per shift/month.
• Compliance with drilling patterns and hole specifications.
• Drill availability and utilization.
• Drilling productivity and penetration rates.
• Cost per metre drilled.
• Equipment downtime.
• Drill-hole quality and accuracy.
• Compliance with safety standards and procedures.
• Number and severity of incidents and near misses.
• Effective utilization of labour, equipment, and consumables.
• Quality and accuracy of operational reporting.
• Achievement of planned production targets.

Compensation:

The incumbent will receive a competitive salary commensurate with experience.

• Supervise daily drilling activities and allocate work to drill operators and support personnel.
• Plan and coordinate drilling activities in accordance with mine plans, production schedules, and geological requirements.
• Ensure drilling patterns, depths, angles, hole diameters, and locations meet specified design requirements.
• Monitor drilling progress and ensure production targets are achieved safely and efficiently.
• Conduct pre-start inspections and ensure drilling equipment is safe and fit for operation.
• Monitor equipment performance and report mechanical or operational defects promptly.
• Coordinate with Mining, Blasting, Maintenance, and Survey departments.
• Ensure drill holes are correctly positioned, drilled to the required depth, and properly identified or recorded.
• Monitor drilling consumables, including drill bits, rods, tooling, lubricants, and other materials.
• Minimize downtime through effective planning, troubleshooting, and coordination with maintenance teams.
• Maintain accurate drilling records, production reports, shift reports, and equipment utilization records.
• Enforce company safety standards, mining regulations, and environmental requirements.
• Conduct toolbox talks, pre-shift meetings, and safety briefings.
• Identify and manage operational hazards and ensure appropriate control measures are implemented.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, equipment damage, and unsafe practices as required.
• Train, coach, and mentor drill operators and junior personnel.
• Monitor employee performance and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Maintain good housekeeping and environmental standards within drilling areas.
• Ensure drilling operations are conducted without compromising the integrity of highwalls, benches, underground workings, utilities, or other mine infrastructure.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing drilling productivity, reducing costs, and improving drill-hole quality.

• Strong leadership skills
• Good communication and coordination skills
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to monitor production targets, drill productivity, equipment utilisation, and downtime
• Strong knowledge of drilling operations
• Good knowledge of drilling equipment, tooling, drill rods, drill bits, lubricants, and consumables
• Ability to conduct or oversee pre-start inspections and identify equipment defects
• Strong understanding of mine safety standards, mining regulations, environmental requirements, and hazard controls
• Experience conducting toolbox talks, pre-shift meetings, and safety briefings
• Ability to maintain accurate drilling, production, shift, and equipment utilisation records

• Technical qualification in Drilling, Mining, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• 10–15 years of practical drilling experience, preferably within the mining industry.
• Proven experience as a Drilling Foreman, Senior Drill Operator, or similar supervisory role.
• Significant experience supervising drilling crews and drill operators.
• Experience working in an open-pit mining environment.