Senior Grade Control Geologist

Job Description: Senior Grade Control Geologist

Location: Utah, USA

Site: Surface Copper Mine

Reports to: Chief Geologist or Mine Superintendent

Company Overview:

Our company is a leading copper producer committed to safety, operational excellence, and innovation. Our Utah-based surface mining operation utilizes modern drilling, blasting, and hauling techniques to deliver ore to our crushing and heap leach processing circuit. We are seeking an experienced and driven leader to advance our grade control practices and lead our team of dedicated professionals.

Position Summary:

The Senior Grade Control Geologist is a critical leadership role responsible for the technical direction and daily execution of all grade control activities. This individual will lead, mentor, and develop a team of grade control geologists to ensure the safe and optimal delineation of ore and waste. The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader, leveraging their extensive surface mining experience to develop and implement best practices, drive technological adoption, and own the reconciliation process to maximize ore recovery, minimize dilution, and directly contribute to the operation's financial performance.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & People Development:

• Provide direct leadership, mentorship, and technical guidance to the grade control geology team.

• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and collaborative problem-solving.

• Develop training programs to enhance the team's skills in geological interpretation, software use, and field practices.

Technical Execution & Operational Support:

• Own the entire blast hole (BH) sampling and modeling process, from collar surveying and sample collection to the construction of the definitive dig-line BH block model.

• Optimize the use of technology (e.g., RTK GPS, UAV/drone photogrammetry, downhole surveying) for field monitoring, ore contact mapping, and design implementation.

• Work integrally with Mining Operations and Blasting Engineers to ensure drill and blast patterns are designed and laid out in the field to achieve design parameters, maximize ore recovery, and minimize dilution.

• Provide clear and timely communication to shovel and loadout operators to guide material movement (ore vs. waste) and destination (crusher vs. waste dump vs. low-grade stockpile).

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) & Best Practices:

• Develop, document, and implement comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all grade control activities, including drilling, sampling, assaying, modeling, and field marking.

• Standardize data collection and management protocols to ensure data integrity and rapid turnaround.

Reconciliation & Performance Analysis:

• Own and manage the monthly reconciliation process, comparing the BH Block Model vs. Truck Counts (mined) vs. the Reserve Model (planned).

• Analyze and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends, root causes of variance, and opportunities for improvement.

• Key KPIs include: Ore Dilution (%) & Ore Loss (%), Ore Tons Mined & Grade Delivered to Crusher, Total Material Movement, Planned vs. Actual Design Elevation Control, Copper Recovery (lbs), and Cost per Ton Mined.

Technology & Innovation:

• Research, evaluate, and champion the implementation of new technologies (e.g., hyperspectral scanning, automated assay labs, real-time ore tracking, advanced modeling software) to improve efficiency, accuracy, and value.

• Maintain expertise in industry-standard grade control software (e.g., Vulcan, Deswik, Leapfrog, MineSight) and ensure the team is proficient in their use.

Safety:

• Champion a zero-harm culture. Safety is our absolute priority.

• Ensure all grade control activities meet and exceed MSHA regulations and company safety standards.

• Conduct and participate in safety meetings, audits, and risk assessments.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Geology or a related geoscience field.

• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in grade control geology, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership or supervisory role at a surface mine.

• Proven, extensive experience in a copper porphyry deposit environment.

• Demonstrable experience developing SOPs and leading a technical team.

• High proficiency in grade control software (e.g., Vulcan, Deswik) for block modeling, mine planning, and design.

• Strong background in blast hole block model construction, validation, and reconciliation.

• In-depth understanding of drilling and blasting processes and their impact on grade control.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with geology, survey, mining engineering, and operations teams.

• Must be physically able to work in all outdoor field conditions on a active mine site.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with heap leach operations and understanding of crush-size and leach kinetics as they relate to grade control.

• Experience with ore control systems for multiple ore types or domains (e.g., oxide, transition, sulfide).

• A strong planning background with experience in short-term mine planning.

• Project management experience in implementing new technology or software systems.