Senior Mining Engineer, Mine Planning

Job description

At First Quantum, we free the talent of our people by taking a very different approach which is underpinned by a very different, very definite culture – the “First Quantum Way”.

Working with us is not like working anywhere else, which is why we recruit people who will take a bolder, smarter approach to spot opportunities, solve problems and deliver results.

Our culture is all about encouraging you to think independently and to challenge convention to deliver the best result. That’s how we continue to achieve extraordinary things in extraordinary locations.

Job description:

Purpose

Support the Principal Mining Engineer by developing, maintaining and reconciling the Business Plan (BP) and forecast schedules. The role ensures that the strategic direction of the BP is accurately translated into forecast schedules and the monthly plan, identifies deviations from plan, and develops practical scheduling options to support recovery and alignment with business objectives.

Key Accountabilities

1. Business Plan Schedule Development and Support

· Develop and maintain the mining schedule inputs for the Business Plan under the direction of the Principal Mining Engineer, including production profile, material movement, ore release, strip ratio, dump capacity and key enabling works.

· Translate LoM strategy and BP direction into practical schedules that reflect approved cutback/phase strategy, waste deployment strategy, mining sequence and operational constraints.

· Maintain clear documentation of BP schedule assumptions, constraints, risks and opportunities to support governance, review and approval processes.

· Work closely with Short-Term planning teams to ensure the BP schedule is technically defensible, executable and aligned across planning horizons.

2. Forecast Schedule Development and Recovery Planning

· Run forecast schedules throughout the year to measure performance against the approved Business Plan and identify gaps to plan early.

· Update forecast schedules using actual performance, latest operational constraints, readiness status and revised assumptions from relevant technical functions.

· Develop forecast and recovery scenarios to close gaps to plan, including production recovery, waste movement, ore release, strip ratio, cutback readiness, dump capacity and key enabling works.

· Assess and communicate the impact of forecast scenarios on value, cost, risk, execution readiness and future period performance.

· Prepare clear forecast outputs and recommendations for review by the Principal Mining Engineer, Planning leadership, Operations, Processing, Finance and other stakeholders.

3. BP, Forecast and Monthly Plan Integration

· Ensure the strategic direction of the Business Plan is captured in forecast schedules and translated into clear monthly planning priorities.

· Work with the Short-Term Planning Superintendent and monthly planning team to ensure the monthly plan aligns with the latest approved forecast and protects key BP/LoM priorities.

· Identify and escalate conflicts between the monthly plan, forecast schedule and Business Plan, and propose practical alternatives to maintain alignment.

· Provide clear guidance on required ore release, waste movement, dump development, access, drill and blast readiness and other critical path items to support monthly execution.

4. Reconciliation, Variance Analysis and Reporting

· Lead reconciliation between the Business Plan, forecast schedules, monthly plan and actual performance for tonnes, grades, material movement, ore release, waste placement, strip ratio and key planning metrics.

· Analyse variances and identify root causes related to planning assumptions, operational execution, geology, survey, equipment performance, access, readiness or design compliance.

· Maintain a structured reconciliation process that highlights deviations, risks and required recovery actions in a clear and timely manner.

· Prepare concise reports, dashboards and action trackers to support forecast reviews, monthly planning reviews and management decision-making.

5. Planning Governance, Scenario Testing and Technical Support

· Support strategic optimisation and scenario testing by preparing schedule cases that evaluate cutback timing, mining sequence, waste dumping strategy, stockpile use and constraint management.

· Ensure BP and forecast schedule outputs are governed by robust assumptions, version control, change control, peer review and auditable documentation.

· Provide technical support to design and deployment strategy updates where forecast or reconciliation outcomes indicate a need to change pit, cutback, dump or haulage strategies.

· Ensure statutory, geotechnical, hydrogeological, environmental, safety and operational constraints are adequately incorporated into BP and forecast schedules.

Key Interfaces

· Internal: Principal Mining Engineer, Chief Mining Engineer – Planning, MTS Manager, Short-Term Planning team, Operations, Geology, Geotechnical/Hydro, Survey, Processing/Metallurgy, Maintenance, HSE and Finance.

· External: Technical consultants, optimisation specialists, contractors and OEMs as required.

Qualifications and Skills

· BEng/BSc Mining Engineering; postgraduate qualification advantageous.

· Strong capability in Business Plan scheduling, forecast scheduling, scenario development, reconciliation and value-based schedule analysis.

· Strong understanding of open pit production scheduling, cutback/phase strategy, waste deployment, ore release, strip ratio management, cost drivers, equipment productivity and operational constraints.

· Proficient in mine planning, design, scheduling and optimisation tools (e.g., Deswik, Datamine, Vulcan, Surpac, MineSight, Whittle or equivalent).

· Strong analytical capability, technical writing, reporting and stakeholder communication skills.

· Membership or eligibility for membership of the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) or equivalent professional body preferred.

Experience

· 5+ years open-pit mining engineering experience, preferably in large-scale copper or base metal operations.

· Demonstrated experience developing Business Plan schedules, forecast schedules, recovery scenarios and planning reconciliations in an operating mine environment.

· Experience working across long-term, medium-term and short-term planning horizons and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.

· Proven ability to translate strategic direction into practical schedules, monthly planning guidance and recovery actions.

Behavioural Competencies

· Structured and analytical planner with strong commercial awareness and ability to connect strategy to executable schedules.

· Strong collaboration and influence; able to align Planning, Operations and business stakeholders around forecast recovery and monthly plan priorities.

· Detail-oriented and decisive; able to convert reconciliation outcomes and complex schedule scenarios into clear recommendations.

· Accountable, proactive and focused on delivery, governance, reconciliation discipline and continuous improvement.

Operational Requirements

· Able to work under pressure during business planning, forecasting, reconciliation and operational recovery cycles.

· Willingness to work overtime or be available when required by critical planning deadlines.

· Valid driver’s license; site work conditions apply.