Head of Technical

Head of Technical - Africa will be responsible for the following:

• Required outputs: Functional
  • 1. Regional Technical Strategy & Leadership
    • Define and execute the Africa technical strategy aligned to global standards and regional business priorities
    • Adapt global technical frameworks to suit local operating conditions, regulatory environments, and customer needs
    • Drive standardisation of best practices while allowing flexibility for country-specific requirements
    • Position the organisation as a trusted technical partner across African mining markets
  • 2. Technical Excellence & Operational Performance
    • Oversee blast design, optimisation, and execution across surface and underground operations in the region
    • Drive improvements in fragmentation, vibration control, productivity, and cost-per-ton outcomes
    • Provide advanced technical support and troubleshooting for complex or high-risk operations
    • Ensure consistent quality and performance of technical services across all countries
  • 3. Safety, Risk & Regulatory Compliance
    • Ensure full compliance with country-specific explosives legislation and safety standards across Africa
    • Lead incident investigations and enforce robust risk management practices
    • Champion a strong safety culture aligned to a zero-harm objective
    • Provide guidance on regulatory engagement and licensing requirements in multiple jurisdictions
  • 4. Commercial & Customer Enablement
    • Partner with Commercial and Business teams to support strategic accounts and regional tenders
    • Develop differentiated, value-adding technical solutions tailored to African mining conditions
    • Support growth in revenue from technical and optimisation services
    • Strengthen customer relationships through consistent technical excellence and advisory capability
  • 5. Innovation & Technology Deployment
    • Drive the adoption of digital blasting tools, data analytics, and optimisation technologies across the region
    • Ensure successful localisation and implementation of new technologies in diverse operating environments
    • Lead continuous improvement initiatives in explosives application and performance
    • Bridge global innovation with practical, field-level application in Africa
  • 6. Stakeholder Engagement
    • Build strong relationships with regional leadership, country managers, and technical teams
    • Engage with customers, regulators, and industry bodies across Africa
    • Collaborate with Marketing to enhance technical brand positioning in the region
    • Support knowledge-sharing across countries and integration with global technical teams

Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills Requirements

• Postgraduate degree in Mining Engineering, Mining Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field
• MBA or business qualification advantageous
• 12-15+ years' experience in mining, explosives, and blasting operations
• Proven leadership experience in multi-country or regional roles within Africa
• Strong exposure to both surface and underground mining environments
• Experience working across diverse regulatory and operational contexts in Africa
• Proven leadership experience in multi-country or regional roles within Africa
• Strong exposure to both surface and underground mining environments
• Experience working across diverse regulatory and operational contexts in Africa
• Proven leadership experience in multi-country or regional roles within Africa
• Strong exposure to both surface and underground mining environments
• Experience working across diverse regulatory and operational contexts in Africa

Personal attributes Competencies (skills, knowledge and characteristics)

• Advanced expertise in blasting science, explosives application, and mining optimisation
• Strong understanding of African mining conditions, including logistical and infrastructure challenges
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks across multiple African jurisdictions
• Strong project and change management capability
• Strategic thinking with strong regional awareness
• Cross-cultural leadership and stakeholder management
• Commercial acumen with customer-centric mindset
• Resilience and adaptability in complex operating environments
• Assertive, diplomatic, and solutions-oriented

The Successful Applicant

The successful candidate for the Head of Technical - Africa will act as a subject matter expert, representing the business in disputes relating to blast performance and supporting techn