Diamond Drilling Supervisor (Mining & Natural Resources)

This role requires the candidate to work in Mave Central Province, Papua New Guinea.

Client Overview

Our client is a growing mining and natural resources company focused on the exploration, development, and production of gold and base metal assets within highly prospective mineral regions. The organization is actively advancing large-scale mining and exploration programs while investing in operational excellence, resource expansion, and long-term production growth across complex and challenging environments.

Operating within remote mining locations, the company manages integrated exploration, drilling, mine development, processing, and supporting infrastructure activities. With a strong emphasis on safety, environmental responsibility, operational efficiency, and sustainable resource development, the organization provides opportunities for experienced mining professionals to contribute directly to critical exploration and production initiatives within a dynamic and growth-oriented mining environment.

Job Role

The Diamond Drilling Supervisor will be responsible for leading and coordinating diamond drilling operations that support exploration, resource definition, and mine development programs. The role focuses on supervising drilling crews, optimizing drilling performance, maintaining safety compliance, ensuring equipment reliability, and achieving operational targets across underground and surface drilling activities.

Working closely with geologists, mining engineers, maintenance personnel, and site management teams, the successful candidate will play a key role in delivering safe, productive, and high-quality drilling outcomes. This position is highly suitable for experienced drilling leaders who possess strong technical expertise, workforce management capability, and the ability to drive operational performance within remote and challenging mining environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and mentor diamond drilling crews to ensure safe, efficient, and productive drilling operations.
• Coordinate daily drilling activities, manpower allocation, equipment utilization, and drilling schedules to achieve operational targets.
• Monitor drilling productivity, metreage performance, core recovery rates, and operational efficiency across assigned drilling programs.
• Ensure high-quality core recovery, sample integrity, and compliance with geological and exploration requirements.
• Enforce compliance with health, safety, environmental, and operational procedures while promoting a strong safety culture.
• Conduct workplace inspections, hazard identification activities, risk assessments, and incident investigations where required.
• Monitor drill rig performance, equipment utilization, consumables consumption, and maintenance requirements to maximize operational reliability.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance activities and support troubleshooting efforts to minimize downtime and improve equipment availability.
• Prepare and submit operational reports covering production performance, equipment status, downtime analysis, safety observations, and workforce activities.
• Collaborate closely with geologists, engineers, maintenance teams, contractors, and site leadership to ensure successful execution of drilling programs.
• Support workforce development through coaching, training, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Technical certification, trade qualification, drilling certification, mining-related training, or equivalent practical industry experience.
• Minimum 5 years of professional diamond drilling experience within mining, mineral exploration, drilling contractors, resource development, or related industries.
• Minimum 2 years of experience supervising drilling crews, coordinating drilling operations, or leading field-based drilling teams.
• Proven experience managing diamond drilling programs in underground and/or surface drilling environments.
• Demonstrated track record of achieving drilling productivity, core recovery, safety, and operational performance targets.
• Previous experience working in remote mining operations, camp-based environments, FIFO/DIDO operations, or rotational roster systems.
• Strong understanding of diamond drilling methods, drilling performance optimization, rig operation, core recovery management, and ground condition assessment.
• Solid knowledge of drill rig maintenance, equipment performance monitoring, consumables management, and field-level troubleshooting.
• Experience monitoring drilling KPIs, production targets, equipment utilization, and operational performance metrics.
• Strong understanding of mining safety systems, hazard identification, risk management, and operational compliance requirements.
• Strong leadership capability with experience coaching, mentoring, and developing multicultural drilling teams.
• Excellent planning, coordination, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Professional attitude, accountability, strong work ethic, and commitment to operational excellence.
• Willingness to work on rotational rosters and remote site-based assignments.
• English communication skills are required for workforce supervision, operational reporting, stakeholder coordination, and safety-related communication.

Job Code: #738