Vice President, Technical Services - Gold Fields Ghana

Gold Fields Ghana is seeking to appoint an experienced and qualified individual to the position of Vice President – Technical Services. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Head of West Africa, the successful candidate will be responsible for designing and setting technical systems and practices, capable of quick adjustment to the changing regional environment to ensure business continuity and sustainability.

The incumbent will seek to increase the potential for an improved competitive position and investor attraction with the resultant viability of growth opportunities in the West Africa Region through the identification of technical and technological opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Role

• Develop an integral regional strategy aligned with corporate strategies which will position the company in the regional market .
• Effective strategic planning to ensure that management systems, processes, policies and resources are in place to meet the long term demands of the technical services portfolio.
• Strategic alignment and integration of technical systems, policies and procedures across the GF WA region.
• Must be aware of emerging as well as competitor trends in the technical domain to be able to proactively respond and maintain Gold Fields’ competitive edge.
• Environmental scanning and awareness to pre-empt possible changes in the socio-political dynamics of the region that could have an impact on technical domain of the business e.g. legislation, technical skills availability, etc.
• Technical due diligence to determine opportunities, risks, strengths, and weaknesses regarding new ventures/businesses.

Leadership Role

• Maintain an active involvement and influential position with relevant regional professional bodies, national governments, and other stakeholders on issues in the technical domain that will define mining and its attractiveness an investment sector in the region.
• Drive technical development and innovation for business value.

• Minimize the company’s risk exposure and prevent potential action against the company through pre-emptive action, timeous guidance and support to regional senior management on local and regional technical and legislative issues.
• Oversee the effective implementation of group technical frameworks and provide the framework for localized succession management with appropriate skills transfer.
• Develop a culture of performance within the discipline through the Talent Council structure.
• Succession planning within regional constraints to ensure an un-interrupted supply of technical skills for production sustainability and continuity.
• Facilitate the establishment of a regional technical hub of knowledgeable and critical expertise aligned with future regional business challenges and strategies.
• Health of the Technical Discipline- appropriately developed talent pool, alignment of the knowledge, skills, and systems across the region.

Functional Role

• Develop an integrated life of business plan for the Region through the integration of crossed functional models based on the life of mine plans, taking due cognizance of current assets, growth plans and geological modelling based on new knowledge.
• Support the operations in the region to optimize their business plan in line with the integrated regional Life of Business plan.
• Improve operational profitability through the development, acquisition, customized regionalization, and implementation of technology throughout the region.
• Identify potential green fields expansion and synergy opportunities with existing operations.
• Account for current and emerging regional socio-political and legislative protocols, frameworks and trends and differentiate the company in the region through its specialized as well as integrated technical business solutions.
• Apply skills development models for all levels of promotion and skills sectors of the technical discipline.
• Ensure that risks are managed through proper controls supported by appropriate systems and tools.

Key Requirements

Minimum Qualification:

• BSc. /Diploma in a relevant technical discipline: Mining Engineering, Mine Planning, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Electrical, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering etc.

Desirable Qualification

• Post graduate certificate/diploma/degree in relevant technical discipline: Engineering, Technology, Digital Transformation, Business Innovation and/ or MBA, Project Management, etc.
• Strategic Planning qualifications
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma will be an advantage.
• A member of a professional body in the mining industry relevant to the profession

Experience And Core Competencies

• Minimum of 20 years operational experience, of which 10 years must be in operations management in an open pit mine, and 5 years in a senior management role.
• Large mining company corporate experience.
• Must have sound operational record of accomplishment.
• Must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Mush have high appreciation of the concepts of Lean Six Sigma for continuous business improvement and high performance.

• Must have proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or related applications.
• Ability to demonstrate business acumen with highly developed communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to lead a team in a high performing culture
• Ability to facilitate collaboration and maintain effective relationship with individuals in teams to achieve goals/targets.
• Ability to tolerate high level of stress
• Ability to communicate effectively across all levels.
• Ability to manage change and effectively pass on information to team members for smoother execution
• Ability to match project tasks with opportunities for development so that employee potential is utilised to the maximum