Blanket Mine
The Valcol Group is privileged to represent and partner with Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc in providing search and recruitment services for Blanket Mine.
Today, Blanket Mine is recognised for its consistent gold output, disciplined cost management, and commitment to safety and environmental stewardship. It plays a vital role in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, contributing to export earnings, employment creation, skills development, and community upliftment initiatives within the Gwanda district and beyond.
We invite highly qualified, experienced, and exceptional mining professionals to be part of this world-class mining operation.
The Mine Planning Engineer role opportunity is extended to a select group of highly accomplished, mining professionals with a proven track record in large-scale mine project development and operational excellence.
Strict protocol applies: Any direct approach, canvassing, or submission of CVs to Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc – Blanket Mine outside this mandate will result in immediate disqualification.
Reporting to the Planning Manager, the Mine Planning Engineer – Long Term Planning is accountable for the development and optimization of Life‑of‑Mine (LOM) that underpin the long‑term sustainability, value maximisation and operational continuity of Blanket Mine.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Degree in Mining Engineering or related discipline.
- 8 or more years’ underground mine planning experience with strong LOM focus.
- Proficiency in mine planning software (Deswik, Datamine, Surpac or similar).
- Strong analytical, reporting and stakeholder engagement skills.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- LIFE‑OF‑MINE (LOM) PLANNING
- Develop and maintain Life of Mine plans defining mine shape, sequencing, and production profiles.
- Convert mineral resources into mineable reserves in accordance with statutory and reporting standards.
- Optimize mine layouts to maximise value, recovery, and mine life.
- Integrate geological, geotechnical and survey inputs into long term plans.
- Review and update LOM plans annually to reflect new information and assumptions.
- Ensure long term plans are operationally executable and practically achievable.
- Provide technical assurance over all long term planning outputs.
- PRODUCTION & SEQUENCING
- Define long range production plans aligned to Blanket Mine business targets.
- Optimize mining sequences to balance grade, tonnes, cost, and risk.
- Manage dilution, recovery, and mining method trade offs.
- Align long term plans with medium and short term execution frameworks.
- Identify long term constraints and production bottlenecks.
- Evaluate alternative sequencing and development scenarios.
- ECONOMIC EVALUATION & VALUE OPTIMISATION
- Conduct economic evaluation of long term planning scenarios.
- Identify opportunities for cost optimization and value uplift.
- Integrate capital and operating cost assumptions into mine plans.
- Support capital allocation and investment decision processes.
- Track long term economic assumptions against actual performance.
- Support feasibility, pre feasibility, and expansion studies.
- REGULATORY & TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE
- Ensure long term plans comply with Zimbabwean mining legislation.
- Support statutory submissions to the Ministry of Mines and EMA.
- Ensure reserve statements meet corporate and reporting standards.
- Maintain defensible technical documentation for audits and inspections.
- Integrate environmental management, rehabilitation, and closure obligations.
- Address compliance gaps identified through reviews and audits.
- CROSS‑FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION
- Collaborating with Geology, Survey, Exploration and Mining teams on long term planning inputs.
- Align long term plans with operational capabilities and constraints.
- Interface with Finance on budgets, forecasts, and capital plans.
- Provide credible technical scenarios to support management decisions.
- Incorporate operational feedback into future long term plans.
- Support effective handover of plans to execution teams.
- Build organizational confidence in long term mine plans.
- TECHNOLOGY & PLANNING SYSTEMS
- Maintain integrity of long term planning models and databases.
- Apply advanced mine planning and optimization software effectively.
- Ensure planning assumptions and inputs are transparent and traceable.
- Train and mentor junior planners on long term planning principles.
- Ensure digital planning models support strategic decision making.
We encourage applicants to ensure their CV covers the salient points of experience required to lead the project.
Applicants are encouraged to detail their work experience and submit a word document attachment CV – and submit to Colin Roberts and Mirriam Dzapasi – in confidence.