Head of Technical - Africa

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) Technical & Professional

* 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 Leadership & Behavioural

* 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