Mine Planner

About the role

The Mine Planner position at Mariana Minerals represents a senior technical leadership opportunity centered on defining and directing the long-term strategic and operational trajectory of the company's mining projects. This role is responsible for leading the development and optimization of mine plans from initial concept through full life-of-mine execution. The position integrates geology, mine engineering, economic analysis, and corporate strategy to ensure that every decision supports the long-term health and value of the business. It requires a balance of deep technical analysis and high-level strategic thinking. The successful candidate will act as the central architect of mine value, translating complex data and strategic objectives into clear, actionable roadmaps for the executive team and operational partners. The role demands disciplined planning practices to shape the future portfolio and ensure technically sound, economically robust, and strategically flexible outcomes.

Location for this role is the San Francisco headquarters, and the engagement is full-time. The compensation package is $140K - $175K annually, supplemented by equity, and the position sits within the Plant & Process Engineering team.

What you'll do

You will provide technical mine planning input that directly informs project screening and portfolio decision-making processes. This includes creating high-level mine concepts, production profiles, and sequencing options to support investment and acquisition evaluations. Collaboration with geology, metallurgy, and commercial teams will be essential to balance scale, timing, risk, and value across the project lifecycle. A core responsibility is developing long-range mine plans designed to maximize net present value, operational flexibility, and strategic options. You will conduct multi-pit optimization, phase sequencing, and cutback strategy development for complex deposits, while evaluating alternative development strategies, mining rates, and sequencing scenarios. This involves defining company-wide standards and methods for short-, medium-, and long-term mine planning, as well as establishing consistent approaches for mine design, scheduling, economic evaluation, and scenario analysis. You will review and challenge mine plans prepared by internal teams and external consultants to ensure technical rigor and alignment with strategic goals. This includes working closely with geology, geotechnical, processing, and operations teams to guarantee integrated and coherent mine plans. You will translate strategic plans into clear frameworks for engineering and operations teams and serve as the technical expert for mine planning decisions across the organization. Additional responsibilities include mentoring mine planners and engineers to improve planning quality and consistency, and contributing to the development of internal tools and workflows that enhance planning efficiency. A continuous commitment to staying updated on industry best practices, software, and optimization techniques is also required.

Requirements

Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or a related field. A minimum of 5 years of mine planning experience is required, with a specific focus on long-range planning and optimization. Demonstrated expertise in pit optimization, phase design, sequencing, and economic trade-off analysis is essential. Candidates must be able to think both technically and strategically, linking mine plans to capital decisions, and possess strong communication skills. Confidence in a senior technical authority role is necessary, along with experience in fast-paced, project-driven, or greenfield environments. Experience supporting early-stage studies - including conceptual assessments, PEA, PFS, and FS - as well as corporate project evaluations is required. Professional Engineer (P.Eng or equivalent) or eligibility is mandatory. The role is based on-site at the San Francisco headquarters, with final salary determined based on skills and experience.

Nice to have

A Master's degree in a related field is considered a favorable qualification.

Skills & tools

Proficiency with industry-standard software is essential, including Deswik, Whittle, Vulcan, MinePlan, and Leapfrog.

Practical notes

This is an on-site position. The final salary will be based on skills and experience.