Drill & Blast Manager (Open-Cast Coal Mining)
Oza Holdings · Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
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Start free — we apply for you →- To manage all drilling and blasting activities across the mine to ensure safe, cost-effective, legally compliant, and productive operations. The Drill & Blast Manager is responsible for blast design, execution, contractor management, fragmentation quality, vibration control, explosive management, and continuous improvement to support production targets.
Key Responsibilities: Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with MHSA, Explosives Act and company standards.
- Develop and maintain drill and blast procedures.
- Lead risk assessments, pre-blast inspections and post-blast evaluations.
- Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure safe storage, transport and use of explosives.
Drill & Blast Planning
- Develop daily, weekly and monthly drill and blast schedules.
- Design blast patterns based on geological conditions.
- Optimise burden, spacing, stemming and powder factors.
- Coordinate drilling, charging and firing activities.
- Ensure blast readiness with production and mine planning teams.
Blast Performance
- Monitor fragmentation quality.
- Minimise fly rock, overbreak, backbreak and vibration.
- Improve diggability and downstream crusher performance.
- Analyse blast results and implement continuous improvements.
Contractor Management
- Manage drilling and explosive service providers.
- Monitor contractor productivity and compliance.
- Conduct performance reviews.
- Ensure contractual obligations are achieved.
Explosives Management
- Control explosive consumption and reconciliation.
- Manage explosive inventory.
- Monitor blast costs.
- Ensure accurate reporting and statutory records.
Operational Leadership
- Lead Drill & Blast Supervisors and technical personnel.
- Coach and mentor team members.
- Manage departmental budgets.
- Participate in production planning meetings.
- Support operational excellence initiatives.
Reporting
- Prepare production and blasting reports.
- Analyse KPIs and recommend improvements.
- Present monthly operational performance.
- Report on costs, productivity and safety.
Minimum Requirements
- Degree or National Diploma in Mining Engineering.
- Valid Blasting Certificate for Opencast Mines.
- Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency advantageous.
- Minimum 10 years' open-cast mining experience.
- At least 5 years in a Drill & Blast management role.
- Coal mining experience is essential.
- Experience managing drilling and blasting contractors.
- Knowledge of the Mine Health and Safety Act MHSA.
- Valid driver's licence.
Key Performance Indicators KPIs
- Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate LTIFR
- Drill availability and utilisation
- Blast compliance % completed as planned
- Powder factor optimisation
- Fragmentation quality
- Blast-induced vibration compliance
- Explosive cost per BCM/tonne
- Drilling productivity
- Coal recovery
- Contractor performance
- Budget adherence
- Production target achievement
Competencies
- Strong leadership and people management
- Excellent planning and organisational skills
- Technical expertise in drill and blast engineering
- Analytical and problem-solving ability
- Cost management
- Contractor management
- Communication and stakeholder engagement
- Decision-making under pressure
- Continuous improvement minds