Senior Drill & Blast Supervisor / Senior Engineer (Explosives Supervisor – Reg 25)
Hemerdon United Kingdom (Quarry / Hard Rock Metal Mining Operations)
Full-time, Monday to Friday
Role Overview
An experienced Senior Drill & Blast Supervisor / Senior Engineer is required to lead and manage all drill and blast activities within a hard rock open cut metal mine in the South West. This role is critical to achieving safe, efficient, and compliant production outcomes, ensuring “rock on ground” delivery aligns with mine plans and production targets.
Operating under UK regulatory frameworks, including Regulation 25 of the Quarries Regulations 1999, the successful candidate will provide technical leadership, oversee blasting operations, and drive continuous improvement while maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Plan, coordinate, and supervise all drilling and blasting activities.
- Deliver consistent fragmentation outcomes to meet production and processing requirements.
- Ensure “rock on ground” is achieved in line with mine schedules and KPIs.
- Lead daily, weekly, and long-term drill and blast planning integration with technical and production teams.
Regulatory Compliance & Safety
- Act as the appointed Explosives Supervisor in accordance with Regulation 25 (Quarries Regulations 1999).
- Maintain full compliance with UK health, safety, and explosives legislation.
- Ensure all blasting activities meet permitted environmental limits (vibration, air overpressure, flyrock, dust).
- Uphold a strong safety culture with zero-harm objectives.
- Maintain a clear record suitable for licensing and statutory appointments.
Technical Excellence
- Design and optimise blast patterns, timing, and explosive selection.
- Monitor and analyse blast performance, implementing improvements where required.
- Manage environmental impacts and ensure monitoring systems are effective and compliant.
- Apply best practices in achieving target fragmentation, minimising ore dilution, and wall control, all delivered in a vibration constrained mine.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, manage, and mentor drill and blast engineers, graduates, drillers, and shotfirers.
- Build team capability through training, coaching, and performance management.
- Ensure competency frameworks and certifications are maintained across the team.
Continuous Improvement
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across drill and blast operations.
- Implement new technologies, methodologies, and data-driven optimisation practices.
- Track and report performance metrics, identifying opportunities for efficiency gains.
Stakeholder Integration
- Work closely with geology, mine planning, and production teams to ensure seamless operations.
- Support cross-functional alignment to achieve production targets and operational efficiency.
- Communicate effectively with senior management and operational stakeholders.
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 10+ years’ experience in drill and blast operations within hard rock mining.
- Demonstrated experience in an owner-operator mining environment.
- Proven appointment (or eligibility) as Explosives Supervisor under Regulation 25.
- Strong understanding of UK quarrying and mining regulations (Quarries Regulations 1999).
- Relevant engineering or mining qualification (degree or equivalent).
- Explosives supervisor, Shotfiring certification and explosives handling licences (as required in the UK).
- Strong track record in safety leadership and regulatory compliance.
Key Skills & Competencies
- Advanced technical knowledge of blasting design and execution.
- Leadership and team development capability.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
- High level of accountability and safety focus.
- Experience with blast monitoring systems and blast design and mine planning software.
Success Measures
- Safe execution of all drill and blast activities.
- Consistent achievement of production and fragmentation targets.
- Full compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements.
- Design and implement continuous improvement projects to deliver measurable efficiency gains.
- Strong team performance and capability development.
Additional Requirements
- Job Title: Senior Drill & Blast Supervisor / Senior Engineer (Explosives Supervisor – Reg 25)
- Valid UK licences and certifications relevant to explosives supervision and shotfiring.
- Clean compliance and safety record.
- Willingness to work on-site in a demanding mining environment.
If you are interested in being part of the mine restart, apply with your CV today or contact [email protected] for more information.
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
