Job Description

Talon recruiting has partnered with a leading surface mining company in search of a Mine Manager to join their team in Monticello, UT.



We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Mine Manager to lead all surface mining operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective production while driving continuous improvement across drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, maintenance, and support functions. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of delivering hard-dollar cost savings, operational efficiencies, and safety improvements while fostering a high-performance work culture.

This role requires a hands-on leader who can articulate specific examples of how their initiatives led to measurable improvements in production, maintenance, operator performance, and personnel development. Experience in mine expansion, crushing/conveying systems, leach pad stacking, and greenfield development is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership & Cost Efficiency:

• Develop and execute mine plans to meet production targets while optimizing costs.

• Provide specific examples of initiatives that led to hard-dollar savings (e.g., improved fleet utilization, reduced downtime, optimized blasting patterns, or fuel efficiency gains).

• Lead continuous improvement projects (e.g., mine sequencing optimization, haul road design, or maintenance strategy changes) with clear ROI and payback periods.

• Oversee drilling & blasting operations to maximize fragmentation while minimizing costs.

• Manage haulage and loading operations to improve cycle times and reduce operating expenses.

Maintenance & Fleet Performance:

• Implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs that extend equipment life and reduce repair costs.

• Demonstrate past successes in reducing maintenance costs (e.g., extended component life, reduced rebuild frequency, or improved parts inventory management).

• Have detailed knowledge of equipment repairs and maintenance program implementation, with having worked with major OEM equipment vendors and support personnel.

• Optimize mobile fleet performance through operator training, telematics, and performance benchmarking.

Safety & Compliance:

• Foster a zero-harm culture with visible safety leadership.

• Provide examples of safety initiatives that reduced incidents (e.g., behavioral- based safety programs, near-miss reporting improvements, or fatigue management).

• Ensure compliance with MSHA, OSHA, and environmental regulations.

Team Leadership & Culture Development:

• Lead large teams (30+ personnel) across multiple mining disciplines (drilling, blasting, hauling, maintenance, etc.).

• Articulate how you built high-performing teams—examples could include mentorship programs, skills development, or incentive structures that improved engagement.

• Demonstrate improvements in workforce culture (e.g., reducing turnover, improving cross-shift communication, or increasing employee-led innovation).

Mine Expansion & Capital Projects:

• Experience in brownfield or greenfield mine development, including permitting, infrastructure, and commissioning.

• Highlight specific projects (e.g., crusher/conveyor installations, leach pad expansions, or fleet upgrades) where you drove value through cost control and execution efficiency.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 10+ years in surface mining operations, with 3+ years in a leadership role managing large teams (30+ employees) at operations producing or exceeding material movement of at least 150ktpd using 200t class trucks, large shovels and associated support fleets.

• Proven ability to articulate cost-saving initiatives with quantifiable results (e.g., "$X saved through Y improvement").

• Strong background in drilling/blasting, load & haul, maintenance, and mine planning.

• Experience with crushing/conveying, leach pad stacking, and heap leach operations preferred.

• Greenfield development experience is a plus.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering or related field (preferred but not mandatory with sufficient experience).

Key Performance Metrics:

• Safety: TRIR, LTIFR reductions.
• Production: Tons moved, cost per ton, fleet productivity.
• Maintenance: Fleet availability, repair costs, mean time between failures (MTBF).
• People: Employee retention, engagement survey results, training hours per employee.

Why Join Us?

• Lead a dynamic mining operation with opportunities for growth and innovation.

• Drive tangible impact through operational excellence and team development.

• Competitive compensation, benefits, and performance incentives.

Please send resumes to nate@talonrecruiting.com