
The Barrick Africa Middle East Team at North Mara Mine is seeking a skilled and experienced Senior Tradesman – Drill Specialist on a 2-year fixed-term contract.
This is a 2-year fixed-term contract role, 8 weeks on / 4 weeks off rotation. The primary mandate of this role is structured skills transfer and capability development of the national drill maintenance workforce — this is the key performance indicator of the engagement. The North Mara drill fleet (Sandvik surface drill rigs) has active 2026 PCR requirements and is not adequately covered by the existing team. The successful candidate will combine hands-on PCR execution and preventive maintenance with a genuine commitment to mentoring, coaching, and building a fully self-sufficient local drill maintenance team by the end of the contract term.
Join our exceptional team and embody Barrick's core values as you work with us. We are in search of individuals who can champion Barrick's DNA by:
Communicating Honestly, Transparently, and Acting with Integrity.
Exhibiting a Results-Driven approach.
Delivering solutions that are Fit for Purpose.
Dedicating themselves to Building a Sustainable Legacy.
Taking Responsibility and being Accountable.
Committing to Zero Harm.
Cultivating strong and meaningful Partnerships.
If you're ready to contribute to our world-class team while embracing these values, we encourage you to apply and become a valued member of our diverse workforce.
Responsibilities
Comply with all Barrick health, safety, and environmental policies, procedures, and the Mines Health & Safety Act; visibly lead by example on Zero Harm.
Deliver a structured, formal drill maintenance training programme to develop national drill technicians to a competent, independent standard — this is the primary KPI of the role.
Lead, supervise, mentor, and coach the national drill maintenance team on all tasks, ensuring skills are progressively transferred throughout the contract term.
Execute the 2026 PCR programme on the Sandvik drill fleet — including compressor replacements, hose kits, undercarriage, feed boom/mast installation, and associated component change-outs.
Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on the full North Mara Sandvik drill fleet to maintain availability and reliability targets.
Diagnose and troubleshoot Sandvik drill rig compressor systems, hydraulics, feed/mast mechanisms, auto rod-handling systems, and drill control systems.
Conduct and mentor condition monitoring activities for drill components — oil analysis, contamination control, filter inspection, and hydraulic cylinder rating — to support condition-based maintenance decisions.
Develop and implement maintenance strategies for repeat failure modes on the drill fleet; lead root cause analysis (RCFA) on major failures and implement sustainable corrective actions.
Develop and implement work plans to improve drill rig availability and reduce repeat failures.
Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and statutory requirements; promote high standards of housekeeping and equipment care.
Maintain accurate SAP PM records: work orders, notifications, parts requisitioning, and job history; ensure timely and accurate work order closure.
Manage Sandvik OEM liaison, warranty claims, and specialist vendor coordination for the drill fleet.
Provide input to the Planning team on drill maintenance scheduling, backlog, and long-term component replacement requirements.
Perform any additional duties as required by your supervisor.
Qualification requirements
Mechanical or Electro-Mechanical Trade Certificate from a recognised institution — required.
Sandvik drill rig manufacturer certification or OEM training certification — required.
Hydraulic systems certification or equivalent formal training — required.
Computer literacy: SAP, Microsoft Office Suite — required.
Valid driver’s licence.
Experience and competencies needed.
Minimum 5–7 years’ hands-on maintenance experience on Sandvik surface drill rigs — required.
Comprehensive knowledge of Sandvik drill rig systems: compressor, hydraulic circuits, feed/mast mechanisms, auto rod-handling, and drill control systems.
Demonstrated PCR and major component replacement experience on rotary blast hole drill rigs, including compressor rebuilds, undercarriage replacement, and feed system overhauls.
Demonstrated experience delivering structured skills transfer and training to national teams in a cross-cultural mining environment — required.
At least 3 years’ experience in a supervisory or leading hand role within a drill maintenance team.
Proven fault-finding and troubleshooting skills on drilling equipment.
Experience in root cause analysis and implementing sustainable maintenance improvements.
Good working knowledge of SAP PM and CMMS work order management.
Medical fitness for the mining environment.
What We Can Offer You
A comprehensive compensation package including bonuses and site-specific benefits.
The opportunity to make a real and lasting difference in North Mara's HME OC Maintenance turnaround.
Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team.
Structured training, mentoring, and career development opportunities.
Access to a variety of career opportunities across the Barrick group.
Our mission is to be the world’s most valued gold and copper mining business. We are committed to partnering with our host countries and communities to transform their natural resources into tangible benefits and mutual prosperity.
Barrick is a leading global mining, exploration and development company. With one of the largest portfolios of world-class and life-long gold and copper assets in the industry - including six of the world's Tier One gold mines - Barrick's operations an projects span 18 countries and five continents. Barrick is also the largest gold producer in the United States. We create real, long-term value for all stakeholders through responsible mining, strong partnerships, and a disciplined approach to growth. Barrick shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "B" and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ABX".

Barrick is a leading global mining, exploration and development company. We create real, long-term value for all stakeholders through responsible mining, strong partnerships and a disciplined approach to growth.