Practice Lead - Geotechnical

Job highlights
  • Exciting new role to the business!
  • Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
  • Sound like you? Technical depth. Strategic leadership. Proven results.
Job ID 104883 Closing date 30/04/2026 Last Updated 02/04/2026
Practice Lead Geotechnical Engineer
George Fisher Mine – Technical Services
Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia 
Reference No: 104883

Mount Isa Mines are currently advertising for a Practice Lead Geotechnical Engineer position with the Technical Services Department.   

The Operation
George Fisher Mine is one of the largest zinc mines in the world. It is a key asset in Glencore’s global mining portfolio.
The Mount Isa Zinc operations are integrated across the entire supply chain, from resource identification and development through production and distribution of zinc and lead to customers worldwide. 

We are committed to recruiting distinguished professionals in the field, trusting in our employees' skills and encouraging their development into leaders in their specialties. We offer structured career development plans and mentoring from leaders in your field to ensure our people reach their desired potential. 

We also provide a competitive remuneration package and benefits, including above-market superannuation, and retailing discounts.. 

Mount Isa Mines location and roster offer an attractive lifestyle option. Our people return home every day and enjoy a thriving town of 23,000 people. You will always have something to do, go to restaurants and movies, join a gym and participate in sports, play golf, fish, camp, and enjoy lake activities. 
The operation is situated on land traditionally owned by the Kalkadoon People, and we respect their rights and interests.

The Role
This is a key Technical Services leadership role, responsible for providing safe, practical and value-adding geotechnical direction that improves ground control outcomes, excavation stability, ore recovery and schedule reliability. 

The role provides governance, coaching, and discipline leadership across geotechnical assessment, ground support standards, stope development, slope stability, monitoring, hazard management, and continuous improvement.
We are hiring a technically minded professional who can merge deep underground geotechnical knowledge with practical operational insight, a professional approach, and the ability to develop the team's skills. 

Reporting to the Technical Services Manager, the Practice Lead Geotechnical Engineer will support the Geotechnical Superintendent in ensuring that standards and continuous improvement within the Geotechnical discipline are managed. Working closely with the Mining, Planning, Geology, Survey, and Operations teams to optimise geotechnical performance across the operation.

Your key responsibilities include: 
  • Work with the Geotechnical discipline to ensure safe, compliant and practical ground control practices
  • Providing technical oversight of geotechnical assessments, excavation designs, ground support standards and hazard controls
  • Improving development and stope stability, dilution control, recovery outcomes and operational reliability
  • Maintaining discipline standards, procedures, monitoring requirements, TARPs and geotechnical risk management processes
  • Reviewing geotechnical performance, monitoring data and field observations to identify trends, root causes and improvement actions
  • Supporting operations through practical field engagement, inspections and timely technical advice
  • Conducting investigations, trials and adoption of geotechnical technologies, tools and methodologies that improve safety or value
  • Coaching and mentoring geotechnical engineers and other technical personnel within the discipline
  • Open pit monitoring, instrumentation analysis, and installation guidance for care of maintenance and developing projects.
The successful applicant will have:
  • A tertiary qualification in Geotechnical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Civil Engineering or another relevant technical discipline
  • Significant underground and open pit metalliferous mining experience in geotechnical, ground control and mine engineering roles
  • Demonstrated experience in underground development and geotechnical assessment of stopes, ground support design, stability analysis and risk management
  • Solid understanding of underground stoping methods and the interaction between mining sequence, stress environment, ground response and excavation performance
  • Experience in open-pit slope stability assessment, pit drainage and waste rock dump stability assessment
  • Well-developed knowledge of geotechnical monitoring, instrumentation, inspection processes and practical operational constraints
  • Experience in raisebore shaft stability assessments and justifications
  • A sound knowledge of mine backfill, shotcrete and concrete applications
  • Demonstrated ability to improve geotechnical outcomes through analysis, field engagement and disciplined follow-through
  • Experience leading technical teams, coaching engineers and setting discipline standards
  • Effective at engaging stakeholders, communicating clearly, planning strategically, and resolving issues
  • Proficient in using the following software packages: Deswik, RocScience software suite, FLAC3D and mine monitoring/reporting systems
What we offer
This is a chance to take a leadership role focused on improving geotechnical performance and capabilities throughout the operation. You will be part of a team focused on improving technical standards, supporting operational delivery and building sustainable internal capability for the future.

At Glencore, our culture is underpinned by the values of Safety, Integrity, Responsibility, Openness, Simplicity, and Entrepreneurialism, and we are looking for leaders who role-model these every day.

Interested?
We welcome applications from internal and external candidates. This is a residential role based in Mount Isa; FIFO (Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns) arrangements may be considered for the right candidate. 

If you are a technically experienced geotechnical professional focused on improving ground control outcomes, developing team capability, and delivering practical site value, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits:
  • Benefits program including discounts with Health Insurance providers, online and in-store discounts through Glencore Rewards, salary sacrificing vehicles, Employee Referral Program and Recognition and Reward programs.
  • Comprehensive professional development opportunities with Professional External Education Assistance, leadership development programs, and ambassador programs.
  • Relocation package with company sponsored housing and vehicle access – (Residential) 
  • Applicable allowances (FIFO) 
  • Base + allowances + discretionary bonus with 13% superannuation 
For further information, please contact:  Bec McManus on 0427 559 840
Applications Close:  8:00am Thursday 30th April 2026