Practice Lead - Drill & Blast Engineer
Job highlights
- New Leadership Role
- Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
- Sounds like you? Technical depth. Strategic leadership. Proven results.
Job ID
104884
Closing date
30/04/2026
Last Updated
02/04/2026
Practice Lead Drill and Blast Engineer
George Fisher Mine – Technical Services
Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Ref No: 104884
Mount Isa Mines are currently advertising for a Practice Lead – Drill and Blast 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 key Technical Services leadership role is responsible for ensuring safe, practical, and value-adding drill and blast outcomes that enhance production performance, recovery, dilution control, and schedule reliability. The role provides governance, coaching and discipline leadership across blast design, charging practices, firing strategies, QA/QC, reconciliation and continuous improvement. We are looking for an experienced technical professional who can combine deep underground drill and blast experience with practical operational understanding, sound judgement and the ability to build capability within the team.
Reporting to the Technical Services Manager, the Drill and Blast Practice Lead will oversee the drill and blast discipline and work closely with the Mining, Planning, Geology, Geotechnical, Survey, Ventilation, and Operations teams to optimise blasting performance across the operation.
Your key responsibilities include:
This is an opportunity to take a leading role in strengthening drill and blast performance and capabilities across 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 strong underground mining professional passionate about improving blast outcomes, building team capability, and driving practical site value, we encourage you to apply.
Benefits:
Applications Close: 8:00am Thursday 30th April 2026
George Fisher Mine – Technical Services
Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Ref No: 104884
Mount Isa Mines are currently advertising for a Practice Lead – Drill and Blast 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 key Technical Services leadership role is responsible for ensuring safe, practical, and value-adding drill and blast outcomes that enhance production performance, recovery, dilution control, and schedule reliability. The role provides governance, coaching and discipline leadership across blast design, charging practices, firing strategies, QA/QC, reconciliation and continuous improvement. We are looking for an experienced technical professional who can combine deep underground drill and blast experience with practical operational understanding, sound judgement and the ability to build capability within the team.
Reporting to the Technical Services Manager, the Drill and Blast Practice Lead will oversee the drill and blast discipline and work closely with the Mining, Planning, Geology, Geotechnical, Survey, Ventilation, and Operations teams to optimise blasting performance across the operation.
Your key responsibilities include:
- Oversee the drill and blast discipline to ensure blasting practices are safe, compliant, and effective
- Providing technical oversight of drill and blast designs, charging plans, firing strategies and blasting standards
- Improving overbreak, underbreak, toe recovery, fragmentation and dilution outcomes
- Maintaining discipline standards, procedures, QA/QC requirements and reconciliation processes
- Reviewing blast outcomes and reconciliation data to identify trends, root causes and improvement actions
- Supporting operations through practical field engagement and timely technical advice
- Managing trials and innovation efforts to implement new technologies that improve safety, recovery, or cost effectiveness
- Coaching and mentoring engineers and other technical personnel within the discipline
- A tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering or another relevant technical discipline
- Significant underground metalliferous mining experience in drill and blast, mine engineering and production engineering roles
- Demonstrated experience in underground stope drill and blast design, charging practices, initiation systems and blast optimisation
- Thorough understanding of underground stoping methods and the interaction between design, drilling accuracy, charging and final excavation shape
- Solid understanding of blast QA/QC processes, reconciliation methods, and practical operational constraint
- Demonstrated ability to improve blast outcomes through analysis, field engagement and disciplined follow-through
- Experience leading technical teams, coaching engineers and setting discipline standards
- Demonstrated skill in engaging stakeholders, communicating clearly, planning effectively, and solving problems
- Proficient in using the following software packages: Deswik, Blast IQ, Blast Monitoring Software
This is an opportunity to take a leading role in strengthening drill and blast performance and capabilities across 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 strong underground mining professional passionate about improving blast outcomes, building team capability, and driving 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
Applications Close: 8:00am Thursday 30th April 2026