Field Hydrogeologist

About South32

South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company. Our purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people’s lives now and for generations to come. We are trusted by our owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources. We produce bauxite, alumina, aluminium, metallurgical coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead and zinc at our operations in Australia, Southern Africa and South America. With a focus on growing our base metals exposure, we also have two development options in North America and several partnerships with junior explorers around the world.

 

Following the acquisition of Arizona Mining, South32 is the new owner of the Hermosa Project, a high-grade zinc, lead and silver development option in Arizona.

 

South32's purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come. We work closely with their host communities to create enduring social and economic value through local employment, infrastructure and facilities development and community investment programs.

 

The location of this role is the Hermosa Project site near Patagonia, Arizona

 

The Role

This role is responsible for operational aspects of hydrogeology and dewatering to inform decision-making by project delivery, operations, maintenance, permitting, and technical teams at Hermosa.

 

Accountabilities (Include but are not limited to):

Individual Accountabilities:

• Surface Dewatering Program
  • Understanding of program’s construction, pump operation, and management of well infrastructure & equipment
  • Ownership of dewatering well performance, to be handed over from construction contractor (M & A)
  • Oversee abandonment process for monitoring and dewatering wells
• Underground Dewatering Program
  • Design of drain holes/galleries with mine planning team
  • Coordination and support the execution of underground hydrogeological testing and dewatering programs
  • Ownership of accounting for where water is coming from, stored, transported/pumped underground
• Surface & Underground
  • Identifying pumping targets and future-casting (working with external consultants)
  • Ramp-up/reduce pumping relative to constraints of WTP2, supporting water balance optimizations
  • Maintaining site water balance, coordinating with various teams including construction, operations, technical and permitting to implement optimizations
  • Ownership of database and data reporting system accuracy and ensuring reported information is relevant to users and consistently provided for hydrogeological modeling updates
• Sitewide Monitoring System (VWPs and wells)
  • Design input and oversight of contractors installing monitoring equipment
  • Interpreting monitoring data, setup and updating of monitoring data dashboards and distributed reporting to various teams for informed decision-making (including hydrographs that contextualize pump rates and water elevations plan vs. actual)
  • Comparing head targets to modeling forecasts, interpreting variances and reporting to internal stakeholders
  • Analyzing and reporting head distribution relative to development headings
  • Raising issues/concerns or opportunities, and communicating impacts and recommended actions
  • Collaborate with mine planning and underground development teams, identifying risks of groundwater to mining, and developing Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs)
  • Communicating hydrogeological understanding to multi-disciplinary project teams

 

Qualifications, Skills, and Expertise:

• Bachelors Degree in a geosciences discipline
• 5+ years working in the mining industry, underground experience a plus
• Strong geology and hydrogeology experience is required
• Familiarity with drilling, including methods and challenges of gathering information
• Experience managing contractors and consultants
• Experience working with and communicating to large groups
• Experience with data reporting systems, preferred
• Experience with modeling a plus, but not required
• Strong analytical skills for analysis of results and monitoring data
• Strong collaborative skills for problem-solving and implementation of improvement opportunities with various teams
• Strong communication skills for relaying analyses to various internal users for decision-making
• Able to see the bigger picture and inter-relationships of geology, hydro, mining, etc.
• Oversee and manage contractors who are mechanical specialists, and knowing when to call

 

Our Culture

 

At South32, our