Principal - Resource Geologist

About us

K92 Mining Limited are the owners the high-grade Kainantu Gold Mine in Eastern Highlands Province. Since commencing operations in 2016, we have delivered consistent production growth. More importantly, we have contributed significantly to the economy of Papua New Guinea, more than 90% of our employees and contractors are from PNG and our local education and skills development initiatives which include scholarships, traineeships and adult literacy programs continue to bring significant benefit the communities in which we operate.

We are now transforming the operation with a new 1.2 mtpa process plant as well as extensive construction and expansion across site that will see us triple the output from our mine by 2027. In addition to our ongoing production success, we have an extensive exploration programme across our highly prospective tenement, making K92 a great place to build a long-term career.

To support this growth, we’ve established an office in Brisbane, Australia, positioning us for continued success and further economic contributions in the regions we operate.

About the role

Key / Major Accountabilities

Key accountabilities of this position include.

• Plan, design and oversee mine resource extension drilling programs, in conjunction with the site geology team, to grow and upgrade the Mineral Resource.
• Lead the preparation, review and reporting of Mineral Resource estimates, including geological interpretation, 3D geological modelling, domaining, grade estimation, classification and documentation, in accordance with NI 43-101, the CIM Definition Standards and company standards.
• Act as the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for the external reporting of Mineral Resource estimates and study work, including preparing and signing off the relevant sections of technical reports and reviewing public disclosure.
• Lead the transition of resource modelling and estimation from external consultants to an in-house capability, including developing workflows, procedures, software set-up and internal peer review processes.
• Lead resource development and study work on new orebodies, progressing them from initial resource definition through to inclusion in mine planning and technical studies.
• Develop and implement guidelines and standards for site-based short-term geology teams to ensure grade control models, processes and practices are consistent with the Mineral Resource estimate.
• Establish and oversee QA/QC protocols for drilling, sampling, assaying and geological data, and ensure data integrity and database management standards are maintained.
• Lead regular model reconciliation (resource model to grade control, mine production and mill) and apply the results to improve geological models, estimation practices and forecasting.
• Interface with the regional exploration team to share data and integrate exploration results into resource development work.
• Work closely with the onsite geology and mine technical services teams to provide technical support to mine operations and participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements and continuously update your knowledge and skills.
• Work as a key member of the corporate geology team, contributing to the delivery of the team’s resource and geological objectives.
• Build strong working relationships with site geology, mine planning and exploration teams, and with external consultants and reviewers.
• Support change and drive innovation in resource geology practices, including the development of the in-house resource modelling capability.
• Actively promote an environment of collaboration, open technical discussion and continuous improvement.
• Travel to site approximately every two months, or as required, to review drilling, geology and grade control practices and engage with site teams.
• Provide technical mentoring and coaching to site-based geologists, particularly in resource modelling, estimation and grade control practices.
• Support training and capability development across the geology team in resource modelling workflows and software, in line with the company’s long-term planning and nationalisation objectives.
• Ensure geological work and resource reporting are conducted in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, reporting codes, and company standards.
• Conduct regular and thorough reviews of drilling, sampling, data management and reporting practices to ensure compliance with legislation, reporting codes, safety, and environment standards.
• Oversee, review and audit geology-related regulatory compliance.

About You

Ideal applicants will be degree qualified with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Geology or a related field and be a member in good standing of a recognised professional body (e.g. AusIMM or AIG), with the relevant experience to act as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for Mineral Resource and study reporting. In addition to this, applicants should also be able to demonstrate some or all of the following

• Post graduate studies in Geostatistics / Resource Estimation or a related technical discipline
• Minimum of 10-15 years of experience in mining and resource geology, including substantial Mineral Resource estimation experience in an operating mine environment.
• Excellent technical knowledge of geology, geological modelling and Mineral Resource estimation, with specific experience in underground long hole open stoping mining environments highly regarded.
• Proven experience in preparing, reviewing and signing off Mineral Resource estimates, including geostatistics, domaining, classification and reporting.
• Proficiency in the design and oversight of QA/QC systems, geological data management, and reconciliation of resource models to grade control, mine production and mill performance.
• Experience planning and overseeing resource extension / infill drilling programs, and in resource development and study work on new or near-mine orebodies.
• Experience establishing or transitioning resource modelling and estimation to an in-house capability, including developing procedures and workflows.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively within a team and build positive working relationships with site, corporate and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a highly organised work method, and keen attention to detail.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Leapfrog and Deswik, with experience in other mining software such as Surpac,
• Datamine, Isatis and acQuire, along with proficiency in Excel.
• Proficiency in document control systems and procedures to ensure organization of reports and drawings.
• Willingness to travel to site in Papua New Guinea approximately every two months.

Life at K92

Our core values - Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Safety - are central to our operations and fundamental to our success. K92 upholds a commitment to equal opportunity, striving to ensure that every individual can reach their highest potential without experiencing discrimination.

At K92, we believe in rewarding our employees for their contributions. Alongside competitive salaries, we offer participation in both long-term and short-term incentive plans. We are committed to the continuous professional development, flexibility, hybrid work arrangements and ensuring a positive and supportive work culture for all.

If you share our values and are looking for your next career step, come join us on this exciting journey.