Shaft Ventilation Engineer

Valterra Platinum, formerly Anglo American Platinum, is a leading primary producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), with integrated mining, smelting, and refining operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, marketing the metal we produce globally. Following our demerger from Anglo American plc, Valterra Platinum is now an independent, publicly listed company with a primary and secondary listing on the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges respectively.

As we embark on this exciting new chapter, Valterra Platinum is positioned to define and pursue its own strategy, anchored in operational excellence, sustainability, and value creation for the long-term. With full accountability for our performance and growth, we are focused on strengthening our capabilities across the entire PGM value chain, from mine to market.

Our independence empowers us to deepen our commitment to stakeholders and lead with purpose - to Unearth Value to Better Our World. We remain steadfast in our ambition to be the world’s foremost producer of platinum group metals, while embedding safety and sustainability in everything we do.

If you're driven by purpose and the opportunity to make a lasting impact, we invite you to join us. Apply today and be part of something bigger.

Number of positions: 1

Location of positions: Mototolo Mine

The Shaft Ventilation Engineer is responsible for managing and co-ordinating the overall Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene systems, programmes and department, as well as providing the Operational Area Management with the specialist Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene services and expertise, to ensure a safe and healthy work environment, to minimise pure risk and litigation and adverse publicity. The work focus timeframe is 1 to 5 years but some plans may have a longer timeframe.

Responsibilities:

Safety

• Create a safety culture through productive and authorized operational systems/processes that allow all employees (including contracting partners) to provide their outputs in a risk-controlled environment. Oversee consistent application of Safety & Health principles in all discipline interactions and take personal responsibility for safety of self and others to ensure zero harm and elimination of fatalities.

Performance and Delivery

• Leadership and Governance
• Ensure that all occupational hygiene monitoring functions and audits stipulated by the Mine Health and Safety Act and regulations are performed within prescribed time parameters
• Establish systems and processes to ensure systematic and disciplined approach to legal compliance and routine measurement and inspection of ventilation and occupational hygiene systems.
• Develop ventilation technical and operational capability within the ventilation department to ensure ventilation knowledge and understanding is transferred to lamp room, control room and mining teams
• Assist in the development and implementation of various ventilation and hygiene related trainings
• Assist in the development of the best practices, standards and procedures.
• Ensure that legal requirements, group standards and policies are adhered to, achieve legal compliance ventilation/Occupational hygiene including risk assessment and auditing processes.
• Design, implement and manage effective Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene strategies and systems and coordinate ventilation and occupational hygiene services.
• Set daily, weekly and monthly Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene standards and targets.
• Responsible for short term Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene planning.
• Interpreting and acting on Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene related legislation.
• Provide Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene expertise when challenges occur and advise on changes to plans, schedules, procedures and standards to minimize the effect of unexpected or unsafe work practices.
• Report to the employer as the competent person per the requirements of the MHSA and regulations, ventilation and occupational hygiene findings and trends.
• Define Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene training needs, discipline and guidance of employees within agreed parameters and procedures.
• Ensure development, implementation, and review of emergency response plans and fire risk mitigation strategies.
• Represent the mine at internal and external forums, audits, and inspections, including DMPR engagements.
• Ensure the department resources requirements are adequately defined and managed to meet regulatory requirements.
• Assist in the development, implementation, review and drive compliance with mandatory Codes of Practice for thermal stress, noise, airborne pollutants, prevention of mine fires, emergency preparedness, confined spaces, prevention of flammable gas explosions, QAQC and self-contained self-rescuers. This includes new MCOPs that are published from time to time.
• Ensure implementation of occupational hygiene systems to identify, assess, respond to and control health risks that cause illness or adverse effects to people.
• Ensure occupational hygiene surveys, assessments, legal reporting, and system linkage to medical surveillance is done.

Technical and Operational Excellence

• Ensure design and review mine ventilation are available and aligned to the short-term planning, production targets, and sustainability goals.
• Oversee advanced ventilation and heat modelling using VUMA, VentSim, and similar software.
• Conduct airflow and thermal requirement calculations for short-term planning and drive airflow optimisation.
• Ensure system monitoring and continuous performance analysis, including lamproom management, early warning systems, auxiliary fan control, and gas detection infrastructure.
• Ensure investigations of ventilation and occupational hygiene-related incidents and ensure implementation of remedial controls.
• Contribute to strategic technical input for mining layouts, ventilation construction planning, and critical infrastructure optimisation.

People & Teams

• Implement a purpose-driven, high-performing culture that is aligned with the company values, is inclusive and promotes diversity, supports engagement and fosters continuous improvement to work processes.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with internal and external regulatory, legislative and permitting requirements.
• Represent mine on relevant VOHE forums (Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa, Minerals Council of South Africa and DMRE workshops).

This role is at a Band 6 level reporting to Vent & Occupational Hygiene Superintendent.

• Grade 12
• Elementary certificate in Mine Environmental Control.
• Chamber of Mines (COM) Certificate in Mine Environmental Control.

Experience

• At least five years’ relevant post-qualification experience in mine ventilation within a mining environment. Occupational hygiene experience will be advantageous where applicable to the operation.
• Experience as acting or appointed MHSA section 12.1 appointee.
• Experience in mechanised mining environment as at least sectional or senior ventilation officer is mandatory.

Technical knowledge (experience) required for role:

• Training, via courses, formal training or practical experience in:

• Occupational Health legislation
• Management system formulation and implementation
• Safety, Health and Environmental integration
• Hazard identification and risk assessment
• Extensive computer literacy in MS Office, SAP,
• Specialised technical programs (VUMA/VentSim/Deswik/Microstation)
• Mines Rescue Services Manager in Control.

What We Offer

At Valterra Platinum, you will join a team committed to excellence and impact.

We offer:

• Meaningful work in a high-performance, values-led environment.
• Market-aligned reward and recognition.
• Opportunities for learning, development and progression.
• A culture that respects diversity and encourages innovation.
• A clear commitment to safe Operations.

Inclusion and Diversity

Valterra Platinum is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfill their potential.

Valterra Platinum has a zero tolerance to dignity harms, these include all acts of gender-based violence, bullying, harassment and victimisation. Ensuring the safety of our employees extends beyond physical safety and includes the eradication of harmful behaviours from our workplace. This responsibility extends to everyone at Valterra Platinum both during work hours and outside of work. We are unconditional in creating a respectful, inclusive, and safe working environment to ensure that no colleague will be violated or harassed under our watch.

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please complete our online application form via this job advert.

Closing Date

28 October 2026