Job Purpose
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Principal, RPEE Specialist is responsible for defining, assessing, and governing Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEE) across all BMNM assets. The role ensures that Mineral Resources are constrained using technically sound, economically realistic, and auditable assumptions through pit optimization, underground stope optimization, and mineable shape analysis.
This position internalizes a critical capability that is currently largely outsourced to consultants, strengthening technical assurance, consistency, and corporate ownership of resource classification and development decisions.
Key Accountabilities
RPEE Definition & Optimization
- Lead the development and application of RPEE criteria across open-pit and underground deposits.
- Perform and review pit optimizations, underground stope optimizations, and mineable shape analyses at a resource level.
- Ensure that all resource constraints are technically defendable and economically realistic.
Resource Classification Support
- Provide technical input into Mineral Resource classification by defining appropriate mining assumptions and extraction constraints.
- Ensure consistency in RPEE application across sites and projects.
Internalization of Technical Capability
- Reduce reliance on external consultants by delivering in-house pit and stope optimization work.
- Act as the internal technical authority for RPEE-related matters, peer-reviewing both internal and externally generated work.
Cross-Functional Integration
- Work closely with geology, mine planning, and metallurgy teams to align RPEE assumptions with realistic mining and processing scenarios.
- Support early-stage project evaluations, development studies, and long-term planning exercises.
Governance, Assurance & Documentation
- Ensure RPEE workflows are documented, auditable, and consistently applied.
- Support internal reviews, audits, and technical governance processes related to Mineral Resource reporting.
- Mentor geologists and engineers in RPEE concepts, optimization techniques, and resource-level mining assumptions.
- Contribute to building long-term internal capability in resource development and evaluation
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Competencies
Bachelor’s degree in mining engineering (essential).
Postgraduate qualifications in mining engineering, mine planning, or related disciplines are advantageous.
Experience with resource governance frameworks, audit processes, and database systems (Acquire preferred).
Recognized as (or eligible to be) Competent Person under JORC/CRIRSCO.
Minimum Experience
10+ years’ experience in open-pit and/or underground mine planning and optimization.
Strong experience with pit optimization and underground stope optimization tools (e.g. Whittle, MSO, Deswik, MinePlan).
Proven involvement in Mineral Resource evaluation and RPEE definition, ideally across multiple deposits.
Experience working in or reviewing consultant-led resource and optimization studies.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and application of RPEE criteria for open-pit and underground deposits.
- Perform and review pit optimizations, underground stope optimizations, and mineable shape analyses.
- Ensure resource constraints are technically defendable and economically realistic.
- Provide technical input for Mineral Resource classification, defining mining assumptions and extraction constraints.
- Ensure consistency in RPEE application across sites and projects.
- Deliver in-house pit and stope optimization work, reducing reliance on external consultants.
- Act as the internal technical authority for RPEE matters, peer-reviewing internal and external work.
- Align RPEE assumptions with realistic mining and processing scenarios, working with geology and metallurgy teams.
- Support early-stage project evaluations, development studies, and long-term planning exercises.
- Document, audit, and ensure consistent application of RPEE workflows, supporting internal reviews and audits.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering is essential.
- Postgraduate qualifications in Mining Engineering, Mine Planning, or related fields are advantageous.
- Experience with resource governance frameworks, audit processes, and database systems (Acquire preferred).
- Recognized as (or eligible to be) a Competent Person under JORC/CRIRSCO.
- 10+ years of experience in open-pit and/or underground mine planning and optimization.
- Strong proficiency with pit optimization and underground stope optimization tools (e.g., Whittle, MSO, Deswik, MinePlan).
- Proven involvement in Mineral Resource evaluation and RPEE definition across multiple deposits.
- Experience working with or reviewing consultant-led resource and optimization studies.
- Excellent technical judgment, economic reasoning, and ability to translate mine planning outputs.
- Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with geology, mining, and corporate stakeholders.
