Head of Technical – Africa (Mining & Explosives)

Johannesburg, South AfricaFull-timeExecutiveOn-sitePosted 5 Nov 2026

Job Overview

Michael Page is recruiting a Head of Technical – Africa for a major South African mining conglomerate, based in Johannesburg (permanent; job reference JN-102026-7135715; posted 2 November 2026). The role establishes and leads a high-performing technical function across Africa, embedding best-in-class blasting and mining-optimisation practices and delivering consistent, value-adding technical solutions that lift customer performance and business growth.

The Head of Technical sets the Africa technical strategy against global standards, oversees blast design and execution across surface and underground operations, owns explosives safety and multi-jurisdiction regulatory compliance, partners Commercial on strategic accounts and tenders, and drives adoption of digital blasting tools and data analytics – acting as subject-matter expert in blast-performance disputes.

Key Responsibilities

Define and execute the Africa technical strategy aligned to global standards and regional priorities
Oversee blast design, optimisation and execution across surface and underground operations
Drive improvements in fragmentation, vibration control, productivity and cost-per-ton outcomes
Ensure compliance with country-specific explosives legislation and safety standards; lead incident investigations
Partner Commercial teams on strategic accounts and regional tenders; grow technical and optimisation-services revenue
Drive adoption of digital blasting tools, data analytics and optimisation technologies
Build relationships with regional leadership, country managers, customers, regulators and industry bodies

Required Qualifications

Postgraduate degree in Mining Engineering, Mining Science, Chemical Engineering or related field; MBA advantageous
12–15+ years’ experience in mining, explosives and blasting operations (must come from the mining industry)
Proven leadership in multi-country or regional roles within Africa
Strong exposure to surface and underground mining and diverse African regulatory contexts
Advanced expertise in blasting science, explosives application and mining optimisation; strong project and change management

Skills & Requirements

Blasting EngineeringExplosives ApplicationMining OptimisationBlast DesignSurface & Underground MiningExplosives Regulatory ComplianceSafety LeadershipTechnical StrategyDigital Blasting ToolsCommercial TendersMulti-Country LeadershipChange Management