Deputy Geology Manager-Papua New Guinea

Our client is an international mining organisation currently revitalising a long-established gold operation in Papua New Guinea. With a renewed investment strategy, the company is focused on building a high-performance, safety-driven and technologically advanced mining environment. As they expand their exploration and production capabilities, they are strengthening their technical teams to support the next phase of operational growth. They are now seeking a highly experienced Deputy Geology Manager to support the Head of Geology at their one of Papua New Guinea’s most structurally complex, high-grade underground gold operations.

This is a senior technical and leadership role, critical to the delivery of geological integrity, resource growth, and mine life extension at Tolukuma. The successful candidate will provide hands-on geological leadership across mine geology, resource modelling, and exploration, while mentoring teams and acting as a trusted technical advisor to operations and senior management.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Geology, the Deputy Geology Manager will:

• Provide geological leadership across mine geology, resource geology, and exploration, ensuring consistent interpretations, datasets, and 3D models across underground operations and near-mine exploration.

• Oversee geological modelling and mineral resource estimation in a structurally complex, high-grade orogenic gold system, ensuring models are robust, auditable, and aligned with underground mine planning requirements.

• Ensure rapid integration of drilling results (grade control, infill, step-out, depth extensions, and regional targets) into resource models and short- to medium-term mine plans.

• Design, review, and optimise drilling programs to improve ore definition, reconciliation, and mine life extension.

• Direct and support exploration activities across PNG, including drilling, mapping, sampling, logistics, and remote site operations.

• Act as a key technical advisor to mine operations, supporting production planning to maximise recovery, minimise dilution, and reduce geological risk.

• Establish and enforce high standards of data integrity, QA/QC, and database governance, suitable for PNG regulatory scrutiny and international reporting codes.

• Prepare, review, and contribute to JORC and NI 43-101 compliant technical reports, working with independent consultants and auditors.

• Act as or support the Competent Person / Qualified Person for exploration results and mineral resource statements, as appropriate.

• Lead and participate in technical reviews, audits, and engagements with the PNG Mineral Resources Authority (MRA).

• Analyse and interpret geological and spatial data using Leapfrog (essential) and Deswik (highly regarded), while championing innovation in structural modelling and data integration.

• Mentor and develop PNG national geologists, supporting localisation, succession planning, and long-term capability building.

• Contribute to life-of-mine planning, feasibility studies, and corporate strategy, including evaluation of new PNG exploration opportunities.

• Promote and lead strong health, safety, environmental, and compliance performance across all geological and exploration activities.

• Deliver clear weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting to site and corporate leadership.

About You

You will bring:

• A degree in Geology (Honours preferred); postgraduate qualifications advantageous.

• 15+ years’ experience in underground gold geology, with strong exposure to structurally complex orogenic systems.

• Demonstrated expertise in Leapfrog (advanced level essential); Deswik experience highly desirable.

• Proven experience in mineral resource estimation, underground grade control, and near-mine exploration.

• Strong understanding of JORC and NI 43-101 reporting standards.

• Experience operating in PNG or similar remote, logistically challenging jurisdictions is highly regarded.

• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to mentor, influence, and build high-performing technical teams.

• High personal standards for safety, integrity, and professional accountability.

Why Join

• Play a pivotal role in shaping the geological future of one of PNG’s most important gold assets.

• Work closely with executive leadership on growth, mine life extension, and exploration strategy.

• Competitive remuneration and rotational arrangements.

• Opportunity to make a lasting impact through technical excellence and local capability development.