Head of Mobile Maintenance - 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 an experienced Head of Mobile Maintenance to join the team in Port Moresby, a high-grade underground gold operation in Papua New Guinea.

Role 

The Head of Mobile Maintenance is a Senior Leadership role responsible for the strategic oversightand technical integrity of a diverse, high-value mobile fleet in a remote mining environment. Thisposition requires a specialist who can balance the precision requirements of Epiroc S1D andHybrid Long-hole Drills with the robust demands of Derui, Volvo, and XCMG Mining Equipment. Youwill lead a National Workforce, driving world-class reliability through Pronto ERP, strategic partsmanagement, and an innovative, "outside the box" approach to Maintenance that prioritises safetyabove all else.

Key Responsibilities

1. Fleet Maintenance & Strategy Development

• Narrow Vein Specialist: Oversee Maintenance for Epiroc S1D Development Drills and HybridLong-hole Drills, ensuring maximum uptime for critical production assets.

• Derui Fleet Management: Manage the reliability of Derui Underground LHDs (2m³ and3.5m³) and Derui Trucks (12T and 15T).

• Surface & Ancillary: Direct the Maintenance of Volvo (Excavators, ADTs, Loaders) and XCMG Excavators, alongside all ancillary and support equipment.

• Exploration Drilling: Provide technical governance for Epiroc and Boart Longyear Diamond Drills (Surface and Underground configurations).

• Bespoke Strategies: Develop Maintenance strategies that go beyond standard OEMrecommendations to adapt to the specific environmental stressors of a remote, narrow-veinoperation.

2. Workforce Leadership & Mentoring

• National Workforce Development: Champion a "National Workshop" initiative by mentoringand coaching local tradespeople to achieve international mechanical and diagnosticstandards.

• Safety Leadership: Enforce a zero-harm culture, ensuring 100% compliance with isolationprotocols, risk assessments, and site safety standards.

• OEM Liaison: Act as the primary technical point of contact for Epiroc, Derui, Volvo, andXCMG to resolve product defects, manage warranties, and implement engineeringmodifications.

3. Systems & Financial Management

• Pronto ERP Mastery: Act as the site lead for Pronto, ensuring data integrity for work orders,component tracking, and reliability analytics.

• Planning & Parts Strategy: Oversee the Maintenance Planning team to ensure Spare PartsInventory levels strictly align with the Maintenance Strategy, mitigating the risks of a remotesupply chain.

• Budgetary Control: Develop and maintain annual OPEX and CAPEX budgets, providingdetailed variance analysis and driving cost-optimization initiatives.

4. Innovation & Technical Excellence

• "Outside the Box" Mentality: Apply advanced fault-finding skills to solve complex hydraulic,electrical, and mechanical issues that fall outside standard diagnostic parameters.

• Continuous Improvement: Identify and execute modifications to improve equipment lifecycles in harsh operating conditions.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Trade Background: Recognized Trade Certificate (Heavy Duty Fitter / Diesel Mechanic).

• Experience: 10–15 years in Mobile Maintenance, with at least 5 years in a Superintendent orsenior leadership role.

• Asset Expertise: Deep technical knowledge of Epiroc S1D, Long-hole Drills, DeruiUnderground LHD / Haulage, and Diamond Drilling rigs.

• Software: Expert-level proficiency in Pronto ERP

• Environment: Proven success managing Maintenance in remote, multi-cultural locations.

Core Competencies

• Safety Orientated: Unwavering commitment to safety and environmental standards.

• Strategic Visionary: Ability to look beyond "break-fix" to long-term asset health.

• Mentor/Coach: Genuine passion for developing local talent and building team capability.