Mine Operator 1 - Blaster

Job Title: Mine Operator 1 - BLASTER

Want to work with leading technology?

Who We Are

Welcome to Vale. Our purpose is to improve life and transform the future. Together. We value our workforce and strive to offer continuous training and career development opportunities for our people.

Vale Base Metals is one of the world's largest producers of high-quality nickel and an important producer of copper and responsibly sourced cobalt. With headquarters in Toronto, Canada, and operations in Newfoundland & Labrador, Ontario, Manitoba, UK, Indonesia, and Brazil, we are delivering the critical building blocks for a cleaner, greener future.

Applying the latest technologies to sustainably mine the critical minerals that power electric vehicles, build renewable energy solutions, and help develop life-saving medical equipment is at the heart of what we do.

We invite you to be part of our evolution.

Our Team

Our Newfoundland and Labrador Operations are an integrated mining, milling, and processing operation. Nickel concentrate from the fly-in, fly-out Voisey’s Bay operation is shipped to our state-of-art Long Harbour Processing Plant where it is refined into low-carbon and high-purity nickel rounds, cobalt rounds and copper cathodes.

The Surface Mine Operations Team is vital to the success of the Voisey’s Bay Operations. The team consist mainly of heavy equipment operators with varying degrees of experience and expertise and are responsible for the safe and productive mining of two open pit mines – Discovery Hill and Ovoid. The team is also responsible for the handling of all material extracted from the two underground mines at the Voisey’s Bay Mine Site.

The Opportunity

Vale recognizes the Impacts and Benefits Agreements with the Innu Nation and the Nunatsiavut Government in which Innu and Inuit workers have first preference for employment at the Voisey’s Bay Mine Site. This is guided by an adjacency principle that first gives preference to those who live on the coast of Labrador, followed by those residing in the rest of Labrador, those residing on the island of the province, followed by the rest of Canada.

Next, priority will be given to Newfoundland and Labrador residents. We also welcome those who are willing to relocate back home and those looking to make NL their permanent home.

We are currently seeking a Mine Operator 1 - BLASTER to join our Surface Mine Operations department in Voisey’s Bay, NL. This is a permanent position.

This position is based at the Voisey’s Bay mine site in Labrador, a fly-in fly-out operation. This position is on a two week on, two week off rotation.

Reporting to the Surface Mine Operations Supervisor, the primary responsibility of the Mine Operator 1 – BLASTER is to participate in the blasting activities within the open pit mines. Additionally, in this position, you will:

• Follow engineered blast designs and make all relevant field records required
• Work with Engineering to blast in an efficient and economical manner
• Assist in drilling operations
• Operate wheel loaders to stem drill holes
• Work cooperatively with supervisors and co-workers
• Assist in maintenance activities around the pit including moving and installing dewatering pumps, installing and moving pipelines, and bit sharpening
• Comply with work safety policies and safety regulations such as OH&S, Natural Gas regulations, weight and dimensions, carriage of goods, Highway Traffic Act, and WHIMS

About You

Education:

• Certified as a Level III Provincial Blaster
  • Completion of a Level II Provincial theory exam
• Have completed a minimum of Grade 10, Adult Basic Education Level 2 or equivalent

Experience:

• 1000+ hours of practical blasting experience comprising of at least 60 blasts
• Demonstrating 10 electronic detonation blasts and 15 close quarter blasts (within 10m/35ft of a building)
• Minimum of 6 months of operating experience in an industrial mine setting

Skills:

• Hold or be able to obtain a valid site driver’s license
• Demonstrate concern for Safety, Health, and Environment
• Strong ability to work cooperatively within a team environment
• Demonstrate initiative and follow instructions

What We Offer You

• Competitive salary and on-site premiums
• Opportunity to earn an annual Employee Bonus
• Attractive pension and benefits (company paid core coverage, flex health and dental coverage, flex accounts, disability plans, and optional insurances)
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation, sick, top up for maternity/parental)
• All Personal Protective Equipment is provided upon hire. Employees are given a safety boot allowance and receive a 100% reimbursement for prescription safety glasses
• Employee Family Assistance Program
• Work culture dedicated to safety, diversity & inclusion, and career growth
• Opportunities to grow your career in a large global company, and mining industry leader
• Online training and career development opportunities

Include to Transform

At Vale, we are committed to ensuring an inclusive work environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. Vale encourages everyone to express their ideas and opinions and values the plurality of individual profiles. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are critical to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or any other personal consideration that makes us different.

Vale is an equal opportunity employer seeking to increase diversity across our operations and improve equal opportunity at Vale and in the mining industry.

Interested applicants must submit their application online at https://vale.eightfold.ai/careers. Innu Nation members and Nunatsiavut beneficiaries can also submit their application to their Vale Aboriginal Employment Coordinator.

Accommodation is available throughout our recruitment process for applicants with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation to enable you participate in our recruitment process, please email us at vnlrecruitment@vale.com.

Apply by: Tuesday, January 9th, 2024

#ValeBaseMetals