Director of Mining and Technical Services

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

Position Summary

This position is based out of Moab, UT and the candidate should be local or willing to relocate.

This role provides strategic and technical leadership to define, plan, and control the mining, hauling, and delivery of copper ore to the leach pad, safely, efficiently, and within budget. Direct all resource modeling, pit optimization, mine design, grade control, survey, geotechnical, and planning functions across the Copper One operation and mine expansions development to ensure optimal mine performance and long-term value creation.

Provide daily technical oversight and short-term plan control over drilling, blasting, loading, and hauling activities, including the site's autonomous haul truck fleet and its planned expansion to loading and support equipment. Ensure the short-term plan remains firmly connected to the mid- and long-term strategic mine plan through disciplined KPI monitoring, daily survey control, and drone-based site verification.

Partner closely with Technical Program managers (TPMs) on a daily basis to drive projects schedules and technical improvement initiatives.

This role carries direct accountability for Technical Services and Mine Operations performance — production, grade, cost, and safety outcomes — and is expected to work in close, daily partnership with the Mine General Foreman and operations team to translate the strategic and budget plan into achievable daily, weekly, and monthly execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead resource modeling, reserve estimation, and mine reconciliation processes.

• Develop and manage annual budgets, short-term forecasts, five-year plans, and life-of-mine schedules.

• Direct mine planning, pit optimization, and technical studies supporting operational and strategic decision-making.

• Oversee grade control, survey, geotechnical, drilling, and blasting activities to optimize productivity and ore recovery.

• Monitor technical and operational performance against production, grade, cost, and safety targets.

• Identify and implement opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory, environmental, and safety requirements, including MSHA standards.

• Partner closely with operations and maintenance teams to align mine execution with approved plans.

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing technical services team.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geology, or a related discipline.

• Minimum of 12-15 years of progressive experience in open-pit mining operations, mine planning, technical services, or mine engineering.

• Extensive experience in a leadership or management role overseeing multidisciplinary technical teams.

• Strong experience with resource modeling, reserve estimation, mine planning, grade control, and production reconciliation.

• Demonstrated knowledge of reporting standards and mineral reserve/resource estimation practices.

• Experience leading pit optimization studies, feasibility studies, and life-of-mine planning processes.

• Strong understanding of geotechnical, hydrogeological, and operational factors affecting open-pit mine design and performance.

• Experience managing drilling and blasting programs and supporting operational execution.

• Strong financial acumen with experience developing budgets, cost forecasts, and economic evaluations.

• Knowledge of MSHA regulations and environmental compliance requirements.

• Excellent leadership, communication, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting autonomous haulage systems and mining technology initiatives.

• Experience at both operating mine sites and project development stages, including feasibility and expansion projects.

• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and driving operational performance improvements.

Our culture is built on four principles:

Everyone Gets Home Safe. We never put speed or cost ahead of people.

Extreme Ownership. We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions.

Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate. We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale.

Share Your Legos. We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!