Superintendent of Construction and Mine Development
About Ivanhoe Electric Inc.
We are a United States-domiciled minerals exploration company with a focus on developing mines from mineral deposits principally located in the United States. We seek to support American supply chain independence by finding and delivering copper and other critical metals vital to advanced manufacturing, infrastructure development, technology, and national security. We use our powerful Typhoon™ geophysical surveying system, together with advanced data analytics provided by our 94.3%-owned subsidiary, Computational Geosciences Inc. (“CGI”), to accelerate and de-risk the mineral exploration process as we seek to discover new deposits of critical metals that may otherwise be undetectable with traditional exploration technologies. We believe the United States is significantly underexplored and has the potential to yield major new discoveries of critical metals. Our mineral exploration efforts focus on copper and other metals, including nickel, cobalt, platinum group elements, gold, and silver. Through the advancement of our portfolio of critical metals exploration projects, headlined by the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona, we intend to contribute to domestic supply by developing resources that support industrial and strategic sectors. We also operate a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company ("Maaden") to explore for minerals on ~48,500 km2 of underexplored Arabian Shield in Saudi Arabia. Finally, in 2024, we established an exploration alliance with BHP Mineral Resources Inc. (“BHP”), a subsidiary of BHP Group Limited, to search for critical minerals in the United States.
Summary of Primary Functions
The Superintendent of Construction and Mine Development is the senior on-site execution leader responsible for the safe, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of construction and underground mine development activities at the Santa Cruz Copper Project. The role provides direct field leadership to contractors and internal teams, ensuring day-to-day execution aligns with approved plans, schedules, budgets, and safety requirements.
Reporting to the Director of Construction and Mine Development, the Superintendent is accountable for construction and development performance, including coordination of work fronts, contractor productivity, progress measurement, and field-level risk management. The role serves as the primary interface between construction execution, project controls, and contractor management, ensuring accurate reporting, timely issue escalation, and effective recovery actions.
Specific Responsibilities/Essential Functions
Health & Safety
- Ivanhoe Electric Inc. is committed to a strong Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) Program that protects the people, property, and environment within our care from incidents and accidents. We believe that all accidents are preventable. Management, contractors, and all employees are collectively responsible for ensuring compliance with local government, occupational health, safety, and environmental regulations. Responsible for upholding and demonstrating the importance of the use and maintenance of Ivanhoe Electric’s cloud-based, digitized, and centralized safety program.
Works safely at all times and sets an example for others, in doing so:
- Supports all functions in the development of appropriate safety policies, protocols, standard operating procedures (SOP), and job hazard assessments (JHA).
- Maintains work areas and equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), in a neat and tidy condition and in good working order.
- Wears PPE appropriate for the nature of work being performed at all times.
- Attend daily toolbox meetings and safety and operational planning sessions with site management.
- Supports appropriate health and safety personnel in the development of policies and procedures.
- Acts as a representative of the company as necessary or appropriate for any relevant agency inspections and interactions.
Construction and Mine Development
- Key focus will be on the Santa Cruz Copper Project. This is a site-based role, including primary coverage for emergency notifications and response.
- Accountable for day-to-day construction and mine development execution, including coordination of work fronts, contractor activities, and sequencing to meet safety, schedule, and cost objectives.
- Oversees planning and execution of temporary works, enabling infrastructure, and construction support facilities required to safely and efficiently advance mine development and construction.
- The implementation of technologies that are appropriate for managing and optimizing construction and future operations for the Santa Cruz Copper Project.
- Manage and deliver daily, weekly, and monthly plans and reports of actual performance on projects to support the Director of Construction and Mine Development’s reporting to executive leadership.
- Support bid and tender process to select contractors, key equipment, and supply vendors.
- Provide direct supervision and guidance of internal employees.
- Manages contractor field performance, including productivity, compliance with contract requirements, and early identification and escalation of performance or capability issues.
- Assess risks and opportunities for safe construction, cost reductions, or schedule gains.
- Collaborate as necessary with external stakeholders for the benefit of advancing the Santa Cruz Copper Project.
- Owns field-level progress measurement, validates construction and development quantities, and provides corrective action input to Project Controls for schedule and cost forecasting.
- Provide strategic and active directions for underground operations.
- Ensure compliance with the project construction budget.
- Ensures construction and development activities are planned and executed as designed with a clear transition to commissioning and operations, including readiness, handover sequencing, and operability considerations.
- Provide strategic direction and leadership in the development and enhancement of mine policies and procedures.
- Provide technical and operating support for various projects.
- Provide strategy and direction for the development of short and long-term plans for the safe, cost-effective, and efficient removal of ore reserves at the budgeted rate.
- Ensure the underground meets targets on safety, grade control, development, and production.
- Ensure production plans, ventilation, ground, and geological controls are in place to allow for proper stope sequencing.
- Assess the performance of the underground operation through reports, control procedures, and site inspections, and make the necessary adjustments.
Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
- Degree in Mine Engineering or related field/ licensed professional engineer preferred but not required.
- Minimum of 7 years, 10+ years preferred of underground development and construction experience. Preferred candidates will also have some experience in underground production.
- Minimum of 5 years, 10+ years preferred experience in a supervisory capacity in underground construction and development.
- Demonstrated experience leading field execution in multi-contractor construction or mine development environments, including work-front coordination, productivity management, and resolution of execution conflicts.
- Experience building and commissioning a paste backfill plant is highly desirable.
- Experience overseeing temporary works, construction infrastructure, and enabling works required to support underground development and construction activities.
- Experience supporting construction completion, turnover, and transition to commissioning or operations, including coordination of handover documentation and readiness activities.
- Experience with mechanized excavation methods is a requirement. Experience with Road Header or Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) equipment and methodologies is strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of construction and development scheduling concepts, progress measurement, and field-driven schedule recovery planning in coordination with Project Controls.
- Significant experience with Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) required, including experience with MSHA inspections and audits.
- Mine Rescue experience is preferred.
- Authorization to work lawfully in the USA without sponsorship from Ivanhoe Electric is required.
- Must be residential-based within 30 minutes of the site and able to respond to emergency response notifications on nights and weekends.
- Strong understanding of cost control, cost tracking, and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) metrics and utilization. Practical experience using digital construction, safety, or reporting systems to support field execution, progress tracking, and performance management.
- Solid background in mining methods, mine infrastructure, and safe mining practices.
- Strong project and time management skills.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated experience in writing RFP, technical reports, and general project correspondence.
- Ability to lead, direct, and work cooperatively.
- Good motivator and coach, and capable of developing others from multiple disciplines.
- Strong conflict management and resolution skills.
Diversity Statements:
Ivanhoe Electric is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, color, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.
- The Company offers a professional and entrepreneurial office environment and the opportunity to work and grow with talented colleagues. The Company offers competitive compensation and an employee benefits package.