Regional Site Manager

About ETNO Mining Plc and Akobo Minerals AB

 Akobo Minerals is a Scandinavian-based gold exploration and boutique mining company, currently holding an exploration license covering 182 km2 and a mining license covering 16 km2 in the Gambela region and Dima Woreda, Ethiopia. The company has established itself as the leading gold exploration company in Ethiopia through more than 12 years of on-the-ground activity.

Akobo Minerals’ Segele mine has an Inferred and Indicated Mineral Resource of 68,000 ounces, yielding a world-class gold grade of 22.7 g/ton, combined with an estimated all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD 243 per ounce. Still open to depth, the gold mineralized zone continues to expand and will have a positive impact on future resource estimates and the life expectancy of the mine. The exploration license holds numerous promising exploration resource-building prospects in both the vicinity of Segele and in the wider license area.

Akobo Minerals has an excellent relationship with local communities all the way up to national authorities and the company places environment and social governance (ESG) at the heart of its activities – as demonstrated by a planned, industry-leading, extended shared value program.

Akobo Minerals has built a strong local foothold based upon the principles of sound ethics, transparency and communication, and is ready to take on new opportunities and ventures as they arise. The company is uniquely positioned to become a major player in the future development of the very promising Ethiopian mining industry.

Akobo Minerals has a clear strategy aimed at building a portfolio of gold resources through high-impact exploration and mining, whilst adhering to a lean business operation. The company is headquartered in Oslo and is listed on the Euronext Growth Oslo Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange – both under the ticker symbol, AKOBO.

 Job summary:

 The Regional Site Manager is a senior management position and is responsible for overseeing all site-based activities related to the development and operation of underground mining, surface mining and the processing plant. This position will be based at the Segele Mine (Gambela Region, Ethiopia). This person will work alongside Etno/Akobo management and consultants to implement company strategy for the Segele Mine and Process plant. The Regional Site Manager will have responsibility for day-to-day decision making and activities and have the overall/final responsibility for all activities at site.

 The Regional Site Manager will have site-wide responsibility and oversee a team consisting of mining, processing, technical services logistics, procurement, accommodation and security departments. The ETNO team consists of a combination of Ethiopian and Expatriate workers working side-by-wide and it is essential that the Regional Site Manager can coordinate the entire team across language and cultural barriers.

 In addition to being culturally diverse, ETNO employs staff with widely varying experience of the mining industry. Some members, including leadership of the mining team have extensive experience from the South African mining industry. The team is supported by local miners who have been under training since mine start up. The processing team consists of an experienced team of processing specialists and local staff which will operate a new processing plant which is near completion. The mining and processing departments are supported by a Technical Services department which organizes the provision of critical supplies and services to the mine and other parts of the ETNO organization.

 The Regional Site Manager will be working alongside the Procurement Manager and Head of Business Support who will be responsible for IT, administration, security and health provision. The Head of Business Support will also manage some Health and Safety functions, but the principle responsibility for safe mine operations will rest with the Regional Site Manager. ETNO Mining also has Exploration and ESG departments which support the business in other key areas of development. The Regional Site Manager’s site-wide remit means that this person will make day-to-day decisions and be held accountable for business support and procurement activities needed to ensure efficient gold production.

 ETNO and Akobo has access to extensive technical knowledge both within the company and externally who advise on all areas of the technical operation of the mine, processing plant and supporting functions. Where the successful candidate does not have experience of mining or mineral processing, these consultants will be available to provide guidance.

  Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Your duties and responsibilities will include but not limited to:

1.     Ensure occupational safety and environmental care standards are met and guidelines properly followed in all operational activities according to both Ethiopian and company standards.

2.     Ensure that company policies and code of conduct are adhered to by all staff members within the departments under you.

3.     Be responsible for meeting company gold production targets and all mining and processing related activities.

4.     Monitor production costs and identify opportunities for cost savings.

5.     Be responsible for the performance of the underground mining operations being undertaken by the mining department to maintain strict safety standards and ensure the delivery of company objectives.

6.     Be responsible for the performance of the processing plant operations being undertaken and to maintain strict safety standards and ensure the delivery of company objectives.

7.     Be responsible for consumption of consumables, managing expenditure and procurement processes (with the support of separate procurement, finance and compliance teams).

8.     Be responsible for the implementation of mining, mineral and infrastructure projects as designed by company consultants.

9.     Manage, facilitate, collaborate, and liaise with contractors and other stakeholders in order to achieve company targets.

10.  Plan, organize, and execute daily development and production activities of the mine, processing plant, and maintenance to attain company targets through efficient allocation and utilization of resources.

11.  Introduce and apply continuous improvement processes and look for best practices in the industry for potential application in the operation.

12.  Carry out and collaborate in recruiting staff and organizing personnel development through training and others.

13.  Manage the process of reviewing equipment specifications and selection, plan availability, utilization, and productivity requirements, and establish related maintenance setup.

14.  Lead the introduction of a performance monitoring system of key indicators for the development and the production stages and strive to continuously improve and optimize the operation periodically.

15.  Follow and collaborate with wider exploration personnel of the company to conceptualize and plan potential future expansions proactively.

16.  Act and lead on behalf of senior management in camp

17.  Assist colleagues whenever necessary; and

Essential qualities and qualifications:

The successful candidate does not necessarily need to have experience of the mining industry, but will:

1.     Be honest and transparent and have a proven track record in delivering upon targets for health and safety in addition to production.

2.     Be target driven and results oriented.

3.     Be an independent and self-motivated manager and team leader

4.     Speak and write Amharic fluently

5.     Speak and write excellent English

6.     Be capable of and have proven experience in building and leading a strong team from individuals of diverse cultural and technical backgrounds.

7.     Have considerable experience of working in sub-Saharan Africa.

8.     Be prepared to live and work at the Segele Mine site.

9.     Hold a postgraduate qualification in engineering, preferably mining engineering or a related discipline.

10.  Have a minimum of 15 years' experience in the mining industry, including at least 5 years’ experience of leading teams of minimum 50 people.

11.  If no experience or qualifications in the mining industry, the successful candidate will have minimum 15 years' experience in heavy industry* of which 5 years involves leading teams of more than 100 people.

12.  Have experience with implementation and management of large engineering projects.

13.  Have excellent communication skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders

14.  Be a skilled leader and manager who is capable of simultaneously overseeing and managing several departments and middle managers simultaneously.

*: Heavy industry being defined as operations using several departments operating heavy mobile plant, large moving machinery and/or complex chemical operations. Heavy industry typically includes Automobile, aggregate, civil engineering, mining, petroleum, and steel industries and other similar areas.

 Desirable qualities and qualifications:

The candidate will ideally but not necessarily:

1.     Have knowledge of Ethiopian mining regulations and environmental standards.

2.     Have strong IT skills

3.     Be capable of leveraging publicly available artificial intelligence systems to improve productivity (eg ChatGPT, https://openai.com).