Company Description
OceanaGold is a growing mid-tier gold and copper producer listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). With four operating mines—Haile in the USA, Didipio in the Philippines, and Macraes and Waihi in New Zealand—we are committed to safe, responsible mining that generates strong returns and supports sustainable development.
Our purpose is mining gold for a better future. The gold, copper, and silver we produce power renewable energy, life-saving medical devices, and the technology that connects communities. Beyond this, our operations drive economic growth and improve health and education outcomes in the regions we serve, supporting over 3,700 direct jobs globally.
Guided by our values—Care, Respect, Integrity, Performance, and Teamwork—we strive to be a trusted company people want to work for, partner with, and invest in, creating lasting value for all our stakeholders.
Haile Gold Mine located in South Carolina is the largest gold mine on the East Coast of America. Our employees are at the heart of all we do. With 84% of our employees living in the surrounding community, they are neighbors and friends as well. Join our team, where your expertise can make a true impact!
Job Description
The Superintendent - Electrical Engineer is a full-time, site-based engineering role at Haile Gold Mine, Lancaster County, South Carolina. Reporting to the Ore Processing Manager, the role carries primary technical and regulatory responsibility for the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the mine's Electrical Safety Management System (ESMS) and all subordinate electrical safety plans, standards, and specifications.
The fundamental objective of the role is to manage and progressively reduce the risk profile associated with contact with electricity across all mine site operations, encompassing the surface process plant, open cut mine, and underground mine environments, whilst providing high-quality engineering technical support to the electrical maintenance teams who execute the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the mine's electrical systems.
The role operates within a regulatory environment governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) under 30 CFR Parts 56 and 57, supplemented by NFPA 70E, the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), NFPA 70B, applicable IEEE and ASTM standards, and the requirements of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (SC LLR). The incumbent will be expected to maintain currency with evolving regulatory and standards requirements and to ensure that the mine's electrical safety documentation reflects best practice at all times.
The following describes the primary responsibilities and accountabilities of the Superintendent - Electrical Engineer. The description is not exhaustive, and the incumbent will be expected to exercise professional engineering judgment and initiative in addressing electrical safety and engineering matters that arise in the normal course of mine operations.
Electrical Safety Management System
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Own, maintain, and continuously improve the mine's Electrical Safety Management System (SMS), ensuring it remains current with applicable MSHA regulations, standards, and industry best practice at all times.
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Own, maintain, and continuously improve the Electrical Safety Principal Control Plan (ESPCP) — the overarching document that describes how the mine identifies, assesses, controls, and monitors risks associated with electrical hazards across all operational areas.
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Own, maintain, and continuously improve the High Voltage Safety Management Plan (HVSMP), governing the safe management of all high voltage electrical systems including the 24.9 kV incoming supply from Lynches River Electric Cooperative, the mine site distribution network, and associated high voltage switching and isolation activities.
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Own, maintain, and continuously improve the suite of site electrical standards, specifications and design criteria.
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Ensure all electrical safety management documents are subject to a formal document control system with defined review cycles, version control, approval authorities, and distribution management.
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Conduct and coordinate periodic audits and inspections of the electrical safety management system to verify implementation, identify gaps, and drive corrective actions through to closure.
Risk Management
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Lead and facilitate Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) assessments for critical electrical assets, translating outcomes into actionable maintenance strategy adjustments, design modifications, or procedural controls.
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Review and identify Electrical Critical spares and ensure preventative maintenance programs are in place and recovery plans are developed for these if failure occurs.
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Lead investigations into electrical incidents, near misses, and protection operations, applying root cause analysis methodologies and ensuring findings are translated into documented improvements to the SMS.
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Manage and progressively reduce the site's risk profile associated with electrical contact hazards, with particular focus on high voltage systems, energized work, and overhead powerline interactions.
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Coordinate ongoing arc flash hazard studies for the mine site, ensuring results are incorporated into equipment labelling, work procedures, and PPE requirements, and that the study is updated following any significant change to the electrical distribution system.
Technical Engineering Support
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Provide engineering technical support and guidance to the electrical maintenance teams on matters relating to electrical design, standards interpretation, troubleshooting, and safe work practices.
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Provide technical input into the procurement of electrical equipment, ensuring compliance with applicable NEC, MSHA, NFPA, IEEE, ASTM, and UL standards, and with the mine's site electrical specifications.
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Assess electrical modification and installation proposals through the management of change process, including review of contractor designs, drawings, and specifications.
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Support the electrical maintenance teams in the interpretation and application of NFPA 70B maintenance requirements and the mine's electrical asset maintenance strategy, including review of maintenance interval adjustments and FMEA-based departures from default intervals.
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Provide engineering guidance on the application of functional safety standards (ANSI/ISA-61511, IEC 61508, ISO 13849) to safety instrumented systems and safety-related control systems at the mine.
Regulatory Compliance and Reporting
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Maintain current knowledge of all applicable electrical safety regulations, codes, and standards.
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Assist the mine operator in interactions with MSHA inspectors in relation to electrical safety matters, including the preparation of written responses to citations, orders, and requests for information.
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Monitor and assess the impact of changes to applicable regulations and standards on the mine's electrical safety management system, and initiate timely updates to documentation and practices.
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Maintain the Qualified Electrical Workers Register, ensuring all persons performing electrical work at the mine hold current and appropriate qualifications as required by 30 CFR Parts 56/57 and NFPA 70E.
Training and Competency
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Develop, deliver, and coordinate the electrical workers induction for electrical workers consistent with MSHA and NFPA 70E training requirements.
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Periodic audit of electrical safety training, assessments, and authorizations for site qualified electrical workers.
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Promote and embed a culture of electrical safety awareness across the mine site through visible leadership, toolbox talks, incident sharing, and engagement with the broader workforce.
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Identify and facilitate access to external training, professional development, and technical seminars for electrical maintenance team members to support workforce competency development.
Qualifications
Essential Academic Qualifications:
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Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) or Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering) from a program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET), or an equivalent program recognized by the South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.
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A higher degree (Graduate Diploma, Master of Engineering, or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or a related discipline is advantageous but not required.
Essential Professional Registration:
The incumbent must satisfy one of the following two conditions with respect to professional engineering registration in South Carolina, in accordance with South Carolina Code of Laws Title 40, Chapter 22 and the regulations of the SC LLR Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors:
Option A – Currently Licensed
Currently holds a valid Professional Engineer (PE) license issued by the South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, with an electrical engineering discipline designation.
License must be current (not expired, suspended, or restricted) at the time of appointment and maintained in good standing for the duration of employment
Option B – Eligible for Licensure
Meets all requirements for licensure as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina, specifically:
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ABET-accredited engineering degree
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Minimum four years of progressive post-graduation engineering experience
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Passed NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination
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Passed NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination in electrical engineering, or eligible and committed to sitting at the next available sitting
Applicants under Option B must obtain South Carolina PE licensure within 12 months of appointment.
Essential Continuing Professional Competency:
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All licensed Professional Engineers in South Carolina are required to earn 30 Professional Development Hours (PDH) every two years as a condition of license renewal, in accordance with SC LLR requirements. The incumbent is required to maintain compliance with this requirement for the duration of employment.
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The mine will support the incumbent's continuing professional development through funded access to relevant technical training, conference attendance, and professional society memberships.
Previous Experience:
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A minimum of five (5) years of post-graduation engineering experience in electrical power systems engineering.
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A minimum of three (3) years of experience in a mining, resources, heavy industrial, or equivalent high-hazard industry environment.
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Demonstrated experience with medium voltage and high voltage electrical systems (nominally 1 kV to 35 kV), including switchgear, power transformers, protection systems, cable systems, and grounding systems.
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Experience in the development, implementation, or management of an electrical safety management system or equivalent electrical safety documentation framework, including written procedures, standards, and risk assessments.
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Experience in the application of NFPA 70E — Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.
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Experience in the application of NFPA 70B — Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance.
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Experience in leading or contributing to electrical incident investigations using recognized root cause analysis methodologies, with the ability to translate findings into documented system improvements.
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Experience in reading and interpreting electrical engineering drawings including single-line diagrams, protection relay settings, cable schedules, switchgear schematics, and equipment data sheets.
Additional information
Hours of Work:
Nominal hours are Monday to Friday, 06:00 to 16:00 local time, consistent with site operational schedules. The nature of mining operations requires that the incumbent maintain flexibility to work outside these hours in the following circumstances:
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Planned plant shutdowns and major electrical maintenance outages, which may require extended hours or weekend attendance to support maintenance operations.
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Assistance for major electrical incidents, equipment failures, or protection operations requiring engineering support.
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Attendance at MSHA inspections, regulatory meetings, or external stakeholder engagements that fall outside standard hours.
Physical Requirements:
This role is classified as an office-based technical role with regular field inspection duties. The approximate split is 70% office-based work and 30% field-based inspections and site activities. The following physical requirements reflect the demands of both environments and are provided to assist applicants in assessing their suitability for the role. Haile Gold Mine is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and will consider reasonable workplace adjustments for candidates who can otherwise perform the inherent requirements of the role.
Office Environment:
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Ability to work at a computer workstation for extended periods — typically four to six continuous hours — involving use of keyboard, mouse, and multiple monitors to prepare engineering documents, review drawings, analyze data, and manage the electrical safety management system.
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Ability to read and interpret detailed engineering drawings, electrical schematics, and technical documents in both printed and on-screen formats.
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Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written and verbal English, including the preparation of technical reports, procedures, standards, regulatory correspondence, and training materials.
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Ability to participate in face-to-face and video conference meetings for extended periods, including multi-disciplinary engineering and safety reviews.
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Ability to sit, stand, and move within an office environment for the full working day, with reasonable breaks.
Field Environment:
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Ability to carry personal protective equipment, inspection tools, test equipment, and documentation during field inspections — estimated total load up to 50lbs.
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Sufficient hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to operate test equipment, operate safety systems, and handle electrical safety PPE correctly.
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Ability to respond physically and without impairment in an emergency situation, including evacuation from underground, muster at assembly areas, and communication with mine control.
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Ability to pass a site-standard pre-employment medical examination, including fitness-for-work assessment for underground access, conducted by a medical practitioner approved by the mine.
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Must hold a valid US driver's license and be able to operate a light vehicle on mine site roads.
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Must not be impaired by any medical condition, medication, or substance that would compromise the safe performance of duties on or near high voltage electrical systems or in underground environments. The mine operates a fitness-for-work policy including substance testing consistent with MSHA requirements
Additional Information
WHAT'S ON OFFER:
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Competitive salary + short-term and long-term bonus
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Comprehensive benefits package including health, vision and dental insurance, 401K, and more
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Great residential location close to Charlotte SC, and is located between the mountains and sea.
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Long service recognition
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Living Our Values recognition program
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In-office snack shop
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Monthly paid training available and professional development
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Supportive work environment with a focus on safety and teamwork
Access to OceanaGold Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
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YOU MATTER: OceanaGold is committed to providing equal employment opportunities. We believe a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. Should you require any assistance applying for this opportunity, please contact us at [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS FROM AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
