Description
ROLE DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE: SURFACE MANAGER
DEPARTMENT: Kearney Mine
JOB TYPE: Full-Time
REPORTS TO: Sr Director, Environmental
WORK LOCATION: Kearney Mine, ON
About the Company:
Global Battery Materials (GBM) is a vertically integrated critical minerals and technology company delivering an ex-China battery supply chain from natural graphite products to active anode materials. The company's platform combines a prior-producing mine in Canada with a patented anode processing pilot plant in South Korea, establishing North America’s fastest path to end-to-end critical material resiliency. Ontario Graphite Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Global Battery Materials.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Senior Director, Environmental, the Surface Manager is responsible for overseeing all surface operations of GBM’s Kearney Mine. This role will play a key leadership function in transitioning the site from care and maintenance back to active mining operations, ensuring surface infrastructure, systems, and operational processes are safely and effectively re-established to support production readiness.
The Surface Manager will oversee site infrastructure, support services, sewage management and contractors while coordinating closely with operations, maintenance, and environmental teams to ensure a safe, efficient, and compliant restart of the mine. A critical component of this role includes strengthening health, safety and environmental compliance and stewardship, with a particular focus on water/sewage management systems, tailings, and regulatory reporting requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
• Lead and manage all surface operations and infrastructure during the care & maintenance period and support the safe and efficient restart and ongoing operation of the Kearney Mine
• Support the transition of the mine site from care and maintenance to active mining operations, including re-establishing surface infrastructure, operational systems, and contractor services required for production readiness.
• Assess site infrastructure and conditions, identify risks and gaps associated with reactivation, and develop prioritized work plans to ensure safe and efficient ramp-up.
• Supervise and coordinate surface crews and contractors, including mobilization, scope definition, scheduling, onboarding, performance management, and review of deliverables and invoices.
• Support reactivation of permits, licenses, and regulatory approvals required for restart
• Build, implement, and maintain site-wide safety systems, including emergency response readiness, and operational policies and procedures during transition and ongoing operations.
• Collaborate with the Environmental team to ensure compliance with water management, tailings, sewage systems, and that all environmental controls and monitoring systems are fully operational
• Develop and implement a site maintenance system to support maintenance strategies and prioritize rehabilitation work
• Manage site logistics and services including materials handling, site access, road maintenance, snow removal, camp services (if applicable), and surface traffic control
• Ensure site access control and security systems are appropriate for both care and maintenance and active operations phases
• Monitor operational performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, reliability, and productivity of surface operations
• Support the preparation and management of departmental budgets, with a focus on cost control during care & maintenance, transition, and ramp-up phases, including cost tracking and forecasting.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction to supervisors, contractors, and operational personnel to promote a strong safety culture and high-performance standards
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including applicable provincial and federal mining regulations
• Participate in incident investigations, risk assessments, and safety improvement initiatives to strengthen site safety performance
• Ensure accurate documentation and reporting of inspections, maintenance activities, and operational readiness status to senior leadership
Qualifications:
• Minimum +10 years of experience in mining, industrial or civil operations
• Supervisory experience is required
Skills and Competencies:
• Strong understanding of surface mining operations, site infrastructure, and contractor management.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety leadership and regulatory compliance.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced mining environment and manage competing priorities
***To apply for this position please follow THIS LINK to the company career page and apply there***