Underground Technical Services Manager

Underground Technical Services Manager

The Underground Technical Services Manager is the leader of our technical products and services offering for the USA and Canadian underground markets. They are responsible for the identification, vetting, development, and implementation of those products, technologies, services, and techniques required to grow, and support, Austin Powder Company's underground customer base. The Underground Technical Services Manager must have a strong understanding of the different underground mining methods and provide an extensive range of technical expertise in the blast design, product selection, surveying, loading, and analysis processes.

This is a collaborative role that will require joint effort with the local and regional teams in the identification, development, sale, and application of those technical products and services required to meet the demands of the underground market. The Underground Technical Services Manager will work closely with the local, regional, and corporate sales teams to ensure we have appropriately located technical capabilities to support current and future customer demands. This role will be a member of the Corporate Technical Services team and report to the Director of Technical Services.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Help maintain a safe and healthy work environment by living our safety culture, empowering our team members, and assuring compliance with regulations and our policies and procedures.
• Responsible for ensuring Austin Powder can provide the products and technical services needed to meet customer needs and support our sales and growth targets in the underground market.
• Able to provide technical support to employees and customers to include blast design, product selection, surveying, post-blast analysis, blast optimization, mine planning, and other service needs.
• Help identify the product and technical service requirements needed to support existing customers as well as grow our current underground market share.
• Responsible for the identification and development of underground technical service representatives through joint efforts with corporate and LLC management teams.
• Collaborate with local and regional teams to ensure we are operationally and technically capable of providing the products and services required to meet the needs of our customers.
• Support the development and implementation of policies, best practices, SOPs, and training materials for our underground products and technical services.
• Develop and maintain proficiency with applicable technologies required for our underground technical service needs.
• Can be present on customer sites on short notice throughout the US and Canadian markets as required by our customers and at the discretion of management.
• Able to support or lead the investigation process of underground product complaints, misfires, and blasting incidents to determine root cause and identify corrective actions.
• Work with Corporate Technical Services and LLC Technical Managers to manage the identification, vetting, ordering, maintenance, and applicable training of our technical blasting equipment throughout the US and Canadian markets.
• Develop respectful relationships and internal networks of expertise with our diverse team of technical leaders across Austin Powder.
• Work with the Product Managers to support manufacturing objectives to continually improve the quality, performance, and profitability of our explosive products.
• Work with the Product Managers to identify, test, qualify, develop, test, and implement product improvements, and new products, to support.
• Build a thorough understanding of local, state, and federal governing agencies' rules and regulations.
• Participate in relevant explosives industry news and events to build knowledge of industry trends, competitive products, applications, product development, and technical advancements.
• Assist with the definition and preparation of business cases to support CapEx requests, business development opportunities, R&D projects, process improvement initiatives, and more.
• Assist with the preparation of responses to RFPs and RFIs.

Skills and Knowledge

• Maintains a consistent, and respectful demeanor, in the face of constant changes and challenges.
• Able to communicate professionally and effectively with customer management and engineering teams to clearly understand their technical and operational needs.
• Strong knowledge base of underground mining methods and techniques to understand and relate to customer needs with the ability to effectively communicate those needs to Austin Powder commercial, operational, technical, and management teams.
• Strong communicator who presents information clearly and concisely and regularly confirms correct interpretation by others to ensure local support teams understand and can provide those products and services to meet the unique needs of each customer.
• Demonstrates significant knowledge of company products and equipment used in underground blasting applications with the willingness to continue learning.
• Strong presentation skills to build and deliver effective and engaging interactions with internal and external participants.
• A capable leader who can help build and manage teams of technical specialists to support the underground product and service needs of the US and Canadian LLCs.
• Thinks clearly and systematically while observing, analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, explaining, problem solving and making decisions.
• Willingness to "roll up the sleeves" and work with teams in a hands-on capacity.
• Able to build trusted relationships based on integrity and respect.
• Demonstrates the ability to manage several projects simultaneously and can effectively organize multiple schedules, events, and meetings.
• Must be a self-starter with strong time management and prioritization skills.
• Continually looks to improve performance via development of professional skills and personal growth.
• Strong writing skills to generate clear and concise documents and reports for internal and external audiences.
• Ability to train internal and external stakeholders on fundamental and advanced blasting topics.
• Ability to identify new ideas and transform them into new/improved services that benefit the company.
• Ability to be perceptive to recognize trends in our industry and identify strategies to move innovation forward.

Education and Experience

• A completed bachelor's degree preferably in Mining Engineering. Relevant experience in lieu of education may be considered.
• 10+ years of experience as a mining engineer, blaster-in-charge, or related industry experience with at least 5 years of relevant underground mining experience.

Work Environment

• This position requires up to75% overnight travel working in office, plant and outdoor elements.

Location

• Target location is Missouri, preferably St. Louis or Kansas City. Must be located within a predominant underground mining market with access to a major domestic airport.

Reporting Relationships

• This role will report to the Director of Corporate Technical Services as a member of the Corporate Technical Services team.
• This role does not have direct reports.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify.

AUSTIN POWDER's Mission

To improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives.

AUSTIN POWDER's Vision

We will be the global leader of explosive products, services and technologies as defined by our Customers, our Family and our Communities.

AUSTIN POWDER's Values

Safety is our 1st priority; WE are customer focused; we leverage the Power of the Family; We treat everyone with respect.