Chief Inspector of Mines B.C.

POSITION:
Chief Inspector of Mines, British Columbia
LOCATION:
Victoria
SALARY:

Chief Inspector of Mines

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources of British Columbia

The Mining Recruitment Group Ltd is a boutique search & selection firm focused exclusively on the unique needs of the mining and metals sector.

We are working with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (EMPR) B.C. to assist in the search and selection of the next Chief Inspector of Mines.

The Chief Inspector of Mines/Executive Director of Health, Safety and Permitting is the Statutory Decision Maker accountable for regulatory oversight of BC’s mineral exploration and mining industry as set out in the Mines Act and Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia. Core responsibilities of this program area are to:

  •     Protect the health and safety of mine workers and the safety of the public as it pertains to mining activity within the province,
  •      Facilitate environmentally sound and publicly acceptable mining proposals within the province’s overall resource management, land use framework and consideration of the interests of Indigenous Communities, and
  •      Ensure sound environmental mining practices and proper reclamation of mine sites when mining is complete.

As part of the Division executive team, this position leads a large, highly technical organization of industry specialists responsible for permitting mining activity, setting and enforcing standards, safe and environmentally sound mining practices and ensuring compliance with the Mines Act and the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia.  The Chief Inspector and staff ensure compliance through inspection, ordering remedial action, mine closure or part thereof, application of administrative penalties or, if necessary, prosecution for failure to comply.

 

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Required:

  • Provides strategic leadership to the Health, Safety and Permitting branch.
  • Management of controversial, complex or politically sensitive projects, files and special initiatives, and provides provincial coordination and oversight of urgent or emerging issues.
  • Leads programs that evaluate the effectiveness of current practices and the development or improvement of appropriate health, safety and reclamation standards for mineral exploration and mining.
  • Identifies regulatory impediments and implements efficient regulatory and permitting regimes while maintaining high environmental and safety standards.
  • Leads emergency preparedness programs, Mine Rescue competitions, and the Health & Safety Awards Program, and identifies strategies to improve safety of mines and mineral exploration activities.
  • Leads and contributes to the development, negotiation and delivery of partnerships, protocols, agreements or memorandums of understanding with other ministries, agencies, levels of government, institutions and stakeholders to address or resolve management issues or further ministry objectives.
  • Develops and maintains effective working relationships with mining industry labour representatives, Indigenous communities and other regulatory agencies at the municipal, provincial and federal levels relating to health and safety and permitting at mine sites.
  • Provides direct input into Division and Ministry program changes and business planning to establish and meet goals set out in the Branch, Division and Ministry business or strategic plans
  • Provides effective leadership of resources and coordination with ministry stakeholders for emergency preparedness to ensure hazardous situations are addressed and essential programs are delivered in an effective manner.
  • Ensures and compliance with legislation, regulation, policies and guidelines and appropriate use of enforcement tools when compliance is not achieved.
  • Acts as the statutory decision maker for decisions required under the Mines Act including permits, appeals and investigations.
  • Represents the province, ministry, ministry executive or program at public, stakeholder, industry, academic and cross government forums, regional, provincial and international levels, with the authority to negotiate solutions.
  • Supervises senior staff including assignment of work, development and evaluation of performance plans, approval of leave, response to grievances and initiation of discipline processes.

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

  • University degree, preference may be given to those in Mine Engineering, Geology or Natural Resource Management, as recognized by the relevant association.
  • Preference may be given to those registered, or eligible for registration, with the British Columbia professional association (i.e. Association of Forest Professionals, Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists).
  • 10 years experience covering a combination of the follow critical mining related areas: health, safety, permitting, environment, and reclamation issues.
  • Demonstrated strategic decision-making and managerial skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills
  • Experience in management, at a senior level, of geographically dispersed multi-disciplinary staff.
  • Demonstrated experience successfully building effective working relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders such as senior representatives of public/private sector, Indigenous communities, and community/special interest groups.
  • 8 years successful experience providing leadership to professional employees and working effectively with private companies, unions, associations, and First Nations.
  • 5 years experience establishing and reconciling program and project objectives, priorities and budgets.
  • Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check, and/or enhanced security screening checks as required by the ministry (Note: It is important that you read the job posting carefully to understand the specific security screening requirements pertaining to the position).

 

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

  •  Strategic Orientation – the ability to link long-range visions and concepts to daily work, ranging from a single understanding to a sophisticated awareness of the impact of the world at large on strategies and on choices.
  • Leadership – The desire to lead others, including diverse teams. Leadership is generally demonstrated from a position of formal authority. The “team” here should be understood as any group with which the person interacts regularly.
  • Vision and Goal Setting – involves knowledge and skills in establishing official and operative goals for the organization/units and to establish a system of measuring effectiveness of goal attainment.
  • Creating and Managing Change – involves knowledge and skills to manage in the organization through setting direction and urgency, building a coalition of support, communicating widely, handling resistance to change and facilitating implementation of successful change actions.
  • Corporate and Business Acumen – Understands the principals and practices of effective strategic management, including strategic planning, performance measurement and reporting, continuously examines existing business processes and practices to identify and implement improvements.
  • Building Strategic Alliances – involves knowledge and skills to engage in internal and external stakeholder analysis and to negotiate agreements and alliances based on a full understanding of power and politics.
  • Stakeholder Relations: Communicating Effectively – Communicating effectively involves good presentation skills (verbal and written), careful listening, problem framing and use of presentation technologies.
  • Executive Presence – involves knowledge and skills in influencing others and having an observable impact at the executive level, through personal credibility, leadership, confidence, and an understanding of other people’s perspectives and interests.
  • Solving Problems Creatively – involves knowledge and skills in fostering creative problem solving in the organization through critical reflection, problem analysis, risk assessment and rewarding innovation.
  • Promoting Empowerment – involves knowledge and skills in using processes such as delegation and information sharing to enhance subordinate ownership and empowerment over their task and performance.
  • Cultural Agility – ability to work respectfully, knowledgeably and effectively with Indigenous people. It is noticing and readily adapting to cultural uniqueness in order to create a sense of safety for all. It is openness to unfamiliar experiences, transforming feelings of nervousness or anxiety into curiosity and appreciation. It is examining one’s own culture and worldview and the culture of the BC Public Service, and to notice their commonalities and distinctions with Indigenous cultures and worldviews. It is recognition of the ways that personal and professional values may conflict or align with those of Indigenous people. It is the capacity to relate to or allow for differing cultural perspectives and being willing to experience a personal shift in perspective.

Applications are now closed.

 

Please note, that due to the number of applications we receive, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.