How Can I Progress into a Senior or Executive Role in Mining?

Typical Mining Career Progression (WA)

From technical specialist to people leader

Most step-ups follow one of these paths:

• Operations: Operator/Leading Hand → Shift Supervisor → Mining Superintendent → Mine Manager → Operations/General Manager
  
• Technical (Open Pit/UG): Mining/Geo/Processing Engineer → Senior Engineer → Superintendent → Mine Manager → Head of Mining/GM/COO
  
• Maintenance/Asset: Tradesperson → Supervisor → Maintenance Superintendent → Maintenance/Mobile Fleet Manager → Operations/Assets Executive
  
• Projects: Project Engineer → Project Manager → Project Director → Capital Projects Executive

What senior mining titles look like

• Mining Supervisor Jobs
  

  Focus: frontline safety, daily production, crew leadership, short-interval control.
  Typical add-ons: statutory supervisor eligibility (see WA WHS (Mines) requirements below)
  

• Mining Superintendent Jobs
  

  Focus: area/discipline performance (drill/blast, load/haul, processing), plan compliance, cost and contractor control, reporting to the Mine Manager.
  

• Mine Manager Jobs
  

  Focus: whole-of-mine accountability—safety, production, budget, permitting, community, and stakeholder management; integrates technical, financial and people leadership.
  

• Mining Executive Jobs (GM / COO / EGM)
  

  Focus: portfolio strategy, multi-site performance, capital allocation, risk, ESG and investor/stakeholder engagement.

Key Qualifications and Skills to Move Up in your Mining Career

Must-haves (for Supervisor → Superintendent → Mine Manager)

• Safety leadership & statutory readiness (WA):
  WA’s Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 prescribe statutory positions (e.g., Site Senior Executive, Underground/Quarry Manager). Several roles require legislation exams and approved WHS risk management units; transitional arrangements run to 30 March 2026 for certain appointments. Start your documentation early via the government portal WorkSafe WA – Apply for a Statutory Certificate.
  
• Production & cost control: short-interval control, fleet utilisation, recovery/throughput optimisation, shutdown planning, and continuous improvement.
  
• Technical depth: drill & blast, geotech/ground control, ventilation, processing/metallurgy, mine planning & scheduling (e.g., Deswik, Vulcan), reliability/RCM for maintenance streams.
  
• People & IR: crew development, rosters, fatigue management, contractor performance, and practical performance management.

Good-to-have (to accelerate to executive)

• Business qualifications: MBA or GradCert in project management, finance, leadership (practical capstone projects beat theory).
  
• Project controls & capital discipline: stage-gate, risk registers, CAPEX/OPEX modelling, and owner–contractor governance.
  
• ESG & disclosure literacy: Executives now own climate and sustainability reporting. Australia’s (AASB S2-aligned Climate Disclosures) apply to larger entities from 1 Jan 2025, with further phases to follow—so understanding climate risk, Scope 1–3 pathways, assurance and governance is now part of the role.
  
• Data & automation: proficiency with operational dashboards, mine control, autonomous fleets, and condition-based maintenance.

Leadership & Networking in Mining

• Targeted WA leadership development:
  Join AIM WA’s Senior Executive Forum to sharpen strategy and build peer networks with C-suite attendees and HBS faculty.
  
• Sector-specific visibility (AusIMM):
  Present, attend, or mentor at AusIMM events; the AusIMM 2025 Thought Leadership Series are timely touchpoints to meet decision-makers and be seen. There is a New Leader Summit being held in Perth this September.
  
• LinkedIn that works for mining:
  Publish one operations improvement or safety innovation post per month (with photos/brief data), comment on WA-relevant updates, and keep your About section outcome-focused (tonnages, cost/tonne, recovery, TRIFR improvements).
  
• Mentors & sponsors:
  Line up one inside your current business (to open doors) and one outside (for perspective and referrals). Commit to a cadence: one 30-minute check-in monthly.

The right people make life easier.

Need a hand planning your next move? Get in touch with our team and let’s map the shortest path from where you are to where you want to be.

Talk to a mining specialist about your next career move.