Director, Hydrogeology

112 Oxford Road, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, 2198

About the role

The Director, Hydrogeology is a senior technical leadership role that provides expert hydrogeology and hydrology oversight across AngloGold Ashanti’s global asset portfolio. The Director of Hydrogeology guides risk-informed water management, strengthens strategic and business planning, and ensures geotechnical and environmental water systems align with operational and long-term value objectives. The role leads knowledge transfer across the discipline, advances technology and research initiatives, and mentors technical teams to enhance geotechnical and hydrological risk management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Model AGA’s Safety Vision and Values and promote a culture where safety is the first priority.
• Support incident and accident investigations as required.
• Understand and meet all internal and external compliance obligations relevant to the role.
• Provide expert hydrogeology and hydrology input into risk-benefit assessments supporting Business Plans, Strategic Plans, and Full Asset Potential (FAP) analyses.
• Direct the implementation of functional geotechnical systems (standards, guidelines, processes) to ensure effective control of inundation and water-related geotechnical hazards.
• Audit geotechnical engineering designs to ensure alignment with Business Plans; develop corrective roadmaps where deviations occur.
• Offer technical guidance on environmental water management, site-wide water balances, and hydrological considerations for all assets.
• Oversee discipline-specific contributions to quarterly integrated plans and tactical execution where required.
• Provide structured feedback and updates to BU VP Technical, VP Geotechnical Engineering, and Project/Mine Management.
• Lead discipline-wide knowledge transfer through Communities of Practice.
• Develop, implement, and maintain value-adding geotechnical engineering guidelines and processes.
• Define and maintain technical KPIs/KPAs for hydrology and hydrogeology.
• Contribute to the CTO Technical Team and collaborate with external bodies influencing geotechnical and hydrological standards.
• Lead research partners and industry collaborators to deliver innovations aligned with AGA’s Technology Roadmap.
• Support annual strategy cycles, FAP processes, and quarterly integrated planning.
• Manage multiple competing deadlines effectively.
• Provide discipline-specific input in support of companywide strategic and business planning.
• Mentor and coach hydrogeology and geotechnical engineering teams to build deep technical capability and strengthen geotechnical risk management across the business.

Requirements

Technical Expertise

• Safety (Advanced): Recognizes and addresses safety risks and drives focus on safety objectives.
• Design Basis & Design Specification (Mastery): Deep understanding of foundational sciences relevant to mining. Ability to steer research initiatives that enhance design basis and design specifications. Experience influencing long-term companywide design strategies.
• Integrated Monitoring (Mastery): Expertise across mining methods and monitoring technologies. Recognized leader in monitoring design, data analysis, and reconciliation.
• Data-Based Decision Making (Mastery): Integrates diverse data sources to interpret and prioritize geotechnical and hydrological risks. Understands limitations, uncertainty, and data quality considerations.
• Engineering Tools (Mastery): Advanced knowledge of rock engineering systems (RES) and numerical modeling. Able to identify threats and opportunities in extraction geometries and schedules.
• Cross-Functional Awareness (Advanced): Broad awareness of all major mining functions and ability to contribute effectively in multidisciplinary settings.
• Innovation (Mastery): Guides step-change research and development activities. Actively tracks emerging technologies and identifies opportunities for breakthrough improvement.
• Project Management (Advanced): Strong understanding of AGA project management standards for major projects (> $50M). Capable of directing engineering design contractors and technical test work.
• Business Acumen (Advanced): Communicates geotechnical and hydrological optionality effectively. Understands how geotechnical designs integrate into value models and economic frameworks. Able to educate others on value modeling principles.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of hydrogeological experience in the mining industry.
• Post-graduate degree in Hydrogeology (required). Additional business qualification (e.g., MBA) preferred.
• Proficiency in English; Spanish, Portuguese, and/or French beneficial.
• Strong understanding of exploration, mine development, and operational mining activities.
• Demonstrated experience in water management design and implementation.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
• Proven capability to rapidly interpret data and make sound tactical decisions.
• Demonstrated experience managing competing priorities from a whole-of-business perspective.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Cultural agility and willingness to work across diverse environments.
• High energy, enthusiasm, and a strong performance orientation.
• Willingness to travel extensively.

Pay

US Compensation Range: $168,600 to $227,500 + Incentives