Vice President Operations (VP Operations) | West Africa | Gold Mining

We are supporting an established international gold mining company with the appointment of an experienced Vice President Operations (VP Operations) for its mining operations in West Africa.

This is a senior executive leadership opportunity for an accomplished mining professional with extensive experience overseeing large-scale gold mining operations, driving operational performance, and delivering sustainable improvements in safety, production, cost efficiency, and organisational capability.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), General Managers, and wider executive leadership team, providing strategic and operational oversight across the company’s mining activities.

This position requires an individual who can combine strong technical mining expertise with commercial judgement, decisive leadership, and the ability to drive accountability and operational excellence across complex mining environments.

Experience in underground mining operations, alongside a strong understanding of open-pit mining, mineral processing, and integrated mine management, will be particularly important.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the company’s gold mining operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and profitable delivery of production objectives.
• Work closely with the COO to develop and execute operational strategies aligned with the company’s business objectives, production targets, and long-term growth plans.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and performance oversight to site General Managers and senior operational teams, ensuring clear accountability for operational results.
• Drive improvements in safety performance, operational discipline, risk management, and compliance across all mining activities.
• Oversee the development and execution of annual operating plans, production budgets, mine plans, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Monitor and challenge site performance against key operational indicators, including gold production, mining productivity, plant recovery, equipment availability, unit costs, and operational efficiency.
• Provide technical and operational oversight of underground mining activities, including mine development, production scheduling, ventilation, ground control, geotechnical risk, and mining productivity.
• Ensure effective integration between mining, processing, engineering, maintenance, technical services, and supporting functions.
• Work closely with technical services teams to ensure short-, medium-, and long-term mine plans are realistic, achievable, and aligned with operational capabilities.
• Identify operational bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and performance gaps, implementing practical strategies to improve production, reliability, and cost performance.
• Oversee operational readiness, mine development, expansion projects, and the integration of new infrastructure or production capacity where required.
• Challenge operational assumptions, identify emerging risks, and ensure corrective actions are implemented to protect production and financial performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on mining productivity, equipment utilisation, plant performance, cost optimisation, and operational effectiveness.
• Ensure effective management of operating expenditure, capital expenditure, and operational budgets, maintaining a strong focus on cost discipline and return on investment.
• Support the evaluation and execution of capital projects, mine expansions, and operational improvement programmes.
• Review equipment performance, maintenance strategies, and asset management practices to maximise reliability and availability.
• Establish and maintain robust operational reporting systems that provide accurate visibility of performance, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Conduct regular operational reviews and site visits, challenging performance and ensuring appropriate actions are taken to address operational shortcomings.
• Develop and mentor General Managers and senior operational leaders, strengthening succession planning and organisational capability.
• Promote a high-performance culture characterised by ownership, accountability, transparent communication, and consistent delivery against commitments.
• Build effective relationships with government representatives, regulators, local communities, contractors, and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with applicable mining legislation, environmental regulations, company policies, and international operating standards.
• Act as a key link between the COO and site operations, translating corporate strategy into practical operational priorities and ensuring effective communication of site performance and challenges.
• Provide operational input into executive management discussions, strategic planning, investment decisions, and broader business development initiatives.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive senior operational leadership experience within large-scale gold mining operations, ideally gained across multiple mining assets or complex operating environments.
• A minimum of 20 years’ experience within the mining industry, including substantial experience in senior site or regional operational leadership positions.
• Proven track record operating at General Manager, Regional Operations Manager, VP Operations, Chief Operating Officer, or equivalent senior leadership level.
• Strong underground mining experience is essential, with demonstrable knowledge of underground mine development, production, operational risk, and mine performance optimisation.
• Experience overseeing open-pit mining operations would be highly advantageous.
• Strong understanding of the complete gold mining value chain, including mining, mineral processing, engineering, maintenance, technical services, and supporting infrastructure.
• Demonstrated success improving operational performance, production delivery, safety standards, cost efficiency, and organisational effectiveness.
• Proven ability to lead and influence experienced General Managers and multidisciplinary operational leadership teams.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience managing significant operating budgets, capital expenditure, and mine profitability.
• Ability to critically evaluate operational performance, identify underlying issues, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Experience managing complex operational challenges, including production constraints, equipment reliability, underground development, workforce productivity, and organisational change.
• Strong understanding of mine planning, resource utilisation, production scheduling, and the relationship between technical plans and operational execution.
• Proven commitment to health, safety, environmental management, and responsible mining practices.
• Strong leadership presence, with the confidence to challenge underperformance, make difficult decisions, and hold operational teams accountable.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both executive leadership and site-based personnel.
• Experience operating in challenging international mining jurisdictions, particularly within West Africa.
• Ability to work effectively across multicultural environments and develop strong relationships with national and expatriate leadership teams.

Ideal Background

The successful candidate may come from an established international gold mining company, multinational mining group, or major mining operation with a strong track record of operational delivery.

Experience progressing through senior mining, operational management, and General Manager positions into broader regional or corporate operational leadership would be particularly relevant.

Candidates who have held direct accountability for underground gold mining operations, including mine development, production performance, technical services, processing, maintenance, and operational cost management, will be of particular interest.

Experience overseeing multiple operations, supporting General Managers, implementing operational improvement programmes, and driving consistent performance across different mining assets would be highly advantageous.

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on, commercially astute operational leader who understands the realities of mining operations and is comfortable engaging directly with site leadership teams to identify challenges and implement solutions.

We are particularly interested in individuals who demonstrate the ability to balance strategic leadership with detailed operational understanding, maintaining visibility of site performance without becoming unnecessarily involved in day-to-day management.

The successful candidate must be capable of challenging established practices, driving accountability, making difficult decisions, and delivering measurable improvements in safety, production, costs, and operational efficiency.

This position would suit an experienced mining executive who can operate as a trusted partner to the COO, providing leadership across site operations while contributing to the organisation’s wider operational strategy and future development.

Why This Role

This is an opportunity to join an established gold mining company in a senior operational leadership capacity, with significant responsibility for mining performance and operational excellence across West Africa.

You will work closely with the COO, General Managers, and wider executive leadership team, playing a key role in ensuring the company’s mining operations consistently achieve their safety, production, cost, and strategic objectives.

The position offers the opportunity to influence operational strategy while remaining closely connected to mining execution, site leadership, organisational development, and major operational improvement initiatives.

For an experienced VP Operations, Regional Operations Director, General Manager, or senior mining executive who is looking to take on broader operational responsibilities, this represents an excellent opportunity to make a tangible impact within an established international gold mining organisation.

Qualifications/Certifications

• Degree in Mining Engineering, Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Postgraduate qualifications in Mining Engineering, Business Administration, or Management would be advantageous.
• Minimum 20 years’ mining industry experience, including significant senior operational leadership experience.
• Proven experience managing large-scale underground gold mining operations.
• Demonstrated experience at General Manager, Regional Operations Manager, VP Operations, COO, or equivalent senior management level.
• Strong technical understanding of underground mining methods, mine development, production planning, mine infrastructure, ventilation, and ground control.
• Broad understanding of open-pit mining, mineral processing, engineering, maintenance, and technical services.
• Proven track record managing operational budgets, capital expenditure, production targets, and operational performance improvement programmes.
• Strong knowledge of mining health and safety legislation, operational risk management, and environmental compliance.
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams across geographically dispersed mining operations.
• Strong commercial acumen, leadership capability, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills.
• Previous experience operating within West African gold mining environments is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to develop local leadership capability, build high-performing teams, and manage complex stakeholder relationships.

How to Apply

If you’re an accomplished senior mining executive with extensive gold mining experience, strong underground operational expertise, and a proven record of delivering operational excellence, please send your CV to applicants@williamsmining.com.

We’ll be in touch to discuss the opportunity in more detail.