Operational Excellence Specialist

Job Title: Operational Excellence Specialist

Want to work in a state-of-the-art mining facility?

Who We Are

Welcome to Vale. Our purpose is to improve life and transform the future. Together. We value our workforce and strive to offer continuous training and career development opportunities for our people.

Vale Base Metals is one of the world’s largest producers of high-quality nickel and an important producer of copper and responsibly sourced cobalt. With headquarters in Toronto, Canada, and operations in Newfoundland & Labrador, Ontario, Manitoba, UK, Indonesia, and Brazil, we are delivering the critical building blocks for a cleaner, greener future.

Applying the latest technologies to sustainably mine the critical minerals that power electric vehicles, build renewable energy solutions, and help develop life-saving medical equipment is at the heart of what we do.

We invite you to be part of our evolution.

Our Team

Our Newfoundland and Labrador Operations are an integrated mining, milling, and processing operation. Nickel concentrate from the fly-in, fly-out Voisey’s Bay operation is shipped to our state-of-art Long Harbour Processing Plant where it is refined into low-carbon and high-purity nickel rounds, cobalt rounds and copper cathodes.

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking a visionary and highly skilled Operational Excellence Specialist to join our esteemed team in Long Harbour, NL. This permanent position will be on a 4x10s schedule or Monday to Friday schedule working at the Long Harbour Operations site.

This pivotal role is designed for an individual who is passionate about driving organizational excellence through training, innovation, and the implementation of the Vale Production System (VPS). As a key player in our mission to be benchmark in safety, leader in sustainable mining, best in class reliable operator and a reference in creating and sharing value you will be instrumental in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational discipline. Your expertise will empower our workforce, ensuring that every team member understands their critical role in our collective success.

Additionally, in this position, you will:

• Deliver comprehensive training concepts on the Vale Production System (VPS) principles, ensuring all employees are well-versed and capable of applying these methodologies to their daily activities.
• Lead the implementation of VPS policies and practices, focusing on achieving a safe, reliable and sustainable operation.
• Drive the continuous evolution of VPS by integrating lessons learned and refining methodologies, techniques, and tools. Work closely with teams to make problems visible, engage in effective problem-solving, and foster a proactive approach to identifying and addressing challenges.
• Train and coordinate Six Sigma projects and apply lean manufacturing principles to drive efficiency and excellence.
• Implement structured routines, methodologies, and tools to sustain and enhance operational results. Standardize processes and procedures to ensure safety, predictability of results, and the seamless implementation of best practices.
• Develop and deploy strategic development plans, ensuring all employees understand their roles and how their activities contribute to Vale’s overarching goals.
• Mentor and develop personnel at all levels of the organization, promoting the relentless elimination of waste, reduction of cycle times, and systematic problem-solving.
• Coordinate and lead cross-functional problem-solving sessions, challenging the status quo and ensuring best practices are shared and replicated throughout VNL.
• Monitor and analyze performance data to identify key improvement areas and implement strategic actions and initiatives. Conduct thorough analysis of implemented actions, with a steadfast focus on achieving tangible results.

About You

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Certifications in Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt or Master Black Belt), Continuous Improvement, or related areas.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in operational excellence, continuous improvement, or a similar role within a large organization.
• Proven track record of successfully implementing Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Extensive experience in training and mentoring teams, with a focus on developing a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive organizational change.

Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of Vale’s Management Model (VPS).
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Advanced knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies, tools, and techniques.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities, with a focus on aligning operational excellence initiatives with organizational goals.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage competing demands.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment and drive continuous improvement initiatives in a complex organizational setting.

How can Vale grow your career?

This position will allow the right candidate an opportunity to shape our operation. Additionally, Vale Canada offers a series of benefits including:

• Competitive salary
• Opportunity to earn an annual Employee Bonus
• Attractive pension and benefits (company paid core coverage, flex health and dental coverage, flex accounts, disability plans, and optional insurances)
• A bus service departing from the St. John’s vicinity
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation, sick, top up for maternity/parental)
• All Personal Protective Equipment is provided upon hire. Employees are given a safety boot allowance and receive a 100% reimbursement for prescription safety glasses
• Employee Family Assistance Program
• Work culture dedicated to safety, diversity & inclusion, and career growth
• Opportunities to grow your career in a large global company, and mining industry leader
• Online training and career development opportunities

Include to Transform

At Vale, we are committed to ensuring an inclusive work environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. Vale encourages everyone to express their ideas and opinions and values the plurality of individual profiles. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are critical to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or any other personal consideration that makes us different.

Vale is an equal opportunity employer seeking to increase diversity across our operations and improve equal opportunity at Vale and in the mining industry.

Interested applicants must submit their application online at https://vale.eightfold.ai/careers.

Accommodation is available throughout our recruitment process for applicants with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation to enable you participate in our recruitment process, please email us at vnlrecruitment@vale.com.

Pay Grade: F4T

Apply by: Wednesday, August 21st, 2024

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Vale Canada