Ready to build a rewarding career in an industry that is transforming the future?
Who We Are
We are Vale Base Metals – a global supplier of the critical minerals transforming the future.
With industry-leading reserves of copper and nickel in Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia, and state-of-the-art infrastructure in the U.K., Canada, and Japan, VBM delivers a secure and responsible supply of high-quality products to customers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Global demand for critical minerals is growing exponentially. From energy to aerospace, batteries to magnets, robotics to artificial intelligence, a secure and responsible supply of critical minerals is fundamental to power modern technologies. And at Vale Base Metals, we are transforming our business to provide a secure and responsible supply of these minerals.
Join our diverse team of 13,000 talented individuals committed to providing mineral security to a world in transition. We invite you to put your skills to work, driving meaningful and enduring change while enjoying a rewarding career.
The Opportunity
We are currently seeking a Production Excellence Specialist to join our Production Operations team in Long Harbour.
This is a permanent on-site position, working 4 x 10’s schedule.
As the Production Excellence Specialist you will play a pivotal role in driving business growth, operational efficiency, safety performance, and cultural transformation. This leader is responsible for developing and embedding best-in-class manufacturing practices, fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration, and implementing innovative strategies to maximize enterprise-wide efficiency and value creation. Your experience and skills will also serve as a functional leadership resource, providing strategic relief coverage for Production Area Managers and Superintendents, reinforcing continuous improvement and operational resilience across all production areas within an Operating Plant.
Additionally, in this position you will:
- Develop and implement strategic production initiatives that enhance profitability, efficiency, and long-term business scalability.
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Lead the execution of Shingo Model principles by aligning production systems and leadership behaviors with world-class operational excellence standards, embedding a mindset of enterprise-wide transformation and sustainable business performance
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Ensure the technical proficiency of operations teams, equipping them with the necessary training and protocols to maintain a safe, efficient, and risk-optimized work environment. Support development of technical qualification routines for Production area including oral boards, Control Room Technician qualification and training)
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Support Production Area Manager in development of annual and 5-year budgets, annual and 5-year capital plans, and annual forecasting.
- Audit and analyze trends in quality, cost and production performance against the annual production plan. Develop and implement actions to address common cause variances or to take advantage of opportunities as they arise (with a focus on continuous improvement), while balancing the allocation of resources, meeting quantity and quality output requirements for the internal and/or external "Customers".
- Verify compliance with established Service Level Agreements (SLA) and required standards.
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Support and mentor department leadership and technical support functions to provide consistent quality and compliance to Management of Change processes
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Develop the area's annual execution plan and develop area specific goals and objectives to achieve the annual execution plan
- Support the development of execution plan strategies and implement operating plans for the area(s) of responsibility, considering, targets and related actions to reduce incident frequency rates, environmental performance, production output, quality, costs and capital expenditures.
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Develop weekly and monthly production and/or maintenance plans and update forecasts as required. Escalate when plans and/or forecasts will not be achieved.
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Monitor area production and/or maintenance performance, and asset integrity, to confirm that processes are in place to maintain the plant and equipment, sustain/build capability, and to achieve the targets outlined in the Execution plan.
What We Offer You
- Competitive compensation including a variable annual incentive plan
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Participation in a competitive Defined Contribution Pension package
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Comprehensive benefits package (company paid core coverage, health and dental coverage, flex accounts, disability plans and optional insurances)
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Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation, personal, sick, parental)
- Work culture dedicated to safety, diversity & inclusion, and career growth
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Employee Family Assistance Program
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Virtual Healthcare
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Online training and career development opportunities
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A Bus Service departing from the St. John’s vicinity
About You
Education:
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Undergraduate Degree in a related technical field (i.e. process engineering, industrial engineering, chemical engineering);
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Professional Engineer Designation (P.Eng) is required.
Experience:
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A minimum of 8 years experience in a similar role, preferably in a complex industrial setting.
Skills:
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Advanced knowledge and experience in the field of hydrometallurgy (process and unit operations)
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Operational experience and knowledge of hydrometallurgical plants and metals refineries.
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Previous supervisor experience, preferably in a technical setting.
- Ability to lead a group of technical professionals and work collaboratively to support a diverse group of business functions.
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Superior organizational, analytical and troubleshooting skills, with a keen attention to detail.
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Ability to multitask, change priorities, problem solve and resolve conflict. Able to communicate with, build, and maintain strong positive relationships across multiple departments.
Why Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's easternmost province, is known for its rugged coastline, rich cultural heritage, and significant natural resources. The province's economy is bolstered by a robust mining sector, where our operations play a crucial role.
At Long Harbour, we operate a state-of-the-art processing plant, which refines nickel concentrate from the Voisey's Bay mine into finished nickel, copper, and cobalt products. This plant is a cornerstone of our commitment to value-added processing in Canada. Meanwhile, the Voisey's Bay mine, located in Labrador, is one of the world's most substantial nickel deposits. It provides high-quality nickel, copper, and cobalt, essential for the 21st century economy.
Include to Transform
At Vale Base Metals, 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.
Accommodation is available throughout our recruitment process for applicants with disabilities.
Pay Grade: F4T
Apply by: Sunday July 5, 2026
#ValeBaseMetals
Interested applicants must submit their application online at https://vale.eightfold.ai/careers.
