At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and optimise geological databases while driving automation and mentoring teams.
- Company: Join Sandfire, a leading sustainable mining company focused on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health insurance discounts, and ongoing professional development.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace valuing diversity and offering excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the mining industry with cutting-edge technology and data solutions.
- Qualifications: Tertiary qualification in Geology or Computer Science with 6+ years of experience.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 $ per year.
Sandfire continues to make strong progress toward its goal of being a sustainable mining company and global copper producer of significance and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: SFR). Headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, Sandfire has a demonstrated commitment to the highest safety standards. Our strategy is focused on both near-mine and regional opportunities as we seek to leverage our strategic position in the Iberian Pyrite Belt in Spain and the Kalahari Copper Belt in Botswana and materially increase the life of our modern processing hubs.
Sandfire Resources has recently entered an exciting partnership with Havilah Resources to advance the Kalkaroo Copper-Gold Project in South Australia. Sandfire has an opening for an experienced Project Database Administrator with a strong background in Geology within the mining industry, to join our talented team of professionals. Reporting to the Senior Database Coordinator, this position is a core technical specialist responsible for the architecture, management, and continuous improvement of geological data systems supporting global exploration and mining operations.
The role of Project Database Administrator is expected to exercise a high degree of technical independence in solving complex data challenges, architecting automation initiatives, and mentoring regional teams within the Innovation & Technology framework. As a key driver of our Innovation & Technology Strategy, the Project Database Administrator helps transition Sandfire's Exploration function into a predictive, data-driven environment. You will manage complex data connections and act as the technical custodian for global geological databases by building automated data ingestion workflows. Additionally, you will support technology enablement by maintaining our enterprise exploration software ecosystem, and champion new ways of working by mentoring global database administrators to reduce key-person dependency and uplift team capability.
Duties/Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):
- Unified Geoscience Drillhole Database & System Ownership: Act as a technical custodian for critical geological databases globally, in particular the Sandfire’s Exploration drillhole database. Design and manage assay export and data-flattening logic to support modelling in Leapfrog, Micromine, and other related software and machine learning analytics. Manage the compilation and loading of geological, collar, survey, sampling, and assay data into SQL databases, ensuring best-practice QAQC frameworks are continuously developed and upheld. Support major database migrations and system transitions.
- Automated, End-to-End Data Pipelines: Independently identify, design, and implement advanced automation solutions including Python-based automated DH Survey, Geology Logging, and Sampling imports.
- Data Architecture & Governance: Optimise queries, SQL views, and processes for system scalability and high performance. Prepare spatial data pipelines for GIS use and advanced initiatives.
- Platform-Enabled Collaboration & Data Sharing: Establish and maintain secure, robust data sharing frameworks between the various mining and projects teams, including ownership of mine data sharing processes (Mining and Exploration data).
- Consolidated Application Ecosystem: Maintain, integrate, and continuously improve software configurations (Geobank, Geobank For Field Teams, Datashed, Tower, IMAGO, SQL Server) to support field operations and global reporting.
- Skills & Capability Uplift (Mentorship): Act as a technical subject matter expert. Provide formal and informal training, support, and mentorship to Exploration’s global Database Administrators, Geologists, and GIS Geoscientists across active sites and regional offices.
About you:
- Tertiary qualification in Geology and/or Computer science.
- Minimum 6 years’ experience in a similar role, within the mining industry.
- Possess strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
- High level computing skills with some knowledge of coding (e.g. VBA, Python).
- Proficient in Geobank and preferably also Datashed.
- Competent in writing advanced SQL queries.
- Able to manage database objects using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.
- Experience in software configuration and testing (e.g. Geobank, Datashed, OCRIS, Geobank for Field Teams) SQL Reporting Services and/or PowerBI experience.
- Basic knowledge and understanding of the cloud-hosted environment such as Azure.
At Sandfire we value our people and offer a range of benefits and personal development opportunities including:
- Attractive, market-competitive remuneration package.
- Salary continuance insurance scheme.
- Corporate health insurance discount.
- Ongoing professional development opportunities.
Sandfire is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees.
Project Database Administrator in Sydney employer: Sandfire Resources NL
Sandfire is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and well-being of its employees, particularly in the dynamic environment of the Motheo Copper Operations. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, we foster a culture where every team member can thrive and contribute to our sustainable mining mission. Our focus on professional development, coupled with competitive benefits and a supportive leadership team, makes Sandfire a rewarding place to build a meaningful career in the mining industry.
