Continuous Improvement & Innovation Analyst

Located approximately 26 miles from the City of Fairbanks, Fort Knox is a centre of excellence for the Company as one of the few cold weather heap leach facilities in the world. Fort Knox celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2021, and has produced over 8.5 million ounces since it began operation. In 2020, Kinross acquired Manh Choh – a project expected to commence production in 2024 and process ore at Fort Knox.

Fort Knox prioritizes being a strong contributor to the State and local communities, and since 2001, has helped support more than 300 community partners and has contributed more than US$25 million to the Alaska Mental Health Trust.

Job Summary

Dynamic work environment that supports all facets of the operation. Perform analysis work at guidance of supervisor and other departments semi-autonomously related to new technologies, process improvement, tradeoff studies, and alternative life of mine plans scenarios. . Act as a facilitator for departments’ improvement efforts by holding alignment sessions to prioritize resources on highest impact project, define scopes, and/or creation and tracking against action plans. Collaborate frequently with the site operations analysts to understand options for sourcing data and enhancing reporting to aid decision making within departments while developing basic skills in report design and analytical modelling. Act as a trainer on occasion for fundamental improvement concepts such as meeting efficiency, effective communication, and problem solving philosophies such as DMAIC and variable analysis.  

Essential Functions

1.    Promote the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of operations by identifying and implementing opportunities for cost reductions and process improvements individually by participation on teams.
2.    Perform cost and benefit analysis on proposed projects where benefits could be considered safety, morale, and enablers (setting others up for success).
3.    Aid in prioritization of group Continuous Improvement and Innovation efforts by helping departments compare value to complexity to generate highest potential projects list. 
4.    Collaboration with corporate to share best practices from our site and hear practices of others.
5.    Collaborate with corporate to leverage the innovation fund to gain funding support from Toronto and potential human resources to support high risk technology and methodology change pilots. 
6.    Compile, organize, research, analyze, and summarize financial and operational information to support decision-making.
7.    Support managers and employees in acquiring and interpreting information, especially concerning cost analyses and utilization of software tools.
a.    Softwares include: Information Alignment data warehouse, JDE Warehouse, Wenco Dispatch, OSIsoft Pi, SQL databases, Minesight, and SplitOnline
8.    Coordinate with multiple departments/sources for both site and corporate-level reporting and KPI benchmarking. 
9.    May provide direction and assistance to other departments (administrative assistants, engineers, geologists) on concepts CIIBO is expected to lead training for
a.    Storylining/structuring approach to a problem or opportunity 
b.    Efficient model design
c.    Designing effective communication  
d.    How to have successful meetings
10.    Punctuality and regular attendance is required.
11.    Meet or exceed established performance expectations set by management.
12.    Compliance with all company policies and procedures including, but not limited to safety, confidentiality, and environmental policies.
13.    Possession of a valid driver’s license issued by the state.
14.    Work safely in all areas and identify potential safety hazards and work with management to correct them.
15.    Work without significant risk of harm to self and others.
16.    Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications and Skill Requirements

1.    3 years previous related work experience in corporate consulting and/or continuous improvement preferred. Internships and part-time jobs considered.
2.    Degree or technical qualification in finance, economics, mathematics, engineering, maintenance, supply chain that demonstrate understanding of portions of “mining industry” 
3.    Broad work experience that demonstrate multidisciplinary comprehension within mining preferred. For example projects requiring multiple groups to work together such as maintenance, production, supply chain and/or finance groups.
4.    Employee must have sufficient education to read and write instructions and comfort asking for further clarification of superiors when guidance is vague.
5.    Strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office programs are required. Ability to manipulate data in excel with functions, filters, pivot tables required. . Further development while on job will be supported and expected.
6.    Comfort continuously learning and asking for help after reasonable exhaustion of self-learning resources (search engines, Kinross University, standard operating procedures). 
7.    Possess strong verbal, technical writing, analytical, problem solving and persuasive skills.
8.    Ability to interact and communicate effectively with all levels of employees and management.
9.    Demonstrated background of presenting complex concepts efficiently to management preferred.
10.    Requires high level of energy and self-motivation with good organizational and time management skills for individual and team environments. 
11.    Must be adaptable to changing priorities and comfortable communicating changes with empathy to those who have their support deprioritized versus just missing deadlines.
12.    Fundamental understanding of mining equipment, processes, maintenance practices, and operations preferred.
13.    Working knowledge of cost accounting principles, practices, and procedures helpful.
14.    Working knowledge of supply chain procurement procedures is helpful.
15.    Possess ability to interpret and implement corporate policies and procedures are essential.
16.    Ability to function within the qualifications outlined in the attached physical demands sheets.
17.    May work holidays, shift work, evenings, and weekends as required.

Health, Safety & Environmental Requirements

•    Adheres to all safety and environmental considerations.
•    Have a strong commitment to safe working practices. 
•    Wears Personal Protective Equipment at all times while in the production environment. 
•    Is alert and observes, corrects, and reports unsafe conditions. 
•    Follows operating procedures and complies with all regulatory requirements. 

Kinross is a Canadian-based global senior gold mining company with operations and projects in the United States, Brazil, Mauritania, Chile, and Canada. Our focus on delivering value is based on our core principles of responsible mining, operational excellence, disciplined growth and balance sheet strength. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).