Freelance Consultant / SME (Underground Infrastructure, Electrical and Construction Specialist) - Metals & Mining

About dss+

At dss+, you don’t just deliver projects - you help save lives, improve performance, and build a more sustainable future.

We are a purpose-led global consultancy partnering with organisations in high-risk and asset-intensive industries to solve complex operational challenges across safety, operational excellence, and sustainability.

With a heritage rooted in DuPont’s industrial operations, we combine deep expertise, practical problem-solving, and digital innovation to deliver measurable and lasting impact for our clients.

Why This Role

As a freelance Subject Matter Expert (SME), you will bring deep expertise in underground mine infrastructure, electrical systems, construction, and commissioning to support a major mining expansion project in Brazil.

Working alongside dss+ and client stakeholders, you will review operational procedures, identify operational and safety risks, challenge existing practices where appropriate, and provide practical recommendations aligned with industry leading practices.

This is a project-based advisory role focused on technical review, risk identification, and procedure improvement rather than full-time consulting delivery.

Why This Industry

As underground mining operations become more complex and technically demanding, effective Ground Control is critical to protecting people, infrastructure, and operational continuity.

dss+ supports mining organizations in strengthening operational risk management by ensuring that technical requirements, Critical Controls, and engineering standards are translated into practical procedures that can be applied consistently in the field.

Your Impact at dss+

You will provide specialist expertise for the critical review, development, and improvement of operational procedures associated with underground infrastructure, electrical systems, utilities, construction activities, commissioning, energization, and the transition from construction to operations.

You will help ensure that engineering requirements, operational conditions, Critical Controls, commissioning activities, and construction-to-operations interfaces are translated into practical procedures that can be understood and consistently applied by construction teams, contractors, maintenance personnel, operators, and operational leadership.

Key Accountabilities

• Review and evaluate procedures associated with underground infrastructure and utility systems.

• Assess operational procedures covering medium- and low-voltage electrical distribution systems.

• Review underground substations, electrical installations, and equipment commissioning procedures.

• Evaluate procedures relating to isolation, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), energization, and de-energization activities.

• Assess underground pumping, dewatering, compressed air, water distribution, and utility systems.

• Review procedures covering underground communications infrastructure and material-handling systems.

• Evaluate lifting, rigging, hot work, and construction-related activities.

• Assess testing, commissioning, and Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) requirements.

• Review Management of Change (MoC) processes and construction-to-operations handover requirements.

• Identify gaps between engineering requirements, construction activities, and operational execution.

• Facilitate workshops involving engineering, construction, commissioning, operations, maintenance, safety, and contractor teams.

• Provide recommendations to strengthen operational and safety risk controls.

What You'll Experience at dss+

Deliver on our Purpose
Be part of a values-led organization where your expertise helps improve safety performance, strengthen risk management, and support critical operational decisions.

Apply your Trusted Expertise
Work alongside experienced technical and operational leaders, bringing your knowledge to a high-profile underground mining expansion project.

Collaborate with Industry Experts
Contribute to a multidisciplinary team of specialists supporting one of the mining industry's most important operational improvement initiatives.

Create Lasting Impact
Help develop practical procedures and controls that will influence operational performance and safety outcomes long after the project is complete.

Who You Are

You are an experienced engineering, infrastructure, construction, or commissioning professional with deep technical credibility and practical experience in underground mining environments.

You are comfortable reviewing engineering requirements, identifying operational risks, challenging assumptions, and translating technical standards into practical operational procedures that can be consistently applied in the field.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in mining projects, mine construction, infrastructure development, or mining operations.

• Minimum 5 years of experience supporting underground mine infrastructure, construction, or development activities.

• Experience in the construction, expansion, development, or commissioning of underground mining operations.

• Experience working with contractors during underground construction and installation activities.

• Practical experience with commissioning, energization, and operational readiness activities.

• Previous involvement in the development, review, or implementation of operational procedures, standards, or management systems.

• Experience supporting Construction-to-Operations transitions and Operational Readiness programs is highly desirable.

• Experience conducting technical reviews, audits, operational assessments, or risk evaluations.

Capabilities

• Ability to review engineering requirements and convert them into executable operational procedures.

• Assess temporary and permanent underground installations.

• Identify interfaces and risks involving construction, commissioning, maintenance, and operations.

• Define safe systems for isolation, testing, energization, commissioning, and handover activities.

• Establish operational hold points, verification requirements, and authorization criteria.

• Incorporate PSSR and MoC requirements into operational procedures.

• Conduct field inspections and engage effectively with contractors and owner teams.

• Facilitate technical workshops involving engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, commissioning, and safety stakeholders.

• Define clear roles and responsibilities across contractor and owner organizations.

• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to prepare clear documentation in English.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation capabilities.

Education & Languages

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.

• Mining Engineering professionals with significant underground infrastructure experience will also be considered.

• Professional Engineering registration or equivalent certification, where applicable.

• Additional qualifications in commissioning, electrical safety, project management, or underground mining are highly desirable.

• Fluency in English required.

• Portuguese and/or Spanish highly advantageous.

A Bit More About Us

We are implementers and change-makers. Our teams work from the boardroom to the shop floor, helping organizations build resilience, improve performance, and sustain results over time.

Our expertise spans industries including metals and mining, energy, chemicals, manufacturing, and private equity, combining deep operational knowledge with transformation and capability-building expertise.

Diversity & Inclusion

dss+ is committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive culture where everyone is respected, valued, and able to contribute fully.

We believe diversity strengthens our organization and drives better outcomes for our people, our clients, and the communities we serve.

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