Maintenance Apprentice – Underground

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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 Underground Fixed Plant Maintenance team consists of Mechanical, Electrical and Instrumentation Journeypersons and Apprentice trades, Engineers and Planners. The team is responsible for maintaining all fixed assets throughout the Eastern Deeps and Reid Brook Mines. This includes dewatering pumps, ventilation equipment, portable refuge stations, 13.8kV/1000V/600V power distribution equipment and bulk material handling systems. The team is also integrated into the U/G mine development cycle by supporting power, ventilation, dewatering, LTE, and communications installations as the mines advance.

The Surface Fixed Plant Maintenance team consists of Mechanical, Electrical, and Instrumentation Journeypersons and Apprentice trades, Engineers, and Planners. The department is responsible for providing both preventative and corrective maintenance across the Voisey's Bay Mine Site in the areas of the Concentrator, Paste Plant, and Paste Plant Booster Station. The Surface Fixed Plant Maintenance team maintains a variety of equipment including but not limited to crushers, conveyors, SAG/Ball Mills, various styles of pumps, 4160V/600V power distribution equipment, Larox Filters, disc filters, vacuum pumps, paste pumps, pneumatically actuated valves, etc.

The Utilities Maintenance team consists of a combination of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers and a variety of Industrial Trades fulfilling our Maintenance Technician, Apprentice, and Planning roles. The team is responsible for providing both preventative and corrective maintenance across the Voisey's Bay Mine Site including the Port Facilities, Material Handling and Conveyor Equipment, Major and Minor HVAC systems, Accommodations and Service Complex buildings, as well as Power Generation Facilities and Infrastructure.

The Opportunity

Vale recognizes the Impacts and Benefits Agreements with the Innu Nation and the Nunatsiavut Government in which Innu and Inuit workers have first preference for employment at the Voisey's Bay Mine Site. This is guided by an adjacency principle that first gives preference to those who live on the coast of Labrador, followed by those residing in the rest of Labrador, those residing on the island of the province, followed by the rest of Canada.

Next, priority will be given to Newfoundland and Labrador residents. We also welcome those who are willing to relocate back home and those looking to make NL their permanent home.

We are currently seeking Maintenance Apprentice – Underground & Surface Electrician to join our Underground Fixed Plant Maintenance, Surface Fixed Plant Maintenance, and Utilities Maintenance Departments in Voisey's Bay, NL. This is a permanent position.

This position is based at the Voisey's Bay mine site in Labrador, a fly-in fly-out operation. This position is on a two week on, two week off rotation.

As a Maintenance Apprentice you will be responsible for repairing, troubleshooting, adjusting, overhauling, servicing, and maintaining equipment. Additionally, in this position you will:

Underground Fixed Plant Maintenance:

• Install new electrical infrastructure and components.
• Perform preventive checks according to preventive maintenance plans on equipment including 1000V Mobile Electric equipment, Underground LTE communications network, Electric pumps, conveyors, PLC's, 13.8KV/5KV/600V/120/208 power systems, and other fixed plant underground equipment for proper performance.

Surface Fixed Plant Maintenance:

• Perform preventive checks according to preventive maintenance plans on equipment including crushers, ball and sag mills, concentrator support systems and facilities, VFD's, conveyors, motors, PLC's, DCS support, and other fixed plant equipment for proper performance and inspect equipment to detect faults and malfunctions.

Utilities Maintenance:

• Perform preventive checks according to preventive maintenance plans on equipment including surface ventilation fans, underground surface support facilities, paste plant, booster station, ship loader, pumps, conveyors, PLC's, diesel motors, and other fixed plant equipment for proper performance and inspect equipment to detect faults and malfunctions.

All Departments:

• Inspect equipment for detect faults and malfunctions.
• Set a high standard in safety and help promote safety with peers.
• Complete breakdown, corrective, and minor reports.
• Inspect, examine, and test parts in order to recommend the extent and nature of the work to be done.
• Test and adjust repaired systems for proper performance and to ensure that work meets manufacturer's specifications and the functional needs of the operation.
• Adjust, repair, or replace defective parts and components of the equipment systems.
• Clean, lubricate, and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment.
• Conduct final inspections to ensure that work detailed on work order has been completed to meet safety standards.
• Provide feedback improvement suggestions to the supervisor and planner and implement those that are within your ability.
• Improve equipment availability and efficiency through quality maintenance and failure analysis.

About You

Education:

• College diploma in Industrial Electrician.
  • Qualify or be registered as an apprentice Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Experience:

• Minimum of 9 months of Electrician knowledge and experience from a college.

Skills:

• Innovation and ability to use initiative.
• Flexibility regarding work activities and type of work requirements.
• The ability to work in a multi-discipline, multi-tasking, team environment.

What We Offer You

• Competitive salary and on-site premiums
• 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)
• 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 Innu Nation members and Nunatsiavut beneficiaries can also submit their application to their Vale Aboriginal Employment Coordinator.

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

Apply by: Monday, July 1st, 2024

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