100% free mining job description templates
Complete job description templates for Australian mining operations. Covering operators, drillers, trades, and technical professionals. Aligned with the Mining Industry Award 2020 (MA000011) where it applies. 100% free, fully editable and ready to download.
Browse templatesThese templates are designed to reflect Australian workplace standards and mining industry practices at the time of publication. They are provided as a general guide only and do not constitute legal advice. You should review and tailor each template to suit your operation, tickets and competency requirements, modern award, enterprise agreement and specific requirements. Black coal mining, quarrying and oil & gas are covered by different awards, and professional roles (geologists, engineers) are generally award-free. For complex situations, seek independent legal or HR advice. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
Mining job descriptions for Australian operations
Mining is one of Australia’s most valuable industries, employing a large FIFO and residential workforce across metalliferous mines, processing plants and exploration sites. From haul truck operators to mining engineers, the industry relies on clearly defined roles to keep operations safe, compliant and productive around the clock.
Most operational mining employees are covered by the Mining Industry Award 2020 (MA000011), which sets minimum pay rates, shift loadings, penalties and allowances across five employee streams and Levels 1–7. Professional roles such as geologists and engineers are generally award-free and paid under individual contracts or enterprise agreements. Many roles also require site inductions, tickets and high-risk work competencies.
These templates provide compliant, industry-standard job descriptions you can customise for your operation. Each includes duties, required skills, tickets and award-classification guidance — then pair them with mining rostering software and the Mining Award pay guide once your team is hired.
Browse mining job description templates
Click any role to view the full template and download as a PDF
Haul truck operator
Operates large rigid haul trucks moving ore and waste between the pit, dumps, crushers and stockpiles on continuous and FIFO shifts.
Read moreExcavator operator
Operates hydraulic excavators and face shovels to dig and load ore and overburden into haul trucks and maintain benches.
Read morePlant operator
Runs and monitors fixed processing plant — crushing, grinding, screening and flotation — from the field and control room.
Read moreDriller
Operates drill rigs to bore blast, grade-control and exploration holes, maintaining hole accuracy and drill logs.
Read moreDrill and blast operator
Licensed shotfirer who charges, primes and fires blast holes, manages explosives and enforces exclusion zones.
Read moreMining maintenance fitter
Trade-qualified fitter servicing and repairing fixed and mobile plant, with preventive maintenance and breakdown work.
Read moreMine geologist
Professional role mapping and logging geology, sampling, resource and grade modelling, and ore control on site.
Read moreMining engineer
Professional role planning and designing mine operations — mine plans, drill and blast design and production scheduling.
Read moreWhat's included in these templates?
Every mining job description template includes
All templates are fully editable and designed for Australian mining industry compliance.
Who should use these templates?
These job descriptions are designed for Australian mining operations
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Put these templates to work across the mining cluster.
Award coverage for mining workers
Most operational mining employees are covered by the Mining Industry Award 2020 (MA000011), the primary award for metalliferous mining, extraction and on-site processing. It covers operators, drillers, trades and support employees across five streams — mining services, surface mining & haulage, processing, underground, and maintenance trades — with classifications from Introductory to Level 7. The award sets minimum rates, afternoon/night shift loadings, weekend and public-holiday penalties, overtime and allowances such as the underground allowance.
Not every mining role sits under MA000011. Black coal mining is covered by the separate Black Coal Mining Industry Award 2010 (MA000001); quarrying, oil & gas, aluminium, salt and steel-making are excluded and have their own awards; and professional employees such as geologists and mining engineers are generally award-free, paid under individual contracts or enterprise agreements. Many large operations also run on enterprise agreements that pay above the award.
Tickets and competencies are central to mining compliance. Workers typically need a site induction and role-specific competencies — high-risk work licences, plant tickets (haul truck, excavator), a shotfirer’s licence for drill-and-blast work, or a trade qualification for maintenance fitters. Employers must verify these before workers start and keep records. Use award interpretation software to calculate accurate pay including shift loadings and penalties, and read the full Mining Award pay guide.
Simplify mining staff rostering and payroll
Once you've hired your team, manage them efficiently with RosterElf. Build FIFO and continuous-shift rosters, calculate Mining Award rates and loadings automatically, track tickets and competencies, and simplify timesheets — all in one platform built for Australian shift-based operations.
Mining job description FAQ
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A mining job description sets out the duties, required skills, tickets and working conditions for a role on a mine or exploration site — such as a haul truck operator, driller, shotfirer, fitter, geologist or engineer. A good one also notes the employment type, the applicable modern award (or that the role is award-free), and any mandatory competencies. Our 8 free templates give you a compliant, Australia-specific starting point for each common mining role.
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We provide 8 free mining job description templates: haul truck operator, excavator operator, plant operator, driller, drill and blast operator (shotfirer), mining maintenance fitter, mine geologist and mining engineer. Each includes duties, skills, tickets and award-classification guidance aligned with Australian mining industry standards.
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Yes, all templates are fully editable. Adjust duties to match your commodity and site (open-cut, underground, processing), add site-specific tickets and inductions, and tailor qualifications to your needs. The templates provide a compliant foundation to build from.
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Most operational mining employees are covered by the Mining Industry Award 2020 (MA000011). Black coal mining (MA000001), quarrying, and oil & gas are excluded and have their own awards, and professional roles such as geologists and mining engineers are generally award-free. Always confirm coverage before setting pay.
Before you download
General information only — not legal advice
This document is a general HR template provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the latest changes in legislation or apply to every workplace situation. RosterElf Pty Ltd and the template provider accept no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this document. Users should seek independent legal advice and customise the template to ensure it complies with all relevant laws, awards and workplace requirements.