Location: Must be based in Johannesburg or West Rand, South Africa.

Duration: The role will be contracted for one year, with the possibility for extension, contingent on continued client funding.

Level of Effort: The role can be 60% - 100% dependent upon the budget. Benefits will not be offered.

Who: Open to candidates with current work authorization in South Africa (sponsorship cannot be provided). Consultant to be paid in ZAR.

About Palladium

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 50 countries and have a workforce of more than 2,000 talented and motivated staff around the world.

Palladium is part of GISI’s global family of companies, which aims to create solutions for the world’s most complex challenges. With annual revenues of $14 billion, GISI’s approximately 15,000 employees are engaged in projects across 100 countries worldwide providing construction, program/project management, and engineering consulting services.

Project Overview

Skills for Our Common Future (SCF) Group Legacy Programme (GLP)

The GLP is a pioneering platform designed to build community and business resilience in the West Rand and greater Gauteng Province of South Africa. By aligning training and academic offerings with evolving industry needs, the programme aims to reduce unemployment, bridge the gap between skills supply and demand, and facilitate job placement in mining and adjacent sectors. The GLP leverages cross-sector partnerships, innovative financing, and a results-based approach to place 6,000 people in jobs and create 800 new roles over 10 years, with a strong emphasis on in-demand and transferable skills.

Role Purpose

The Mining Workforce Learning & Development Lead Consultant will drive the design, alignment, and implementation of future-focused, industry-aligned training and workforce development initiatives. The role is central to building a resilient talent pipeline for the mining sector and adjacent industries, ensuring that training programmes are responsive to technological change, employer demand, and the needs of local communities. The Lead will convene and collaborate with mining companies, standards setters, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to co-create curricula, facilitate job placement, and foster sustainable partnerships. Having prior experience working on training and workforce development for/with mining companies is required.

Location:

The position is based in Johannesburg, Gauteng or West Rand, South Africa. Palladium does not have an office, so the role will be primarily remote with a requirement for periodic in-person engagements

Reporting Lines

The Mining Workforce Learning & Development Lead Consultant will collaborate closely with the Project Director (London-based) and actively support the Project Lead (Johannesburg-based)

Primary Roles And Responsibilities

Lead the collaborative alignment of training and academic offerings with current and future workforce needs in the mining sector, with a focus on automation, mechanisation, and digital skills
Facilitate the co-design and rollout of modular, part-based qualifications and career pathways that are transferable across industries (e.g., millwright, fitter & turner, electrical technician)
Convene mining companies, standard setters (e.g., QCTO), training providers, and academic institutions (e.g., University of Pretoria, Wits Mining Institute) to align on skills priorities and curricula updates
Formalise and strengthen relationships with education and training partners for ongoing curriculum review and delivery
Lead the process to identify, prioritise, and update curricula for in-demand job profiles (e.g., ICT specialist, data scientist, diesel mechanic, mine manager, mining artisan)
Strengthen curricula review processes and institutional mechanisms to ensure ongoing alignment with industry standards and regulatory requirements
Promote and advocate for part-based qualifications and dual certifications at industry events and with regulatory bodies
Build and maintain a roster of industry partners and output partners (including adjacent sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, and renewable energy) to maximise job placement opportunities
Leverage existing relationships and networks to secure buy-in and co-investment from private sector partners and other stakeholders

Essential Criteria

Bachelor’s or post-graduate degree with a focus on human resources, learning and development, organisational effectiveness, or related field
Minimum of 10 years’ experience, with demonstrated experience in executive stakeholder engagement, learning & development, workforce development strategy, or related fields
5+ years of strong experience within the mining sector conducting workforce development, training, job placement, or policy advocacy is required
Proven track record of leading consortiums and collaborating with government, private sector, and civil society
Proven ability to create and foster strong relationships as well as build on existing networks
Fluent in English; strong communication and facilitation skills

Core Abilities Required

Strategic and systems thinking, with the ability to align multiple stakeholders around common goals.
Deep understanding of the mining sector’s workforce needs, including the impact of automation and cross-industry skill transferability.
Expertise in curriculum development, review processes, and regulatory engagement
Strong partnership-building and coalition leadership skills
Results-oriented, with experience in monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in workforce development

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply early as the position may close once a suitable candidate is found.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual, or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.

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Mining Workforce Learning & Development Lead Consultant