Hiring begins at Excelsior’s copper project in Dragoon
By Terri Jo Neff For the News-Sun Jan 22, 2019 Updated Jan 22, 2019
DRAGOON – When Johnson Camp Mine’s troubled owners laid off 90 percent of its employees amid a court-ordered receivership in 2014, most people gave up hope well-paying mining jobs would return to the area.
But recent announcement new owner Excelsior Mining has started construction of its Gunnison Copper Project also comes with news that 19 full-time employees have been hired, according to Chris Hinds, the company’s human resource manager.
The number of new hires is expected to rise by five to six each month as various construction phases progress. Several positions are currently available, from hydrogeology superintendent, to electrician journeyman, to security guard.
The goal, says Hinds, is 81 employees by year end, each in positions which offer full benefits. Those employees will be joining the company as it establishes its team and lays the foundation for its future growth.
“It’s a collaborative environment with a family atmosphere,” he said. “This is a unique, exciting opportunity,” he said.
According to Hinds, to date more than 40 percent of the employees live within a 22-mile radius of the mine.
“We’re committed to hiring local,” Hinds said Saturday. “And if we have to hire from outside the area then we are encouraging them to look at moving into nearby communities.”
To apply, go to www.excelsiormining.com/careers and click on the Gunnison Copper Employment Portal. Change the location to Tucson to search for open positions at the Dragoon site, then click on a specific job title to apply and upload a resume.
Hinds noted that by accepting applications and resumes online, he can keep track of who has particular job skills the company may need in the future, and it gives him easy access to seek out an applicant. The site also has an option for receiving email notices of future job postings.
Resume-writing help is available at Arizona at Work job centers in Sierra Vista (520-458-9309), Safford (928-432-6932) and Douglas (520-364-8906).
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