Exploring career opportunities in gold mining can lead to the adventure of a lifetime
Taylor Damon was 5 years old in 1996, when his father left a life of dairy farming in western New York for a career at Round Mountain Gold Mine. As a child, Damon would wake up, pack a lunch, and report to the holes he’d dug in his Nye County, Nevada backyard, hauling dirt with his Tonka trucks, searching for gold. Quitting time was when his dad came home from his shift.
Kinross Gold Corporation is one of the largest gold mining operations in the world, with six active mines on three continents. Two of those are open-pit mines in Nevada, Bald Mountain and Round Mountain. Just as Kinross prioritizes responsible and productive stewardship of the lands they mine, they are also committed to supporting, nurturing, and sustaining the communities in which they operate. The company does this as a taxpayer, vendor, and corporate citizen, as well as an active advocate in the area’s schools and civic institutions.
Safety and development
But perhaps most importantly, Kinross bolsters its hometowns by being a caring and responsive employer. This means more than providing competitive income and benefits for its 9,000-plus global workforce — it also means making each of those employees feel valued and fulfilled in their jobs.
In mining, that commitment to people starts with workforce health and safety.
At Kinross, safety is the top priority among employees, partners, contractors, and suppliers. The company creates an uncompromising environment of best practices in policy and practice. They continually monitor health and safety performance, recognizing and rewarding exceptional behavior when it comes to keeping everyone safe. And they make sure all employees and contractors are trained and competent to perform their tasks.
“We are a very safe mine,” says Maria Penson, contract driller technician at Round Mountain. “We stress going home the same way you came into work.”
Kinross is also dedicated to competitive compensation. This means not only paying for performance and rewarding employees for playing their part in the company’s overall success but also providing ample opportunity for professional growth.
By StoryStudio on JULY 23, 2025
“Putting people first”
In addition to helping local students improve their futures, Kinross also commits itself to improving their present.
For instance, in Nevada, Kinross has funded fishing trips for students to Washoe County, where, with help from Trout Unlimited, the mine restored parts of Walker River and created a haven for trout. In Round Mountain schools, Kinross has also used its financial resources to design and equip a new weight room for student athletes and pay for travel for sports teams.
Kinross has not only provided a stable living for Damon, his wife, and their six daughters, but it has also afforded him an open pathway to explore different positions, different fields, and grow both as a professional and as a person. Over the course of Damon’s 16-year career with the company, Damon has worked in the warehouse and in mining operations, driving the life-sized water trucks and front-end loaders he used to play with as toys. Then he found his calling in the training department, focusing on new hires. In that capacity, he’s worked in underground mining, human resources, and ultimately, health and safety training. He’s now a medical coordinator.
Plus, Damon says, it’s been a lot of fun.
“One of the most positive pieces of Kinross is their support for employees’ growth and development,” says Damon. “There seems to be a misunderstanding of modern mining in the public. The first thing people think of is workers with pickaxes; they don’t understand how advanced and technological the industry is. There are so many different pieces to it: Mechanics, administration, technology resources, surveying, geology, accounting … there are so many avenues. Kinross gives employees the opportunity to explore all of that and helps you learn different traits, styles, and techniques. It has always been a company of growth and development.”
One of the most positive pieces of Kinross is their support for employees’ growth and development.
Keiko Burgoyne came to Kinross through recommendations from friends. They now work in human resources.
“The best part about working at Kinross is their commitment to a growth mindset,” says Burgoyne. “They offer numerous opportunities for continuous learning and development, which helps everyone grow and succeed together. Gold mining is a field where you can work with cutting-edge technology, enjoy beautiful natural surroundings, and explore different career paths.”
Just ask Damon, who has come a long way from playing miner in his parents’ backyard. Kinross has not only given him room and tools to grow, but it even empowered him to discover his true calling and passion in health, safety, and training.
“I’ve experienced so many different segments on the professional and trade side and developed an understanding that pushed me forward,” he says. “I’m taking a medical assistant class to get my license, and Kinross is paying for it. One day, I hope to become a registered nurse. This is it. This is where my path in mining has brought me.”
Taylor Damon
Taylor Damon
But Kinross also understands that, over time, a person’s priorities change, interests expand, and goals shift. More than anything, the company wants to retain its talent, and it does so by encouraging and facilitating upward and outward mobility. Kinross employees not only move up in their chosen departments in terms of pay and responsibility, but if they so choose, they can branch out to other fields under the wide Kinross umbrella.
For instance, Penson is a contract driller technician. But in their 18 years with Kinross, they have done everything from pre-processing and operating processing and crusher plants to supply chain. They left the company briefly to raise two sons and then returned to Round Mountain to be a clerk in ore processing, then a pad crew trainer, a driller, and finally, moved to the geology department for their current role.
“All the new skills and opportunities have been provided to me through job experience and training,” says Penson. “We train you to do your job and give you all the necessary skills to succeed. It’s so easy to turn your job into a career in mining.”
To see where Kinross can take you, explore potential careers in mining at Kinross.com.
Pam Franks
"I’ve been fortunate to build a long and rewarding career as a woman in mining..."
Keiko Burgoyne
"If you've never tried gold mining, don't let that stop you! Working at Kinross...
Brandi Swafford
"Coming from a small mining town, everyone feels like family, and that sense...
Maria Penson
"We are a very safe mine and we stress going home the same way you came...
Pam Franks, Kinross Nevada Project Superintendent
"I’ve been fortunate to build a long and rewarding career as a woman in mining. When I first started, there were very few women in the industry, and it was rare to see others in similar roles. Over time, I’ve seen that change—and it’s been incredible to witness more women entering the field and being given the opportunity to grow and succeed. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and the importance of continuing to support that progress for future generations."
Keiko Burgoyne, HR Intern
"If you've never tried gold mining, don't let that stop you! Working at Kinross allows you to explore different career paths."
Brandi Swafford, Capital Projects, Dewatering, and Underground operations
Coming from a small mining town, everyone feels like family, and that sense of connection carries over into the workplace. Kinross has always recognized the potential in its people. They invest in training, promote from within, and support employees in building long-term careers. It’s not just a company, it’s a place where people are seen, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed.
Maria Penson, Contractor driller technician
We are a very safe mine and we stress going home the same way you came into work. We do not have to commute to the site and have a great community. You might start at the bottom but it’s easy enough to turn your job into a career in mining.
Pam Franks
"I’ve been fortunate to build a long and rewarding career as a woman in mining..."
Keiko Burgoyne
"If you've never tried gold mining, don't let that stop you! Working at Kinross...
Brandi Swafford
"Coming from a small mining town, everyone feels like family, and that sense...
Maria Penson
"We are a very safe mine and we stress going home the same way you came...
Pam Franks, Kinross Nevada Project Superintendent
I’ve been fortunate to build a long and rewarding career as a woman in mining. When I first started, there were very few women in the industry, and it was rare to see others in similar roles. Over time, I’ve seen that change—and it’s been incredible to witness more women entering the field and being given the opportunity to grow and succeed. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and the importance of continuing to support that progress for future generations.
Keiko Burgoyne, HR Intern
If you've never tried gold mining, don't let that stop you! Working at Kinross allows you to explore different career paths.
Brandi Swafford, Capital Projects, Dewatering, and Underground operations
Coming from a small mining town, everyone feels like family, and that sense of connection carries over into the workplace. Kinross has always recognized the potential in its people. They invest in training, promote from within, and support employees in building long-term careers. It’s not just a company, it’s a place where people are seen, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed.
Maria Penson, Contractor driller technician
We are a very safe mine and we stress going home the same way you came into work. We do not have to commute to the site and have a great community. You might start at the bottom but it’s easy enough to turn your job into a career in mining.
find your career in mining
Click on each to learn more.
“We lived across the highway from the operation,” says Damon. “I watched it grow. I saw them moving dirt around. I always wanted to be part of that progress.”
Even with that childhood dream, even growing up in a community that Kinross Gold Corporation, owner of the mine, helped build, with family who worked there, young Damon could not have imagined where his future career at Kinross would eventually take him.
VIDEO PLACEHOLDER
find your career in mining
Click on each to learn more.