The role will be critical to ensuring that the country’s underground coal mines safety inspection infrastructure is rebuilt and adopts world’s best practice by utilising the best features of the New South Wales and Queensland systems.

Recruiters have mounted a global search but are finding it difficult to locate anyone with sufficient engineering and industry experience who is motivated enough to take on the challenge.

“This is a role in which someone will be able to make a difference, to not just the industry, but across the country,” director of recruitment company Carmichael Fisher Matthew Mitchell told ILN.

“Essentially this role is ideal for a senior member of the coal mining industry. We need presence and experience together with the influencing skills essential to forge a whole new era.

“Assuming normal fitness age is not a major consideration, we are actively seeking a degree-qualified underground coal mine manager who may have already retired or is still employed.”

Mitchell said it is not a "feet on the desk" job.

“We do seek someone who has drive and energy, who can get in and make things happen and will be proud to look back and see that they have made a sustainable difference to the industry in New Zealand.”

The NZ mine inspectorate was the subject of scrutiny and criticism in the wake of the Pike River tragedy, in which 29 miners lost their lives.

Taylor was asked to fill in the role after the tragedy and maintain continuity until a full-time replacement was found.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Natural Resources confirmed that Taylor had returned to his normal duties in Queensland.

“Gavin Taylor was on secondment for a few months working with the NZ Department of Labour to help rebuild their mines inspectorate post Pike River,” he told ILN.

“He is now back in Queensland doing his normal job, which is chief inspector of coal mines for the mining safety and health division of our department.”