Exploration Advance Stage Special Projects, Manager

About Maaden
Maaden, established in 1997, is one of the fastest-growing mining companies in the world and the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East. We are leading the development of the mining industry to become the third pillar of Saudi Arabia’s economy by building a world-class, unique, and fully integrated mining value chain. We are pleased to share an exciting opportunity for the below mentioned position. This role offers a chance to contribute to our ambitious growth and play a key part in shaping the future of mining in the Kingdom.
Job purpose
Leads a dedicated Advanced Stage Special Projects function within Maaden’s Exploration Division, with full accountability for the evaluation, maturation, and strategic advancement of emerging mineral commodity opportunities, including but not limited to uranium, rare earth elements (REE), silica, and other non-core commodities that extend beyond Maaden’s existing portfolio.
Operating with a high level of technical discretion, strategic insight, and confidentiality, the role is responsible for:
• Coordinating complex technical, regulatory, and strategic workstreams, ensuring seamless integration across geology, permitting, infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement.
• Driving the transition of unconventional mineral targets from early-stage concepts to advanced exploration phases, including resource definition, feasibility support, and pre-development positioning.
• Upholding strict confidentiality protocols and ensuring full compliance with internal governance and external regulatory frameworks.
The Manager plays a critical role within a team that is focused on in unlocking future resource potential, directly contributing to Maaden’s long-term growth, portfolio diversification, and strategic competitiveness. By combining technical leadership with strategic execution, the role supports Maaden’s ambition to responsibly expand its mineral footprint and capitalize on emerging global opportunities.
Key Accountabilities
The Manager leads the end-to-end execution of Special Exploration Projects, overseeing their full lifecycle from conceptualization to strategic positioning. The role functions as a strategic integrator, ensuring that all project components are executed with precision, confidentiality, and alignment to Maaden’s long-term resource development strategy.

This includes:
1. Initiating and refining exploration concepts for non-traditional mineral commodities (e.g., uranium, rare earth elements)
2. Helping to screen and prioritize targets based on geological potential, strategic fit, and regulatory feasibility
3. Coordinating field operations, including drilling, sampling, and geophysical surveys, in alignment with technical and safety standards
4. Navigating regulatory frameworks, securing permits, and managing compliance across jurisdictions
5. Engaging multidisciplinary teams and external partners, including geology, infrastructure, permitting, and government affairs, to ensure integrated project delivery
6. Positioning emerging mineral opportunities for advancement within Maaden’s broader exploration and development pipeline
7. Operates under the strategic direction and oversight of the Director, Advance Stage Special Projects
8. Holds operational responsibility for executing approved technical plans, managing resources, and coordinating internal and external stakeholders
9. Makes day-to-day decisions within the boundaries of Maaden’s corporate policies, governance frameworks, and strategic priorities
10. Accountable for project deliverables and milestone execution, subject to regular portfolio reviews and checkpoint evaluations to ensure compliance, performance, and strategic alignment
11. Supports project prioritization and resource allocation, providing recommendations based on technical merit, risk assessment, and strategic value

Minimum Qualification, Experience and Competencies
Minimum Qualification
• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Geophysics, or a closely related field.
Minimum Experience
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in mineral exploration, with exposure to greenfield and early-stage frontier projects.
• Exposure to advanced exploration-development projects and associated technical data deliverables.
• Proven ability to support the evaluation and advancement of mineral resources.
• Working knowledge of permitting processes, ESG factors, and national regulatory requirements relevant to the mining or energy sectors.
• Strong proficiency in geological modeling, and basic knowledge of resource estimation, and management of exploration workflows.
• Sound understanding of financial planning, cost evaluation, and assessing speculative projects within budget and capital constraints.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a managerial capacity leading multidisciplinary teams within exploration or related technical domains.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with executive leadership, regulatory authorities, and external partners to support project goals, stakeholder alignment, and compliance objectives.
Maaden High Performance Competencies
• Strategic Thinking
• Technical Mastery
• Collaboration and Influence
• Results Orientation
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement
Skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Project management and stakeholder engagement
• Proficiency in process simulation and data analysis tools (Leapfrog Geo, GIS, ioGas experience well regarded)
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities