Director of Mineral Processing

The mining industry has become increasingly challenging, with a growing need for new exploration technology. KoBold Metals is addressing this challenge by building AI models for mineral exploration and deploying them alongside novel sensors to guide decisions on its own exploration programs.

As a Director of Mineral Processing, you will contribute to and lead the development and execution of mineral processing strategy across KoBold's portfolio, with an initial focus on the Mingomba copper project in Zambia. You will be responsible for all aspects of process engineering from early-stage metallurgical testwork through feasibility study design and operational readiness.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the process flowsheet design for Mingomba and future KoBold projects, from scoping through feasibility.
• Work hands-on and with your team to define and manage metallurgical testwork programs: comminution characterization, flotation optimization, hydrometallurgical evaluation, and pilot-scale campaigns.
• Evaluate and recommend processing routes including froth flotation to concentrate, SX-EW, pressure oxidation, and smelter/refinery toll arrangements. Quantify the economic trade-offs of each.
• Develop process design criteria, mass and water balances, and equipment specifications for feasibility-level engineering.
• Lead the assessment of tailings characteristics, reprocessing potential, and environmental implications of process residues.

• Build and maintain a geometallurgical framework that links ore variability (mineralogy, texture, grade distribution) to processing performance with first principles and statistical models.
• Collaborate with geologists and data scientists to integrate geometallurgical statistics into resource models, mine schedules, and economic analyses.
• Define sampling protocols for metallurgical characterization of drill core and ensure adequate coverage of ore variability.
• Ensure mineral processing assumptions are reflected in techno-economic models including TC/RC structures, payable metal calculations, and concentrate penalty elements.

• Build, lead, and mentor a mineral processing function within KoBold's Advanced Technology Group.
• Direct and manage relationships with metallurgical consultants, contract laboratories, and engineering firms.
• Serve as one of KoBold's internal experts and external representatives on mineral processing for investor presentations, partner discussions, and technical reviews.
• Contribute to feasibility study management and preparation of technical reports (NI 43-101 / JORC-compliant as applicable).
• Identify and evaluate emerging processing technologies relevant to KoBold's target commodities (copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt) along with the existing team.

• Work with mine engineers to optimize cut-off grade strategies and ore scheduling based on processing constraints.
• Partner with KoBold's data science team to apply machine learning and statistical methods to metallurgical datasets.
• Coordinate with business development and commercial teams on offtake strategy, concentrate marketing, and smelter negotiations.
• Support environmental and permitting workstreams with process-related inputs on water use, reagent consumption, emissions, and waste management.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of experience with large-scale (ton-kton/day) chemical processes.
• Quantitative, statistical, and scientific rigor, including execution of experimental designs to optimize multistage processing of complex feedstocks.
• Experience with design/build from lab test work through large-scale production.
• Track record of managing consultants, laboratories, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong technical writing skills, including preparation of technical reports.
• Willingness to travel to project sites in Zambia and other KoBold locations (estimated 20–30%).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in mineral processing, with significant time spent on copper sulfide projects from testwork through to operating plant design or commissioning.
• Direct experience leading metallurgical testwork programs and translating results into process design criteria and flowsheet selection.
• Deep understanding of comminution, flotation, hydrometallurgy, and concentrate handling for base metals.
• Experience contributing to pre-feasibility and/or feasibility studies as the responsible mineral processing engineer.
• Experience with sediment-hosted copper deposits (Zambian Copperbelt or Central African Copperbelt geology).
• Familiarity with lithium processing (spodumene flotation, acid roast, DLE) and/or nickel laterite processing.
• Experience with geometallurgical modeling and integration into block models.
• Exposure to SX-EW operations and direct copper cathode production.
• Comfort beyond spreadsheets in working with data science tools (Python, SQL) for scientific analysis.