Drilling Superintendent, DRC
About the Company
The mining industry has steadily become worse at finding new ore deposits, requiring >10X more capital to make discoveries compared to 30 years ago. The easy-to-find, near-surface deposits have largely been found, and the industry has chronically under-invested in new exploration technology, relying on the manual techniques of yesteryear – even as demand accelerates for copper, lithium, and other metals to build electric vehicles, renewable energy, and data centers.
KoBold builds AI models for mineral exploration and deploys those models—alongside our novel sensors—to guide decisions on KoBold-owned-and-operated exploration programs. Since our founding in 2018, KoBold has become by far both the largest independent mineral exploration company and the largest exploration technology developer. Our data scientists and software engineers, who come from leading technology companies, jointly lead exploration programs with our renowned exploration geologists.
KoBold has proven its first discovery with materially less capital than the industry average and found one of the best copper deposits ever discovered: the copper is far more concentrated than the global average of copper mines, and this asset alone is expected to generate meaningful revenue for decades. KoBold has a portfolio of more than 60 other projects, each of which has the potential for another high-quality discovery.
KoBold is privately held; investors include institutional asset managers T. Rowe Price and Canada Pension Plan Investments; technology venture capitalists Andreessen Horowitz, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BOND Capital, Durable Capital, StepStone, and Standard Investments; and natural resources companies Equinor, BHP, and Mitsubishi.
About the Position
In the role of Drilling Superintendent, you will lead the planning and end-to-end execution of concurrent complex exploration drilling programs in the DRC. You will fully embody KoBold's model of science-Field Operations collaboration: working closely with geological and data science teams to translate exploration hypotheses into safe, well-executed drill programs. You will conduct exploration drilling without causing harm to our people, our contractors and partners, or the communities and environments where we operate. The role carries significant responsibility for financial, commercial, and technical operations, and for mentoring Field Operations Supervisors.
Responsibilities
For 1–3 concurrent drilling programs, the Drilling Superintendent will be responsible for:
- Drill Contract Management: Lead procurement strategy from RFP through evaluation, including contractor selection, bid evaluation, safety plan assessment, and cost benchmarking. Manage contract terms, renewals, and contractor performance reviews; validate and approve drilling invoices before submission to finance
- Operations Oversight: Provide daily oversight of active drill sites; direct field activities and contractor performance; maintain close communication with the Project Geologist, Project Data Scientist, and Senior Project Planner to translate exploration hypotheses into safe, well-executed drill programs
- Health, Safety & Compliance: Lead hazard identification, risk assessment, and critical control verification on drill operations; ensure contractor compliance with KoBold’s Group Safety Policies; lead incident management, root cause analysis, and corrective actions; understand applicable DRC laws, regulations, and the practices of our joint venture partners and ensure that we follow them in all operations
- Reporting & Data: Generate daily, weekly, and monthly reports for the management team on safety, cost, and production, including individual rig performance, availability, and reliability statistics; ensure contractor compliance with the KoBold Drilling Technology system dashboard and accurate drilling data reporting
- Logistics & Sample Management: Develop and support daily logistics plans for core and sample movement; arrange for the shipment of drilling equipment and material to and from KoBold’s project sites
- Technical Leadership: Provide expert drilling advice in a collaborative manner; conduct regular technical discussions with regional drill managers and project managers to identify and resolve problems; identify modifications that improve production or reduce cost; design directional paths and post-hole technical programs (e.g., geotechnical and hydrological testing) as required
- Mentorship & Team Leadership: Mentor Field Operations Supervisors and KoBold staff on rigs; drive a culture of training and development; plan annual off-site training for drilling personnel (entry, advanced, expert); manage teams across cultures (local and international)
- Stakeholder Engagement: Independently represent KoBold Metals to drill contractors, JV partners, and external stakeholders; participate in community engagement and perpetuate KoBold’s ethical standards in the field
- Technology & Innovation: Promote and participate in the evaluation and application of new drilling technologies, tools, equipment, and fluids to improve safety, efficiency, and data quality
- Cost Optimization: Identify and maintain operational cost reductions and/or productivity improvements to safely and effectively achieve drilling targets
- Major Emergency Management (MEM): Lead the development and maintenance of major emergency management plans for drill operations; ensure readiness for emergency response scenarios
Qualifications
You must have:
- 12+ years of fieldwork experience in mineral exploration drilling, mining, oil & gas, or a related industry, with prior experience as a Drilling Supervisor, Drilling Section Leader, or equivalent
- Demonstrable exceptional abilities in Health, Safety, Environment & Quality management on drill operations, with a track record of developing and implementing high standards in the workplace
- Strong technical background in drilling, including drilling systems, equipment, maintenance principles, and applicability across exploration methods (e.g., diamond core, base of till)
- Advanced drill contract management experience: the ability to assess commercial and technical proposals, lead procurement from RFP through evaluation, and benchmark contractor performance
- The ability to problem-solve in remote environments and to work in remote and isolated locations for extended periods of time
- A high degree of independence and the ability to work effectively with limited supervision
- Familiarity with project management principles and managing multiple concurrent projects remotely
- Enjoyment in working with people in a wide variety of disciplines and different parts of the world; interest in contributing broadly to the success of the company and eager to pitch in where needed
- Must speak, read, and write in English; French is an asset
- Valid driver’s license and First Aid Certification (Level 3 or Wilderness First Aid is preferred)
- A good technical understanding of the scientific principles of disciplines such as geology, physics, mathematics, and chemistry as they apply to drilling operations
- A high level of numeracy and IT skills, including proficiency with drilling data systems and reporting tools
- Initiative and drive, with eagerness to self-develop and stay current with the latest drilling engineering techniques and technologies
It is helpful but not required to have:
- Recognition as a subject matter expert in two or more drilling operation types, and experience running programs in different countries and/or remote environments (ideally including Africa)
- Worked in a small company or as a member of a very small team with a broad mandate in a fast-paced project environment
- Master’s-level qualification in civil, mechanical, or mineral/mining engineering, geology, or earth sciences; rigging certification; registration with a professional engineering body; or Project Management Professional (PMP) designation
KoBold Metals is an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity for people of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
This position is full time on a 4x2 week work schedule.
Location: Manono, DRC
