Field Operations Manager
Job description
About the role
You will own the end to end coordination of drilling and remote operations across multiple exploration areas in Zambia, ensuring that field activities are synchronized with data driven exploration objectives. This role requires you to translate strategic exploration plans into practical, on the ground execution while maintaining rigorous oversight of personnel, contractors, and vendors. You will be responsible for implementing robust routines and clear escalation paths that keep projects on track and issues visible to leadership. A core part of your work will be building and maintaining constructive relationships with local stakeholders under the guidance of the Zambia Director of Exploration. You must ensure that all activities comply with local regulations and joint venture practices to protect people, partners, and the environment. Your problem solving skills will be tested daily as you address challenges in remote and logistically complex settings. Ultimately, you will drive continuous improvement by documenting processes so that any qualified team member can step in and operate reliably.
Key facts
What you'll do
Provide daily oversight of personnel and contractors to safeguard people, partners, and the environment during exploration activities.
Ensure strict adherence to local regulations and joint venture practices to remain fully compliant in all field operations.
Arrange the movement of equipment and materials to and from project sites, coordinating logistics with vendors and partners.
Refine operational methods to support adaptive, machine learning driven field programs that improve with more data.
Represent KoBold Metals with local stakeholders under leadership direction to build constructive, trust based relationships.
Apply project management principles consistently for remote program management across dispersed teams and locations.
Utilize strong project management, strategic planning, and multi disciplinary oversight skills on a daily basis.
Collaborate with people from diverse disciplines and global regions to align exploration goals and execution.
Practice clear communication and active cross functional engagement to ensure shared understanding and alignment.
Demonstrate broad contribution to company success and flexibility to support where needed across exploration projects.
Leverage valid First Aid Certification, preferring Level 3 or Wilderness First Aid, to manage health and safety incidents.
Drive continuous improvement by documenting workflows and processes so that operations can run reliably with limited supervision.
Use independence and judgment to make timely decisions in remote and challenging environments with limited direct oversight.
Support the design and implementation of analytics informed field activities that enhance exploration efficiency and outcomes.
Requirements
The posting states a minimum of 15 years of experience in field operations or related roles.
The posting states a minimum of 30 years of experience in operations, exploration, or related fields.
A demonstrated commitment to high health and safety standards in the workplace is mandatory for this position.
Effective problem solving in remote and challenging environments is essential to success in this role.
Extended periods in remote and isolated locations must be handled reliably without compromising performance.
Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing English is required; French is an asset for stakeholder communication.
Independence in working with limited supervision is expected as you manage complex operational tasks.
Project management principles for remote program management are applied consistently across all activities.
Strong project management, strategic planning, and multi disciplinary oversight skills are used daily.
Collaboration with people from diverse disciplines and global regions is part of the core responsibilities.
Clear communication and cross functional engagement are practiced actively in every interaction.
Broad contribution to company success and flexibility to support where needed is a non negotiable requirement.
Valid First Aid Certification is required, with Level 3 or Wilderness First Aid preferred for remote contexts.
Nice to have
Experience running programs in multiple countries or remote environments is valued and demonstrates adaptability.
Experience in a small company or a very small team with a broad mandate in a fast paced setting is considered an advantage.
Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, CRSP designation, Red Seal certification, or experience operating heavy equipment may be preferred for specific operational needs.
A mechanical or civil engineering degree may be held by the candidate to support technical decision making.
Practical notes
Current acceptance is limited to Zambian nationals due to visa and regulatory requirements.
Typical interview steps
Operations interviews usually include a process scenario, an analytics question, and behavioral rounds. Candidates may be asked to improve a workflow or plan an event. Attention to detail and clear communication are tested throughout. Interviewers often ask how you would fix a process that is failing. Walking through diagnosis, a plan, and measurement is the winning structure.
Good to know
Field operations roles involve hands on exposure to exploration projects worldwide and require resilience and adaptability.
The role relies on project management methods and dynamic, data informed field planning to respond to changing conditions.
Collaboration spans geology, data science, and operations across global locations, requiring cross functional coordination.
Questions to ask
Good questions to ask the employer in the interview include what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones show preparation and genuine interest in the role.
Career growth
Operations careers grow from coordinator to manager, director, and chief operating officer roles, with opportunities to specialize in supply chain, facilities, or program management. Success in this field depends on reliability and on continuously improving the systems you own. Operations careers reward reliability and a commitment to process improvement, and operators who can quantify the impact of their fixes move into leadership fastest.