Chief Project Geologist

Role Description: Chief Project Geologist

Chief Project Geologist

(Project Development \& Studies)

Location:

Phoenix based with frequent visits to Tucson office and JCM mine location.

Role purpose

The Chief Project Geologist will provide functional leadership and oversight for the planning and execution of geology programs across all project stages, ensuring geology deliverables are decision-quality, schedule-aligned, and defensible for project development, technical reporting, and investment decisions. The role will support the senior management team through strong project governance, contractor management, and clear communication of progress, risks, and priorities.

This position has no direct reports and achieves results through the management of contractors and consultants, and through the coordination and cooperation of other internal managers and cross-functional teams.

Core Accountabilities

Project planning, scope, schedule, and budget management

• Develop, establish, and manage geology project scope, schedule, budget, and implementation plans across multiple workstreams and study phases.
• Plan, organize, and direct geology project activities, including:
• Program design and execution planning
• Procurement coordination and service contracting
• Tracking, cost control, and performance reporting
• Ensure project completion is achieved within budget and on schedule, and initiate corrective actions as required.

Execution oversight for drilling, sampling, and data collection programs

• Manage geology data collection programs required to support studies and decision-making, including:
• Drilling programs (RC, core, etc.)
• Sampling, logging, and QA/QC protocols
• Geotechnical, hydrogeological, or other supporting data collection (as applicable)
• Coordinate drilling and sampling execution through contractors while ensuring alignment with technical objectives and site constraints.

Contractor, supplier, and subcontractor management

• Manage external suppliers, subcontractors, and consultants to deliver geology programs safely and efficiently.
• Define scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, and acceptance criteria for contracted services.
• Resolve budget, schedule, and quality issues, escalating as appropriate and implementing corrective actions.
• Review project staffing requirements with internal management and coordinate staffing support as needed.

Data management, technical systems, and workflow governance

• Ensure appropriate systems and workflows are in place to support high-quality geological outputs, including:
• Geological databases and data integrity controls
• GIS tools and spatial data management
• 3D modeling and interpretation workflows
• Maintain standards for documentation, version control, and audit-ready data packages suitable for study deliverables and technical reporting.

Safety, environmental compliance, and operational best practices

• Monitor and promote environmental and health \& safety compliance throughout all geology programs to ensure a safe working environment.
• Ensure geology activities are conducted in accordance with:
• Company safety standards and procedures
• Environmental requirements and best practices
• Operational controls and site access requirements
• Corporate responsibility and social responsibility commitments
• Integrate safety and environmental expectations into contractor selection, field execution, and daily program management.

Reporting, stakeholder communication, and management support

• Prepare monthly reports and project updates as required, including progress tracking, schedule status, budget status, and key risks.
• Provide timely and accurate project information and status updates to internal management and other stakeholders.
• Support the senior management team by summarizing technical outcomes in a clear, decision-ready format.
• Coordinate across functions to align geology execution with broader project priorities and constraints.

Cross-functional coordination and technical integration

• Coordinate and align geology workstreams with other managers and disciplines, including:
• Project development and engineering
• Metallurgy and test work programs (where relevant to sampling/test planning)
• Environmental, permitting, and stakeholder engagement
• Project controls (schedule/cost/risk)
• Support integrated planning and execution across the project lifecycle, ensuring geology deliverables are aligned with downstream technical and study needs.

Flexibility of duties \& cross-functional support

• Operate with a high degree of flexibility in a project development environment, where priorities and workstreams may evolve across project stages.
• Provide support outside the strict scope of geology project management as needed to support overall project execution, including:
• General project management support and coordination across disciplines
• Technical management support for multi-party workstreams (consultants, contractors, internal stakeholders)
• Data analysis and interpretation to support studies, decision-making, and risk management
• Project planning, schedule support, and execution tracking
• Cost review and input to project estimates, contractor budgets, and trade-off evaluations
• Support to technical reporting, document control, and management presentations
• Other technical or operational assignments consistent with the employee’s experience and capabilities
• Collaborate across functions and contribute to problem-solving beyond geology when appropriate.
• Support evolving business needs while maintaining focus on critical geology deliverables, program execution, and stage-gate requirements.

Travel Requirements And Expense Reimbursement

• Participate in periodic domestic and international travel as needed to support geology programs, contractor oversight, study execution, and business objectives.
• Travel may include visits to:
• Project and operating sites
• Drilling and field program locations
• Laboratories, sample preparation facilities, and assay providers
• Consultants and engineering firms supporting study work
• Vendors, suppliers, and service providers
• Conferences, technical meetings, and stakeholder engagements
• Maintain availability for travel when reasonably required, consistent with applicable laws, safety requirements, and Company travel policies.
• Approved business travel expenses will be pre-paid by the Company or reimbursed to the employee in accordance with Company expense reimbursement policies, and may include:
• Transportation
• Lodging
• Meals
• Other customary travel-related expenses

Role structure \& interfaces

• Reports to: Senior Vice President, Business Development
• Direct reports: None
• Manages: External contractors and consultants (drilling, sampling, labs, survey, database/GIS support, modeling support, specialist studies)
• Key interfaces:
• Executive leadership
• Project development \& engineering
• Project controls (schedule/cost/risk)
• Operations leadership (as applicable)
• Environmental \& permitting teams
• External consultants and vendors

Required Qualifications

• BS degree in Geology or equivalent. Advanced degree preferred.
• 10\+ years progressive experience in geology project execution and/or project management roles in mining.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver geological programs successfully across multiple stages of project development: Experience leading contractor-led technical programs, mineral resources estimation workflows and QA/QC, geological interpretation and 3D modeling.
• Experience with relevant software and systems, including:
• Surpac (or equivalent geological modeling software)
• Geological databases
• GIS software
• Strong analytical capability with proven ability to interpret operational needs and develop integrated solutions.
• Strong attention to detail, planning discipline, and documentation quality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including timely and accurate reporting . Strong technical writing and reporting capability: experience supporting technical reports and public disclosure packages a plus.
• Registered, or eligible for registration, in an appropriate geological/technical association is highly regarded.
• Metallurgical awareness—particularly planning of sampling/data collection through to testing—is highly regarded.
• Basic permitting knowledge is considered an asset.
• Ability to travel as required to support field programs and business objectives.

What Success Looks Like

• Geology programs are executed safely, efficiently, and with strong contractor performance management.
• Project deliverables are completed on schedule and within budget, with clear visibility to management.
• Data quality, QA/QC, and documentation are strong and support study and reporting needs.
• Geology workstreams are well coordinated with other disciplines and aligned with overall project priorities.
• Senior leadership receives clear, decision-ready reporting on progress, risks, and recommended actions.
• Demonstrates initiative, creative thinking, a passion for solving problems, and persistence.