Chief Specialist, Accelerating discovery to development (Exploration & Resource Development Business Partner)

Saudi Arabia·Riyadhexecutive

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Overview

Job Title: Chief Specialist,

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Job Title: Chief Specialist, Accelerating Discovery to Development (E&RD Business Partner)
Reporting To: VP Technology Enablement
Business Unit / Function: Technology & Innovation
Department: Technology Enablement
Grade: M13

Why This Role Matters

The Chief Specialist, Accelerating Discovery to Development transforms how Ma’aden applies technology to mineral exploration, accelerating the journey from exploration insight to scientifically validated, decision-ready evidence. The role connects frontier technologies in automation, advanced sensing, Data & AI, subsurface analytics, and laboratory science to create faster, more reliable and scalable exploration capabilities.

As an enterprise technical authority, the role shapes how emerging technologies are selected, validated and applied across the exploration lifecycle. It brings together field acquisition, laboratory validation and digital intelligence to shorten learning cycles, improve confidence in exploration findings, reduce avoidable rework and strengthen the technical basis for investment and portfolio decisions.

The role creates additional value by translating proven approaches from Oil & Gas, space exploration, OEMs, academia and research into practical mineral exploration applications. Its accountability is how exploration technology is applied and validated, rather than ownership of exploration outcomes, laboratories, digital platforms or approval decisions.

What You Will Deliver Exploration Technology Leadership

Shape the enterprise exploration technology roadmap to accelerate discovery and validation through automation, advanced sensing, AI-enabled targeting and intelligent drilling.
Translate emerging technologies into deployable exploration capabilities, selecting solutions based on scientific validity, technology readiness, field applicability and potential business value.
Build Ma’aden’s technical advantage by identifying and adapting relevant technologies and practices from Oil & Gas subsurface science, space exploration, OEMs, academia and research institutions.

Data, AI & Subsurface Intelligence

Advance AI-enabled exploration by integrating geological, geophysical, geochemical and remote-sensing information to strengthen subsurface interpretation, target ranking and uncertainty management.
Apply advanced analytics, including predictive modelling, deep learning, physics-informed AI and probabilistic approaches, to increase the speed and confidence of exploration insights.
Establish confidence-based decision metrics that make uncertainty, reproducibility and learning rate visible alongside conventional exploration measures.

Accelerated Field-to-Lab Validation

Transform the field-to-lab validation cycle by connecting sensing, drilling and sampling with high-throughput analytical methods, automated core analysis and digital sample traceability.
Accelerate independent and reproducible validation of exploration findings, reducing analytical turnaround, rework and delays between initial observation and decision-ready evidence.
Strengthen approval readiness by establishing fit-for-purpose certified analytical technologies, traceable data and scientifically defensible methods that enable efficient technical review, external reporting and portfolio decisions.

Integrated Exploration Operating Model

Design scalable field-lab-digital workflows that connect field acquisition, laboratory analysis and AI-enabled interpretation into a coherent exploration technology model.
Enable greater exploration productivity through automation, digital twins, sensor fusion, autonomous or remote technologies and AI-assisted decision workflows.
Align laboratory capacity, automation and digital capability with exploration ambition, enabling technology solutions to scale as exploration activity evolves.

Technology Innovation & Value Realization

Evaluate frontier technologies for practical exploration value, balancing scientific robustness, technology readiness, deployment constraints, cost, risk and scalability.
Accelerate transfer of proven cross-industry innovation into mineral exploration, particularly in autonomous systems, subsurface analytics, remote sensing and extreme-environment instrumentation.
Demonstrate measurable technology value through shorter learning and validation cycles, lower re-testing and re-sampling, improved target confidence and more efficient exploration workflows.

What Success Looks Like

Shorter field-to-validated-result cycle time, enabling exploration evidence to reach technical and portfolio decisions faster.
Reduced laboratory turnaround time and avoidable re-analysis, with stronger first-time quality, traceability and reproducibility of critical results.
Higher confidence in drill-ready targets, supported by integrated data, explicit uncertainty measures and scientifically defensible validation.
Faster progression from exploration concept to drill-ready target through effective application of automation, AI and advanced sensing technologies.
Improved exploration efficiency, demonstrated through reduced cost, re-sampling, re-testing and decision latency attributable to technology-enabled workflows.
Successful adoption and scaling of high-value technologies, including AI-enabled exploration and relevant cross-industry innovations.

Minimum Qualifications

Advanced degree in Geoscience, Geophysics, Mining Engineering or a related discipline; MSc or PhD preferred.

Experience

20+ years of relevant experience in mineral exploration, subsurface science or adjacent Oil & Gas exploration domains.
Demonstrated experience applying Data & AI, automation, advanced sensing or subsurface analytics in exploration or comparable technical environments.
Experience with advanced analytical laboratories, mineral characterization, high-throughput testing, certified analytical methods or regulatory acceptance processes.
Experience applying AI-enabled QA/QC, anomaly detection, confidence estimation or uncertainty analysis, combined with strong understanding of field exploration constraints.

Skills That Matter

Mineral exploration technology and subsurface science
Advanced sensing, drilling and field technologies
Data, AI and predictive subsurface analytics
Laboratory analytics and mineral characterization
Scientific validation, QA/QC and uncertainty quantification
Technology assessment, qualification and scaling
Exploration workflow optimization and value realization
Cross-industry technology transfer
Executive-level technical advisory and stakeholder influence
Cross-disciplinary collaboration across geoscience, digital, engineering, R&D, OEMs and academia