Vice President Exploration

Formation Metals Inc; Val-d'Or; On-site; CAD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Annual discretionary bonus

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Formation Metals Inc. in Canada is seeking a VP Exploration to lead technical strategy for the N2 Gold Project and future acquisitions. You will own the path to the maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, lead the geological team, and collaborate with the CEO and CFO on capital markets messaging and investor presentations.

The role reports to the CEO as a senior leader, with ~30-40% travel during active drill seasons and a focus on turning geological potential into a production-ready asset.

Qualifications

• P.Geo. with OGQ or P.Eng. with OIQ, or reciprocal recognition in Quebec.
• Minimum 15 years mineral exploration experience, 5+ years in Abitibi Greenstone Belt.
• Demonstrated track record advancing gold projects to NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate.
• Experience designing and executing drill programs of 10,000 metres+ per season.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and French (written and verbal).

Responsibilities

• Direct all aspects of exploration program design, drill targeting, geological modeling, and interpretation across N2 and future projects.
• Serve as the named Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for disclosures, news releases, and regulatory filings.
• Deliver the maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, planned for Q4 2026.
• Oversee geophysical surveys, geochemistry programs, and surface mapping for discovery and expansion.
• Manage QA/QC, sample custody, and lab relationships.

Skills

Geological leadership

Stakeholder communication

Bilingual English/French

Drilling program design

3D geological modelling

Education

P.Geo. (OGQ) or P.Eng. (OIQ)

M.Sc. in Economic Geology / Mineral Exploration

Ph.D. in Economic Geology / Mineral Exploration

Tools

Leapfrog Geo

Vulcan

Datamine

Micromine

Job description

Formation Metals is a North American gold acquisition and exploration company advancing the N2 Gold Project, an advanced asset in the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone of Quebec’s Abitibi Greenstone Belt, located approximately 25 km south of Matagami. N2 hosts a global historic resource of approximately 871,000 ounces of gold across six mineralized zones, with significant strike length open for expansion and meaningful base metal (Cu, Zn) potential.

The Company has approximately C$30M in working capital, zero debt, and a fully funded 100,000 metre multi phase drill program currently underway. Recent Phase 1 results have confirmed continuity of a high-grade system along a multi-kilometre corridor, including 1.75 g/t Au over 30.4 m, 1.8 g/t Au over 21.9 m, and 0.83 g/t Au over 40.4 m, alongside visible gold and a step-out that extended the A-Zone 200 metres west into previously undrilled ground. Formation is targeting delivery of its maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate in Q4 2026.

Formation is led by CEO Deepak Varshney and is anchored by the Varshney Family Office, with three decades of mining and resource investment history and cumulative project funding exceeding C$100 million.

Role Overview

Formation Metals is hiring a Vice President, Exploration to lead the technical strategy and execution of all exploration activities at the N2 Gold Project and across any future acquisitions.

The successful candidate will serve as the Company’s in house Qualified Person under NI 43-101, own the path to the maiden mineral resource estimate, lead the geological team and field contractors, and partner with the CEO and CFO on capital markets messaging, investor presentations, and conference appearances.

This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the CEO, with a clear mandate: convert N2’s geological potential into a credible, well documented production stage asset.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Direct all aspects of exploration program design, drill targeting, geological modelling, and structural interpretation at N2 and any future projects.
• Serve as the Company’s named Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for technical disclosure, news releases, and regulatory filings.
• Own delivery of the maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, scheduled for Q4 2026.
• Oversee geophysical surveys (IP, MMI, MLEM), geochemistry programs, and surface mapping in support of discovery and resource expansion.
• Manage QA/QC protocols, sample chain of custody, and assay laboratory relationships.

Operational Execution

• Lead the 100,000 metre multi phase drill campaign, including rig allocation, daily core review, and budget tracking.
• Hire, manage, and develop the on site geological team, drilling contractors, and external consulting groups.
• Build and maintain working relationships with the Anishnabe Lac Simon community and the Regional Government of Eeyou Istchee James Bay.

Capital Markets and Stakeholder Communication

• Co write technical news releases, investor presentations, and conference materials with the CEO and IR team.
• Represent Formation Metals at PDAC, Beaver Creek, Mines and Money, and other investor and technical conferences.
• Support the CEO and CFO during financings with technical due diligence sessions and analyst Q&A.
• Provide ongoing technical input to corporate development, including evaluation of acquisition opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• Professional designation as P.Geo. with the Ordre des géologues du Québec (OGQ) or P.Eng. with the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ). Other Canadian provincial registrations will be considered where reciprocal recognition in Quebec is available.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive mineral exploration experience, with at least 5 years in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt or a comparable Archean greenstone setting.
• Demonstrated track record of advancing gold projects from drill stage through to NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate.
• Direct experience designing and executing drill programs of 10,000 metres or more per season.
• Strong working knowledge of orogenic gold systems and VMS deposit models in the Matagami / Casa Berardi corridor.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and French (written and verbal).
• Experience drafting and reviewing technical disclosure under NI 43-101 standards as a named Qualified Person.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct involvement in at least one new gold deposit discovery or significant resource expansion in Quebec or Ontario.
• Prior VP Exploration, Director of Exploration, or Chief Geologist title at a TSX, TSXV, CSE, or ASX listed exploration company.
• Hands on experience with 3D geological modelling software (Leapfrog Geo, Vulcan, Datamine, or Micromine) and resource estimation packages.
• Established relationships with Quebec drilling contractors, accredited assay laboratories, and First Nations communities in the James Bay and Abitibi regions.
• Track record of presenting at investor conferences and engaging credibly with sell side and buy side analysts.
• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Economic Geology, Mineral Exploration, or a related discipline.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and the senior nature of the role.
• Stock options and performance based equity participation, with meaningful upside tied to discovery and resource milestones.
• Annual discretionary bonus tied to drill program execution, resource delivery, and corporate performance.
• Direct reporting line to the CEO, a seat on the senior leadership team, and named officer status.
• The opportunity to lead exploration at one of the most active advanced stage gold projects in the Abitibi.
• Vancouver based corporate role with regular travel to site (estimated 30 to 40 percent travel during active drill seasons).

Formation Metals Inc. is committed to building a diverse and inclusive technical team and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.

Formation Metals Inc. is a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality properties that are drill ready with high upside and expansion potential. Learn more at formationmetalsinc.com.