Manager, External Affairs & Mining Rights

midana exploration company; As Sudiyah; On-site; OMR 41,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Midana Exploration Company seeks a senior External Affairs & Stakeholder Relations lead based in Jeddah to manage government engagements, land access, permitting, and ESG/CSR activities across KSA. The role requires coordinating with ministries, regulators and authorities to secure licences and maintain a positive social license to operate.

You will oversee the tenement portfolio, licence renewals, reporting and stakeholder interfaces, while advising the CEO on regulatory risks and growth

Qualifications

• Significant experience in mining rights, tenement management and government relations.
• Experience engaging with Saudi ministries, regulators and authorities.
• Experience managing licences, permitting and land access processes.
• Ability to provide strategic regulatory advice to senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the acquisition, maintenance and protection of exploration and mining rights, ensuring compliance with licence obligations.
• Oversee tenement portfolio, statutory obligations, renewals, reporting and related submissions.
• Partner with Exploration and Business Development to identify and secure new mineral rights and growth opportunities.
• Establish and manage relationships with Saudi government ministries, regulators and other stakeholders.
• Represent the company in government and stakeholder engagements and communicate priorities clearly.
• Lead land access, permitting, approvals and stakeholder agreements for exploration and development.

Skills

Mining rights

Tenement management

Government relations

Stakeholder engagement

ESG/CSR

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Mining, Environmental Science, Business or related

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Midana Exploration Company (MEC) is a resource exploration and development company and a subsidiary of Australia’s leading private mining enterprise, Hancock Prospecting. Operating at the forefront of the Middle East’s rapidly expanding mining sector, MEC is dedicated to unlocking the vast mineral potential of the highly prospective Arabian-Nubian Shield.

Our core focus is to rapidly and safely transition high-potential exploration targets into world-class operational mining assets. We achieve this by combining Hancock Prospecting’s demonstrated track record in exploration,mega-project delivery, technology, and operational excellence with deep local partnerships. Through our landmark joint ventures with highly regarded Saudi resource companies, and our own targeted exploration prospects, we are developing a new benchmark for resource development while also actively contributing to the development of the resource sector in Saudi.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the acquisition, maintenance and protection of exploration and mining rights, ensuring compliance with licence obligations and secure tenure.
• Maintain oversight of the Company’s tenement portfolio, statutory obligations, renewals, reporting requirements and related government submissions.
• Partner with Exploration and Business Development to identify, evaluate and secure new mineral rights and growth opportunities.

External Affairs, Government & Stakeholder Relations

• Establish and manage strategic relationships with Saudi government ministries, regulators, regional authorities and other key stakeholders.
• Represent the Company in relevant government, industry and stakeholder engagements and support effective communication of the Company’s priorities.
• Build and protect the Company’s reputation and social licence to operate through effective stakeholder engagement aligned with Saudi localisation and development priorities.

Permitting, Land Access & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead land access, permitting, approvals and stakeholder agreements required to enable exploration and future project development.
• Coordinate regulatory submissions and approvals across relevant authorities and maintain visibility of approval status, obligations and dependencies.
• Oversee and coordinate environmental permitting, compliance and stakeholder interfaces relevant to the Company’s KSA activities.
• Lead and coordinate the Company’s ESG and CSR activities in KSA, including community engagement and social performance initiatives.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to align environmental, social and governance activities with Company requirements and applicable Saudi regulations and expectations.

Risk Management & Strategic Advice

• Identify and manage regulatory, tenure, stakeholder, environmental and reputational risks, providing strategic advice to the CEO and leadership team.
• Escalate material risks, emerging issues and opportunities and coordinate appropriate responses across the business.
• Undertake other additional tasks and responsibilities as required from time to time.

Experience:

• Significant experience in mining rights, tenement management, external affairs, government relations, permitting, ESG/CSR or related functions, preferably within the mining or resources sector.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with Saudi government ministries, regulators, regional authorities and key stakeholders.
• Experience managing exploration/mining licences, statutory obligations, permitting and land access processes.
• Experience providing strategic advice to senior leadership and managing regulatory, stakeholder and reputational risks.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Mining, Environmental Science, Business, Public Administration or a related discipline.
• Strong command of Arabic and English.
• Relevant professional memberships or additional qualifications are advantageous.

Functional & Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of Saudi mining rights, tenement management and regulatory processes.
• Strong government, stakeholder and community relationship management skills.
• Sound understanding of permitting, environmental compliance, ESG and CSR requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation and influencing skills in Arabic and English.
• Ability to manage multiple regulatory and stakeholder workstreams, priorities and deadlines.
• Strong judgement, discretion and ability to provide practical strategic advice to senior leadership.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and effective document and records management.

Work Location:

• The role is based at the Company’s office in Jeddah.
• Regular travel within KSA may be required to support government engagement, licence and project activities, site visits and stakeholder meetings.
• Flexibility may be required as Midana’s KSA operations develop and expand.