Exploration Director

SAUDI ARABIAN RESOURCES COMPANY; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Saudi Gold Refinery (SGR) is seeking an Exploration Director in Riyadh to lead identification and acquisition of top-tier gold resources. You will oversee licenses, drilling campaigns, and models to define resources while reporting to the CEO and shaping the upstream strategy.

The role requires 20+ years in mineral exploration with 5+ years in leadership, strong knowledge of Saudi mining laws, and the ability to manage large budgets and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Geology or Earth Sciences is required.
• Minimum 20 years of mineral exploration experience with at least 5 years in leadership.
• Proven success in gold exploration within the Middle East or similar regions.
• In-depth knowledge of Saudi mining laws and MIM licensing procedures.
• Strong skills in geological modeling and resource estimation.
• Experience managing large exploration budgets and contractor teams.
• Fluency in English is required, and Arabic is highly preferred.
• Willingness to travel frequently to remote field locations.
• PhD in Economic Geology or related field is a plus.
• Experience with refractory gold ore processing characteristics.
• Established professional network in the Saudi mining sector.
• Prior experience with publicly listed mining companies.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Define and execute the annual exploration strategy to identify and secure viable gold assets.
• License Acquisition: Manage the application and renewal process for exploration licenses with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.
• Technical Oversight: Oversee drilling campaigns and geological modeling to ensure accurate resource estimation.
• Budget Management: Control the exploration budget for efficient allocation across projects.
• HSE Compliance: Enforce health, safety and environmental standards for field operations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with government entities, local communities and JV partners.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, mentor and manage a team of geologists and field specialists.
• Reporting: Prepare and submit technical reports to regulatory bodies and internal leadership.

Skills

Geology

Mineral Exploration

Leadership

Geological Modeling

Resource Estimation

Budget Management

English Proficiency

Regulatory Knowledge

Team Management

Education

Master's degree in Geology or Earth Sciences

PhD in Economic Geology (nice-to-have)

Job description

Exploration Director - Riyadh Saudi Arabia

About Saudi Gold Refinery

Saudi Gold Refinery (SGR) is a Saudi mining and precious-metals company specialized in the refining of gold and precious metals bullion production and value-added precious-metal services. Operating within the Kingdom's mining value chain, SGR is aligned to the Vision 2030 mining pillar and to the regulatory framework set by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) and applicable Saudi and international standards. We produce responsibly sourced, traceable and certified bullion, operate to LBMA Good Delivery and ISO-aligned quality standards and invest in the people, processes and controls behind every bar we produce.

Role Overview

Saudi Gold Refinery (SGR) is seeking an Exploration Director in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to lead the identification and acquisition of high-quality gold resources. This role is critical to securing the long-term feedstock supply for our refining operations and supporting the Kingdom's mining sector growth. The Director will manage all aspects of exploration from license acquisition to resource definition. The Exploration Director will report directly to the CEO and will play a key role in shaping SGR's upstream strategy. This position requires a leader who can navigate regulatory frameworks, manage technical teams and deliver tangible resource growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning: The role defines and executes the annual exploration strategy to identify and secure viable gold assets.

License Acquisition: This position manages the application and renewal process for exploration licenses with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

Technical Oversight: The Director oversees drilling campaigns and geological modeling to ensure accurate resource estimation.

Budget Management: This role controls the exploration budget ensuring efficient allocation of capital across projects.

HSE Compliance: The position enforces strict health, safety and environmental standards for all field operations.

Stakeholder Engagement: The Director builds relationships with government entities, local communities and joint venture partners.

Team Leadership: This role recruits, mentors and manages a team of geologists and field specialists.

Reporting: The position prepares and submits technical reports to regulatory bodies and internal leadership.

Qualifications

Master's degree in Geology or Earth Sciences is required.

At least 20 years of experience in mineral exploration with 5 years in leadership.

Proven success in gold exploration within the Middle East or similar regions.

In-depth knowledge of Saudi mining laws and MIM licensing procedures.

Strong technical skills in geological modeling and resource estimation.

Experience managing large exploration budgets and contractor teams.

Fluency in English is required, and Arabic is highly preferred.

Willingness to travel frequently to remote field locations.

Preferred (Nice-to-have)

PhD in Economic Geology or a related field.

Experience with refractory gold ore processing characteristics.

Established professional network in the Saudi mining sector.

Prior experience with publicly listed mining companies.

h3 Master's degree in Geology or Earth Sciences is required. At least 20 years of experience in mineral exploration with 5 years in leadership. Proven success in gold exploration within the Middle East or similar regions. In-depth knowledge of Saudi mining laws and MIM licensing procedures. Strong technical skills in geological modeling and resource estimation. Experience managing large exploration budgets and contractor teams. Fluency in English is required, and Arabic is highly preferred. Willingness to travel frequently to remote field locations. PhD in Economic Geology or a related field. Experience with refractory gold ore processing characteristics. Established professional network in the Saudi mining sector. Prior experience with publicly listed mining companies.