Field Operations Lead, Sweden

KoBold Metals; Göteborgs kommun; On-site; SEK 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

KoBold Metals is seeking a Field Operations Lead to plan and execute field activities in Sweden, guiding 1–3 projects annually while prioritizing people, contractors, and local communities. You will report to the Field Operations Director North America & Europe and collaborate with exploration and operations teams to deliver high-quality field programs.

The role requires strong leadership for end-to-end project execution, risk management, weather-related contingencies, and adherence to Swedish

Responsibilities

• Lead planning of complex exploration projects and moderate-scale development programs in Sweden, including drilling campaigns, electromagnetic surveys, and reconnaissance programs
• Lead 1–3 concurrent projects of varying size, complexity, and jurisdiction, with accountability for planning and execution
• Lead procurement strategies: contractor selection, bid evaluation, benchmarking, and contract administration for Sweden-based programs
• Develop detailed project-level risk and hazard identification, risk assessments, mitigation plans, and critical control implementation, with particular attention to Swedish winter construction conditions
• Lead project kick-offs with integrated teams and contractors, covering scope, execution strategy, and risk management
• Contribute collaboratively to data collection planning during Phase 4a of the Exploration Project Lifecycle
• Generate creative field operations scenarios outside conventional boundaries that lead to efficient programs
• Lead end-to-end execution of assigned projects from mobilization through demobilization and closure
• Provide strong leadership during changing field conditions, including Arctic and sub-Arctic weather events
• Track and forecast production rates, spend profiles, and resource requirements
• Manage and direct all field activities: lead contractor performance evaluation, feedback, and improvement
• Maintain daily contact with and monitor the status of KoBold personnel and contractors while in the field; maintain close communication with the Project Geologist, Project Data Scientist, and the Senior Project Planner
• Lead site remediation and rehabilitation activities per Swedish regulatory standards
• Lead contractor performance reviews and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement
• Lead execution within regulatory compliance, monitoring, and reporting in accordance with Swedish mining and environmental legislation (including the Mining Act 621/2011 and Environmental Protection Act), EU regulations, and the practices of our joint venture partners
• Ensure execution is done within Swedish permitting processes, land access agreements, community relations, third-party agreements, and any joint venture requirements
• With leadership direction and support, represent KoBold Metals with local Swedish stakeholders, including communities, landowners, municipal authorities, and environmental bodies
• Create ways of working that allow us to continue to work more effectively and to be nimble so that we can support machine-learning-driven dynamic field programs
• Mentor Field Operations Supervis

Job description

About The Company

In the coming decades, our world needs far more critical minerals including copper, lithium, and cobalt, to build electric infrastructure, vehicles, data centers, and electronics. The mining industry is making 10x fewer discoveries per dollar spent on exploration compared to 30 years ago because the easy-to-find, near surface deposits have largely been discovered.

About The Company

In the coming decades, our world needs far more critical minerals including copper, lithium, and cobalt, to build electric infrastructure, vehicles, data centers, and electronics. The mining industry is making 10x fewer discoveries per dollar spent on exploration compared to 30 years ago because the easy-to-find, near surface deposits have largely been discovered.

KoBold is the leading scientific mineral exploration, mine development, and technology development company. Our goal is to turn mineral exploration into a repeatable science to discover the minerals the world needs- by integrating artificial intelligence, human intelligence, and new technology. Our multidisciplinary teams of data scientists, engineers, and geologists work together to build data systems, design new sensors, and establish industry-leading workflows to develop and test subsurface predictions on our exploration projects.

Our first discovery, Mingomba, is a high-grade copper deposit in Zambia, found after spending materially less than industry average. We are developing Mingomba with the same technical rigor that we apply to exploration. The Mingomba team brings together mine and processing engineers, geologists, data scientists, software engineers, and community, health & safety, construction, and operations specialists. By combining industry knowledge and cutting edge technology, we are developing Mingomba into a world class project that has safer and more predictable outcomes for ourselves, partners, and communities. It is expected to create thousands of good jobs for generations.

KoBold runs exploration programs in eight countries, all with the potential for another discovery.

KoBold is privately held; investors include institutional asset managers T. Rowe Price and Canada Pension Plan Investments; technology venture capitalists Andreessen Horowitz, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BOND Capital, Durable Capital, StepStone, and Standard Investments; and strategic natural resources companies BHP and Mitsubishi.

About The Role

In the role of Field Operations Lead, you will plan and execute our field activities in Sweden to meet our business objectives without causing harm to our people, our contractors and partners, or the communities and environments where we operate. You will report to our Field Operations Director North America & Europe and other members of the operations and exploration team. Your primary responsibility will be to serve as the leader of field operations for 1–3 projects per year across Sweden and potentially other Nordic or European jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

Plan

• Lead planning of complex exploration projects and moderate-scale development programs in Sweden, including drilling campaigns, electromagnetic surveys, and reconnaissance programs
• Lead 1–3 concurrent projects of varying size, complexity, and jurisdiction, with accountability for planning and execution
• Lead procurement strategies: contractor selection, bid evaluation, benchmarking, and contract administration for Sweden-based programs
• Develop detailed project-level risk and hazard identification, risk assessments, mitigation plans, and critical control implementation, with particular attention to Swedish winter construction conditions
• Lead project kick-offs with integrated teams and contractors, covering scope, execution strategy, and risk management
• Contribute collaboratively to data collection planning during Phase 4a of the Exploration Project Lifecycle
• Generate creative field operations scenarios outside conventional boundaries that lead to efficient programs

Execute

• Lead end-to-end execution of assigned projects from mobilization through demobilization and closure
• Provide strong leadership during changing field conditions, including Arctic and sub-Arctic weather events
• Track and forecast production rates, spend profiles, and resource requirements
• Manage and direct all field activities: lead contractor performance evaluation, feedback, and improvement
• Maintain daily contact with and monitor the status of KoBold personnel and contractors while in the field; maintain close communication with the Project Geologist, Project Data Scientist, and the Senior Project Planner

Close

• Lead site remediation and rehabilitation activities per Swedish regulatory standards
• Lead contractor performance reviews and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement

Compliance and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead execution within regulatory compliance, monitoring, and reporting in accordance with Swedish mining and environmental legislation (including the Mining Act 621/2011 and Environmental Protection Act), EU regulations, and the practices of our joint venture partners
• Ensure execution is done within Swedish permitting processes, land access agreements, community relations, third-party agreements, and any joint venture requirements
• With leadership direction and support, represent KoBold Metals with local Swedish stakeholders, including communities, landowners, municipal authorities, and environmental bodies

Process Improvement and Mentoring

• Create ways of working that allow us to continue to work more effectively and to be nimble so that we can support machine-learning-driven dynamic field programs, where we adapt our plan based on the data we collect at each stage
• Mentor Field Operations Supervis