Principal, Geoscience Data Management

AngloGold Ashanti; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

AngloGold Ashanti plc in Johannesburg seeks a Principal, Geoscience Data Management to lead global data governance and provide hands‑on database interrogation and QA/QC across projects, operations, and ventures.

You will design schemas, develop complex SQL queries, audit ETL processes, and collaborate with site geology teams, Digital Technology, and Mineral Resources to safeguard data integrity and enable data science initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Geoscience or CS/Data Science with mining industry experience.
• 8+ years of experience administering geological DB systems (acQuire, Fusion, Datashed).
• Proven ability to design schemas and run advanced SQL queries.
• Experience auditing ETL pipelines and QA/QC for data integrity.
• Experience mentoring site DB admins and cross‑functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Establish and monitor global Geoscience Data Management policies and QA/QC procedures.
• Provide hands‑on input into geological DB systems and data modeling; optimize SQL and ETL interfaces.
• Lead site data audits, verify data reliability, and identify bottlenecks.
• Support Mineral Resource and Reserve processes, including technical reports and due diligence.
• Monitor data science tools and automation initiatives with Digital Technology.

Skills

SQL

Geoscience data governance

ETL

Data modelling

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Geoscience or CS/Data Science

Tools

acQuire

Fusion

Datashed

SQL databases

Job description

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Who We Are

AngloGold Ashanti is a leading global gold mining company with a diverse portfolio of operations, projects, and exploration activities across ten countries. What we do goes beyond mining—we build livelihoods, champion environmental stewardship, and strengthen local economies. We cultivate an inclusive workplace rooted in safety, equity, and well-being, believing that exceptional results happen when we empower our people.

About the Role

As Principal, Geoscience Data Management, you will serve as a senior technical subject matter expert providing global governance, operational support, and technical assurance across AngloGold Ashanti’s projects, mining operations, and joint ventures. Reporting directly to the Director Geoscience Data and Quality Management, this role is designed for an active, technically proficient specialist who bridges high-level data governance with direct, hands‑on database interrogation and problem‑solving.

This is not a purely administrative or managerial position; it requires a practitioner who is comfortable working directly in the systems—designing schemas, developing complex SQL queries, auditing ETL processes, and troubleshooting raw data. You will collaborate closely with site geology teams, technical services, and Digital Technology to safeguard the data integrity underpinning our Mineral Resources and Reserves, lead independent site data audits, and coordinate the practical implementation of modern data science and automation initiatives.

Key Accountabilities

• Technical Data Governance & Standards: Assist in establishing, updating, and monitoring compliance with global Geoscience Data Management policies, data architectures, sampling protocols, and QA/QC procedures across all global operations, projects, and joint ventures.
• Hands‑on Database Management & Systems: Deliver direct, advanced technical input into geological database systems, relational database schema design, and data modeling. Write and optimize complex SQL queries, evaluate ETL routines, and optimize interfaces for digital field logging and laboratory assay workflows.
• Site Audits & Technical Assurance: Lead or perform independent technical audits of site‑level geoscience databases, data collection routines, and QA/QC protocols. Directly interrogate underlying data tables to verify data reliability, assess storage/capture effectiveness, identify process bottlenecks, and recommend corrective modifications.
• Mineral Resource & Due Diligence Support: Provide high‑level technical support to the Mineral Resource and Reserve process, specifically reviewing and analyzing Geoscience data reports for Mineral Resource Technical Reports. Deliver direct technical input and data assurance for capital project stage‑gate reviews and M&A due diligence activities.
• Applied Data Science & Technology Projects: Actively monitor emerging geoscience data tools, data science techniques, and AI/ML applications. Partner with the Digital Technology department and operations to scope, evaluate, and test practical automation and analytics tools, ensuring robust change management and end‑user uptake.
• Capability Building & Technical Mentorship: Mentor and build capability among site‑level database administrators and geologists through our global Geoscience Data Community of Practice.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Geoscience or Computer Science/Data Science paired with mining industry experience.
• Hands‑on Database Administration: 8 or more years of direct experience administering industry‑standard geological database systems (e.g., acQuire, Fusion, Datashed), with proven personal proficiency in relational database architecture, schema design, and advanced SQL querying. Candidates must have a track record of actively executing database configuration and data manipulation tasks firsthand.
• Technical Project Delivery: Proven track record of personally designing, programming, and delivering technical improvement projects involving database structures, ETL workflows, data migration, or system integrations.
• Data Auditing & QA/QC Expertise: Direct exposure to auditing sample flow routes, assay quality control routines, laboratory performance, and chain‑of‑custody protocols, with the ability to identify substandard data and resolve discrepancies at the source.
• Applied Analytical & Problem‑Solving Skills: Ability to apply computer science, statistics, and data modeling/analytics to large geological datasets to diagnose issues, detect trends, and solve complex data problems.
• Regulatory Reporting Literacy: Solid understanding of international public reporting codes (SEC S-K 1300, NI 43-101) specifically as they govern data verification, QA/QC, and database integrity for Mineral Resource estimation.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Mentoring: Demonstrated capability to coach and train site database administrators, coupled with the communication skills required to influence multi‑disciplinary, cross‑cultural technical teams across international operations.
• Professional Tenacity: Ability to take a well‑reasoned stand on matters of data governance, security, and integrity under operational pressure.

Preferred

• Advanced Education or Experience: Post‑graduate qualification in Geoscience or Data Science.
• Scripting & Programming: Direct experience using programming or scripting languages (e.g., Python, R) for geological data processing, workflow automation, or analytical modeling.
• Applied Machine Learning/AI: Familiarity with or practical exposure to testing machine learning and AI applications on geoscience datasets (such as QA/QC automation, lithological classification, or exploratory data analysis).
• Operational Mining Exposure: Practical operational experience across open‑pit or underground mining environments and exploration projects.
• Studies & Evaluations: Prior involvement supporting capital project development studies or technical due diligence for M&A transactions.

Salary Range:

• Johannesburg, South Africa: Market Related

AngloGold Ashanti is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of gender, race, religion, nationality, or disability.

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