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Salary: USD 140,000 - 185,000 / annual
KoBold Metals is an AI-driven mineral exploration company that combines advanced machine learning models with novel sensor technology to discover high-quality ore deposits more efficiently than traditional methods. The company has already proven its approach with a major copper discovery and operates a portfolio of 80+ exploration projects across multiple continents.
As a Senior Geochemist, you will be the embedded geochemical expert for exploration programs spanning North America, Europe, and Africa. Reporting to the Principal Geochemist, you will travel to active project sites during critical phases of exploration, designing and executing geochemical sampling campaigns, managing drilling programs, and providing real-time interpretation to guide exploration decisions.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design geochemical sampling programs tailored to specific terrain, regolith, and mineral systems (glaciated, tropical, arid, and transported cover)
- Own the geochemical component of drilling programs: sampling intervals, preparation protocols, quality control, and real-time assay review
- Apply and audit KoBold's geochemical standards and quality control procedures in the field
- Interpret multi-element geochemical datasets across commodities and deposit types, including lithogeochemical classification, alteration vectoring, and fertility screening
- Partner with data scientists and software engineers to develop new analytical tools and improve existing capabilities
- Assess legacy and third-party datasets during property evaluation and due diligence
- Coach and train field geologists and technicians in leading-practice sampling techniques
- Contribute to method and technology development, including trials of portable XRF and emerging analytical techniques
- Manage an international travel and deployment schedule across multiple active projects
You will work closely with exploration geologists, geophysicists, data scientists, and software engineers to identify and prioritize targets, making geochemistry a primary input to exploration strategy.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum 8 years' experience in mineral exploration industry
- Strong technical knowledge of multiple ore deposit types (sediment-hosted stratiform copper, porphyry copper, IOCG, magmatic nickel-copper-PGE sulfide, or LCT pegmatite systems preferred)
- Demonstrated hands-on experience designing and executing surface geochemical programs in multiple regolith/cover settings
- Experience running the geochemical side of drilling programs from sampling protocol through interpretation
- Practical command of quality control for sampling programs, including reference materials, duplicate design, control charting, and Theory of Sampling
- Excellence in generative analysis and integration of large multi-element datasets
- Proficiency in standard desktop software (ArcGIS or QGIS) and at least one dedicated geochemical data analysis package (e.g., ioGAS)
- Ability to work effectively across cultures, time zones, and technical disciplines, earning influence through quality of judgment
- Previous experience coaching and training geoscientists in leading-practice mineral exploration
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally for extended periods
- Eligibility to work or obtain necessary permissions in US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, UK, Zambia, DRC, Namibia, Finland, Sweden, or Botswana
- Demonstrated commitment to high standards of health and safety
- Strong communicator who can explain technical problems to non-geoscientist domain experts
- Intellectual curiosity and eagerness to learn about all aspects of mineral exploration
- Valid passport and willingness to travel to exploration sites globally
HELPFUL BUT NOT REQUIRED:
- Working knowledge of Python, R, or other programming/scripting languages applied to geochemical data
- Knowledge of geostatistics, compositional data analysis, or statistical methods for geoscientific data
- Experience with portable XRF and in-field sample preparation
- Experience in environmental geochemistry
- International experience in Central African Copperbelt or pegmatite provinces of central Africa and Namibia
- Professional registration (CGeol, FAusIMM, EurGeol, SACNASP)
- French language proficiency
