Country General Manager - Mining

Overview:

We are recruiting a Country General Manager to lead a mining company’s operations in Kenya. As the most senior in-country executive, the successful candidate will be accountable for business performance, mine operations, government and community relations, mining rights and licensing, technical oversight, regulatory compliance, and the local leadership team. The role translates headquarters’ strategic objectives into operational plans and proactively manages safety, environmental, community, licensing, and business risks.

Responsibilities:

• Government relations, community engagement and licensing: Maintain relationships with mining, land, environmental, tax, and safety authorities; personally lead applications, renewals, amendments, and statutory reviews for exploration and mining rights, permits, and environmental approvals; manage inspections, enforcement matters, land issues, community disputes, and CSR programmes.

• Mine operations and compliance: Direct daily mining operations, production planning, budgets, cost control, health and safety, and environmental management; oversee contractors, procurement, supply chains, and workforce management; ensure compliance with local labour, tax, social security, and mine safety obligations.

• Technical oversight: Lead geological and exploration programmes, orebody delineation, resource and reserve estimation, and geological record management; interpret technical reports, identify geological, mining, and processing risks, and guide technical decisions.

• Country leadership and financial management: Build and lead the local management team; coordinate effectively between Chinese and local employees; manage operating budgets, performance, expenditure, and risks; report regularly to the CEO on results and project progress.

• Commercial support: Support due diligence on mining rights, acquisitions, and partnerships; maintain strong relationships with local contractors, service providers, and mining-sector stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements:

• Proven hands-on mining leadership experience in Africa, including independent accountability for the full in-country management of a mine or mining project.

• Established working relationships with relevant mining authorities and a demonstrated record of personally leading mining rights or permitting processes to successful outcomes.

• Strong geology background, a sound understanding of the complete mining value chain, and practical expertise in at least two of these areas: exploration, mining, and mineral processing.

• Ability to independently evaluate geological, mineral resource, and mineral reserve reports and use findings to support technical and operational decisions.

• Working knowledge of applicable African mining, environmental, labour, tax, and safety requirements, with the ability to anticipate and resolve regulatory, community, and operational risks.

• Professional English communication skills, including the ability to conduct business discussions and engage independently with government authorities.

• Willingness to relocate to and be based in Kenya. Applicants from Kenya and other African countries are welcome; relevant mining experience gained in any African country will be considered.

Preferred Experience:

• Converting exploration rights into mining rights, or delivering a mine from development and construction through commissioning into production.

• Conducting mining-rights acquisition due diligence or supporting mining-sector transactions.

• Managing local contractors and service providers and implementing community engagement or CSR programmes.