Head of Procurement

HEAD OF PROCUREMENT

About the Company 

The mining industry has steadily become worse at finding new ore deposits, requiring >10X more capital to make discoveries compared to 30 years ago. The easy-to-find, near-surface deposits have largely been found, and the industry has chronically under-invested in new exploration technology, relying on the manual techniques of yesteryear – even as demand accelerates for copper, lithium, and other metals to build electric vehicles, renewable energy, and data centers.

KoBold builds AI models for mineral exploration and deploys those models—alongside our novel sensors—to guide decisions on KoBold-owned-and-operated exploration programs. In the six years since founding, KoBold has become by far both the largest independent mineral exploration company and the largest exploration technology developer. Our data scientists and software engineers, who come from leading technology companies, jointly lead exploration programs with our renowned exploration geologists.

KoBold has proven its first discovery with materially less capital than the industry average and found one of the best copper deposits ever discovered: the copper is far more concentrated than the global average of copper mines, and this asset alone is expected to generate meaningful revenue for decades. KoBold has a portfolio of more than 60 other projects, each of which has the potential for another high-quality 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, and Standard Investments; and natural resources companies Equinor, BHP, and Mitsubishi.

About the Role 

KoBold is seeking an experienced Head of Procurement to build and lead our procurement function from the ground up. This is a high-visibility position with significant authority and autonomy to establish procurement best practices, policies, and systems that will support KoBold's rapid growth across our 70+ projects on four continents. You will have the opportunity to shape procurement strategy, implement innovative sourcing approaches, and create scalable processes that align with our technology-driven exploration model. You will collaborate closely with operations, technical, and executive leadership to optimize our global supply chain while ensuring compliance with local regulations and company standards. This position requires both strategic vision and tactical execution expertise, and since KoBold is a startup company, your role and responsibilities will be dynamic and will evolve as the company grows. This position will focus on establishing procurement standards and processes that can be implemented across KoBold's operations, with coordination and collaboration across regional teams.

Responsibilities

• Strategic sourcing and supplier management. Develop and execute comprehensive global procurement strategies across all spend categories including drilling services, geophysical surveys, laboratory services, exploration equipment (core rigs, geophysical instruments, sampling equipment), technology solutions (AI/ML platforms, data management systems, specialized software), professional services (geological consulting, environmental assessments, legal services), and operational supplies. Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers across multiple jurisdictions, establishing preferred vendor programs and long-term partnerships that support KoBold's exploration timeline requirements and cost optimization goals.
• Should-cost modeling and deep economic analysis. Develop and maintain rigorous should-cost models across all major procurement categories, building KoBold's own independent economic understanding of what vendors do, what they should be doing, and what it should cost them to provide goods and services. Drive the organization, including all internal stakeholders who purchase goods and services, to engage deeply with the substance of what is being procured, not just the quoted price. Construct bottom-up cost models that account for vendor inputs, labor, margins, and market dynamics, and use these models to inform sourcing strategy, negotiate from a position of knowledge, and identify opportunities where KoBold is overpaying or under-specifying.
• Supplier risk management and compliance. Design and implement comprehensive supplier qualification and due diligence processes, including financial stability assessments, safety record evaluations, environmental compliance verification, and ethical business practice reviews. Develop supplier audit programs, performance scorecards, and corrective action protocols. Ensure all suppliers meet KoBold's standards for safety, environmental stewardship, anti-corruption compliance, and social responsibility across diverse international markets.
• Contract negotiation and management. Assist with complex, high-value contract negotiations across diverse categories including multi-year drilling contracts, equipment purchase and lease agreements, technology licensing deals, professional services agreements, joint venture arrangements, and master service agreements. Manage complete contract lifecycle from RFP development through execution and renewal, ensuring favorable commercial terms, appropriate risk allocation, and compliance with local laws. 
• Technology and innovation sourcing. Evaluate and implement procurement technologies including spend analytics, supplier management, and e-sourcing solutions to optimize procurement strategy and deliver measurable value. Stay current on industry innovations in both exploration technology and procurement technology, assess new solutions for potential adoption, and build relationships with technology vendors and research institutions.
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder support Support local experts in decentralized structure to be more effective in executing their procurement initiatives: Partner closely with Operations teams on project-specific procurement needs and supplier performance management. Collaborate with HSE team to ensure all suppliers meet safety and environmental standards. Work with GeoScience and Technology teams to understand specialized equipment requirements and evaluate new exploration technologies. Support Finance with procurement budgeting, spend analysis, and cost management initiatives. Partner with Legal on commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.
• Zambia mine development support. Provide procurement expertise and commercial advisory support to Zambia mine development team, including vendor qualification frameworks, bid/tender process design, and contract lifecycle management tools. Partner with technical leads, Finance, and Legal on major procurement initiatives while ensuring alignment with global procurement standards. 
• Procurement policy and process development. Implement procurement systems and tools to support scalable operations and enable stakeholders to execute on procurement objectives in a faster and more efficient manner. Establish comprehensive procurement policies, procedures, and governance frameworks that can be applied consistently across KoBold's global operations while accommodating local regulatory requirements and accomplishing business goals. Develop spend authorization matrices, vendor selection criteria, and procurement performance metrics.
• Spend analysis and Cost optimization. Analyze global spending patterns across categories, identify cost reduction opportunities, and implement procurement best practices. Develop and maintain comprehensive procurement metrics and KPIs, providing regular reporting on cost savings, supplier performance, market trends, and procurement efficiency. Lead total cost of ownership analyses.
• Sustainability and ESG integration. Incorporate environmental, social, and governance considerations into all procurement decisions, supporting KoBold's commitment to responsible exploration practices and sustainable supply chain management. Develop supplier diversity programs and local content strategies where appropriate.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of strategic procurement experience with demonstrated progression in responsibility and scope
• Demonstrated experience with should-cost modeling, bottom-up cost analysis, and economic modeling of procured goods and services. Proven ability to move beyond systems and process management to engage deeply with the substance and economics of what is being procured.
• Mining, energy, industrial, or technology sector experience strongly preferred
• Proven track record of building procurement functions from the ground up or leading significant procurement transformations
• Strong knowledge of international procurement practices, contract law, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions
• Experience managing procurement in emerging markets and complex regulatory environments preferred
• Advanced proficiency in procurement systems, ERP platforms, spend analysis tools, and contract management systems
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills with ability to influence at all organizational levels
• Ability to work effectively across cultures and collaborate with international teams in diverse regulatory environments and in multiple time zones
• The ability to quickly learn new tools as needed and solve new problems continuously
• A high degree of independence and the ability to work effectively with limited supervision while building scalable processes
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment
• Professional procurement certification such as CPSM, CPPO, CIPS, or equivalent credentials preferred

This position is full-time, exempt. The US base salary range for this full-time exempt position is $165,000 - $225,000, plus equity and benefits including 401k matching.

Location: Remote, Candidates can be located anywhere in the United States, Canada, or Zambia, with regular travel to project sites as needed. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States, Canada, or Zambia.

KoBold Metals is an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for people of any race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.