Manager Exploration & Mining Artificial Intelligence

About Ma'aden and the Role

Ma'aden, established in 1997, is a prominent and rapidly expanding multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East. The company plays a key role in developing Saudi Arabia's mining industry by building an integrated mining value chain. This full-time role for a Manager, Exploration & Mining Artificial Intelligence, based in Riyadh, is central to enhancing resource discovery, operational efficiency, and sustainability across Ma'aden's mining operations.

Role Purpose and Scope

The Manager, Exploration & Mining Artificial Intelligence will lead the identification, development, deployment, and adoption of AI solutions across various stages of exploration and mining. This includes geology, resource modeling, mine planning, drilling and blasting, material movement, fleet optimization, production, and mine safety. The role involves translating operational challenges into scalable AI solutions to deliver measurable and sustainable value.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a prioritized portfolio of Exploration & Mining AI use cases aligned with business strategy and operational targets.
• Lead the design, development, testing, deployment, and continuous improvement of AI, machine learning, optimization, computer vision, and geospatial analytics solutions.
• Partner with exploration, geology, mine planning, technical services, mining operations, maintenance, and safety teams to identify and resolve operational challenges.
• Coordinate the integration of AI solutions with geoscience platforms, mine planning systems, fleet management systems, and other enterprise applications.
• Embed AI outputs into exploration workflows, technical services processes, operational practices, and management decision-making.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team combining AI, data science, geoscience, mining engineering, and operational expertise.
• Ensure solutions comply with safety, cybersecurity, data governance, model governance, responsible AI, quality, and operational risk requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in AI, data science, or a related field within the mining or heavy industry sector.
• Demonstrated ability to translate operational challenges into scalable AI solutions.
• Experience in leading the development and deployment of AI, machine learning, optimization, computer vision, and geospatial analytics solutions.
• Proven track record in driving adoption and value realization of AI solutions within operational environments.
• Experience in team leadership and capability development.

Desired Outcomes

Success in this role will be demonstrated by a focused Exploration & Mining AI portfolio aligned with site priorities and measurable business value. This includes improved exploration targeting, orebody understanding, safety, plan quality, production, equipment utilization, and mining productivity. The role aims to reduce operational variability, cycle time losses, unplanned downtime, safety exposure, and reliance on manual decision-making, ensuring production-grade AI solutions are adopted and sustained within operations.

Work Environment and Collaboration

This role requires strong collaboration across various teams including exploration, geology, technical services, mining operations, maintenance, safety, OT, IT, Digital, and Enterprise AI. The Manager will work within a dynamic environment, ensuring reliable model performance supported by effective monitoring, governance, and operational ownership. The position is full-time and based in Riyadh.