Principal Specialist, International R&D Scientist

Job purpose

The Principal Specialist, International R&D Scientist will develop and manage Maaden's global innovation ecosystem by building strategic relationships with leading universities, startups, mining laboratories, technology providers, mining companies, research institutes, and venture ecosystems. The role is responsible for identifying breakthrough technologies worldwide, establishing collaborative partnerships, and accelerating the evaluation, demonstration, and deployment of technologies that create measurable business value across Maaden's operations.

The position serves as Maaden's global interface for innovation, ensuring continuous access to emerging technologies that improve productivity, sustainability, resource recovery, and operational competitiveness.

Key Accountabilities

1. Global Partnership Development

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with leading international universities, mining laboratories, technology providers, startups, mining companies, venture funds, and research organizations.
• Establish long-term collaboration agreements, joint development programs, and technology demonstration partnerships.
• Represent Maaden within international innovation networks and strengthen the company's global technology presence.
• Build a strong pipeline of strategic partners aligned with Maaden's innovation priorities.

2. Advanced Research & Innovation Delivery

• Sponsor development of new technologies, methods, and solutions, ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Oversee design, execution, and validation of experimental and pilot studies.
• Ensure research outputs (models, methods, technologies) are scalable and transferable to operational environments.

3. Technology Scouting & Opportunity Identification

• Continuously scout emerging technologies in mining and mineral processing, material science, waste valorization, gold recovery from historical tailings, modular processing plants, small-footprint processing technologies, fast and low-cost exploration, AI-enabled exploration, geophysics and multi-sensor drone technologies, ore sorting, water reduction and reuse, decarbonization, critical minerals recovery, and process intensification.
• Assess technology maturity, technical readiness, commercial potential, scalability, IP position, and strategic fit for Ma'aden.

4. Technology Evaluation & Deployment

• Coordinate technical evaluations with internal business units.
• Facilitate laboratory testing, pilot programs, demonstration projects, and industrial trials.
• Support development of business cases for technology adoption.
• Ensure successful transition from external innovation into operational deployment.

5. International Innovation Ecosystem Management

• Build and manage an international network of innovation partners.
• Organize executive technology visits and technical exchanges.
• Coordinate collaborative workshops with external organizations.
• Identify opportunities for co-development, licensing, and joint ventures.
• Develop strategic relationships with government innovation agencies and international research programs.

6. Portfolio Development

• Maintain a global technology pipeline aligned with Maaden's strategic priorities.
• Prioritize opportunities based on business value, implementation readiness, and strategic importance.
• Track technology landscape evolution and competitor activities.
• Provide regular intelligence reports on emerging technologies and innovation trends.

7. Commercial & Strategic Collaboration

• Support negotiation of collaboration agreements, NDAs, MOUs, JDAs, and technology licensing.
• Work closely with Legal, Procurement, IP, and Business Units to establish successful partnerships.
• Protect Maaden's strategic interests throughout external collaborations.

Minimum Qualification, Experience and Competencies

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mining Engineering, Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Geoscience, or related discipline. PhD is optional 

Minimum Experience:

• 10–15 years in mining, mineral processing, technology development, innovation, business development, or strategic partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with international universities, technology companies, startups, or research organizations.
• Strong global network within the mining innovation ecosystem is highly desirable.

Maaden High Performance Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Innovation & Creativity
• Stakeholder Management
• Problem Solving
• Delivery Excellence
• Collaboration

Skills

• Global partnership development
• Relationship management
• Technology scouting
• Open innovation
• Mining innovation
• Technology commercialization
• Business case development
• International stakeholder management
• Negotiation and collaboration
• Technology due diligence
• Strategic thinking
• Excellent communication and networking skills
• Program and portfolio management