inhousefyi
← Back to listings

Chief Project Planner

KoBold Metals ZambiaChililabombwe, Zambia · Posted 10 months ago
Full-time
Apply now

Description

About the Company

KoBold Metals Zambia Limited is a Zambian-led company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia.

KoBold Metals Zambia is the Zambian affiliate of KoBold Metals, a U.S.-based company exploring around the world for battery metals using proprietary AI to guide exploration decisions. Our business is discovering, defining, expanding, and developing mineral resources, and our objective is to achieve a step-change improvement in exploration success resulting in more tier 1 resources discovered faster, with fewer failures, and with far less exploration capital.

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, Durable Capital, StepStone, and Standard Investments; and strategic natural resources companies BHP and Mitsubishi.

KoBold Metals Zambia is building a rapidly growing team of Zambian geologists, operators, and executives to identify, acquire, explore, and develop exploration opportunities and mineral resources drawing upon KoBold’s technology and the expertise of colleagues worldwide.

About the position

This role will be a key member of our team in Zambia, responsible for leading project planning efforts across the organization. You will work closely with business and technical teams to develop, maintain, and optimize project schedules, ensuring alignment with overall strategic goals. Additionally, you will provide analytical insights and planning tools to monitor project performance and support data-driven decision-making. Since KoBold is a startup company operating globally, your role will be dynamic and your role and responsibilities will grow as the company grows.

Responsibilities

The Project Planner will:

  • Lead development of integrated, resource-loaded master schedules (Primavera P6) from concept through commissioning and close out, aligned to WBS/CBS standards.
  • Establish the schedule governance model (coding structures, calendars, fragnets, interfaces, and data quality checks) for all workstreams and contractors.
  • Drive baseline development (scope freeze assumptions, logic, critical/near‑critical path, milestones) and obtain formal approvals.
  • Build and maintain robust WBS/OBS/RBS structures and activity coding to enable multi-level reporting (program; project; area; system; subsystem).
  • Perform logic integrity audits (lags, open ends, constraints, out‑of‑sequence work) and enforce schedule hygiene standards (DCMA 14‑point compliance).
  • Implement resource and crew planning, leveling/stacking rules, and labor/equipment calendars consistent with field realities.
  • Conduct critical path and driving-path analysis, total/ free float consumption tracking, and pathway-of-risk reviews.
  • Run trend analysis (SPI(t), schedule variance, progress curves, productivity indices) and produce leading indicators and early‑warning signals.
  • Build what‑if simulations and scenario models (alternate execution sequences, resequencing for access/permits, weather or logistics constraints).
  • Perform probabilistic schedule risk analysis (e.g., Monte Carlo) to quantify P‑dates, confidence levels, and criticality/sensitivity indices; propose mitigation and contingency plans.
  • Integrate with cost control to support Earned Value Management (EVM); reconcile schedule and cost performance (SPI/CPI) and explain variances.
  • Define progress measurement rules of credit and automate performance tracking at work‑package and system levels.
  • Generate rolling lookaheads (2–6 weeks), constraint logs, and readiness checks to support field execution.
  • Facilitate schedule risk reviews; maintain risk registers and link mitigations to schedule activities with measurable impacts.
  • Manage change control; quantify time impacts (TIA), maintain fragnet libraries, and support claims/extension‑of‑time narratives with forensic schedule analysis.
  • Lead recovery and resequencing plans when thresholds or KPIs are breached.
  • Integrate P6 with cost systems/ERP, document management, field progress apps, and (where applicable) 4D/BIM tools.
  • Establish data pipelines between P6 and BI tools (e.g., SQL/Power Query/DAX; Python a plus) to automate reporting and analytics.
  • Coach project teams and junior planners; codify playbooks, checklists, and reusable templates for the planning function.

Qualifications

A great candidate will have:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field.
  • Minimum 8–10 years of relevant experience in project planning on major capital projects, preferably in sectors such as mining, oil & gas, infrastructure, or heavy industry.
  • Expert proficiency in Primavera P6 and scheduling best practices.
  • Strong knowledge of project management frameworks (PMBOK, PRINCE2) and familiarity with earned value analysis.
  • Proven experience in developing and managing detailed EPC schedules on projects >$500M.
  • Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or similar) is an asset.
  • Experience with planning software integrations (e.g., cost systems, ERP, BIM tools) is desirable.
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary, and multicultural team environment.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Flexibility to accommodate meetings with staff overseas and occasional travel
  • Interest in contributing broadly to the success of the company and eager to pitch in where needed
  • Clear Ethics Record

We are committed to equal employment opportunities for all people.

This position is a full-time contract role.

Currently, we are only accepting applications from Zambian nationals.

Location: Zambia.

What to Expect

Joining KoBold means getting the opportunity for hands-on exposure to our exploration projects around the world. All employees are expected to travel to project sites, with a minimum of one week per year. Field-facing and technical roles spend significantly more time in the field.

Similar jobs

KoBold Metals ZambiaChililabombwe, Zambia

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 large…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaCopperbelt Province, Zambia

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 large…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaChililabombwe, Zambia

About the Company KoBold Metals Zambia Limited is a Zambian-led company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia. KoBold Metals Zambia is the Zambian affiliate of KoBold…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaLusaka, Zambia

About the Company: KoBold Metals Zambia Limited is a Zambian-led company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia. KoBold Metals Zambia is the Zambian affiliate of KoBold…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaChingola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia

About the company: KoBold Metals Zambia is a Zambian-led company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia. KoBold Metals Zambia is the Zambian affiliate of KoBold Metals,…

Full-time
Security, Manager2 months ago
KoBold Metals ZambiaChililabombwe, Zambia

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 large…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaChililabombwe, Zambia

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 larg…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaLusaka, Zambia

About the Company KoBold Metals is a mineral exploration company using AI to explore for the metals we need for our transition to a low-carbon economy. KoBold’s business is discovering, defining, expanding, and developin…

Full-time

About the Company: KoBold Metals Zambia Limited is a Zambian-led company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia. KoBold Metals Zambia is the Zambian affiliate of KoBold…

Full-timeRemote
KoBold Metals ZambiaChingola, Copperbelt, Zambia

About the company: Zambold Exploration is a Zambian-led company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia. Zambold is the Zambian affiliate of KoBold Metals, a U.S.-based…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaLusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia

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 larg…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaChingola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia

About the company: KoBold Metals Zambia is a Zambian-led company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia. KoBold Metals Zambia is the Zambian affiliate of KoBold Metals,…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaChililabombwe, Zambia

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 large…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaLusaka, Zambia

Personal Assistant to the CEO, Zambia 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-…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaCopperbelt, Zambia

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 large…

Full-time

Est. 225,000 USD

Director of Mineral Processing 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, n…

Full-timeRemote
Software Engineer4 months ago
KoBold Metals ZambiaLusaka, Copperbelt Province, Zambia

We are open to hiring at multiple levels for this role, depending on experience, impact, and demonstrated ownership. While this role is level-agnostic, it is best suited for engineers with experience owning production sy…

Full-time
KoBold Metals ZambiaLusaka, Zambia

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 larg…

Full-time

Est. 120,000 USD

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 larg…

Full-timeRemote
KoBold Metals DRCManono, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Est. 80,000 USD

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 large…

Full-time
KoBold Metals DRCLubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Est. 45,000 USD

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 larg…

Full-time
Legal CounselFeb 19, 2024
KoBold Metals ZambiaLusaka, Zambia

About the Company: KoBold Metals Zambia Limited is the leading Zambian-led mineral exploration company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia. KoBold Metals Zambia is t…

Full-time
KoBold Metals DRCManono, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Est. 40,000 USD

Field Operations Supervisor I 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, ne…

Full-time
Software Engineer4 months ago
KoBold Metals DRCDemocratic Republic of the Congo

We are open to hiring at multiple levels for this role, depending on experience, impact, and demonstrated ownership. While this role is level-agnostic, it is best suited for engineers with experience owning production sy…

Full-time
Data Scientist4 months ago
KoBold Metals ZambiaLusaka, Zambia

Data Scientist About the company KoBold Metals is a mineral exploration company using AI to explore for the metals we need for our transition to a low-carbon economy. KoBold’s business is discovering, defining, expanding…

Full-time
KoBold Metals DRCLubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Est. 60,000 USD

Land & Permitting Lead, DRC 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,…

Full-time

Est. 195,000 USD

We are open to hiring at multiple levels for this role, depending on experience, impact, and demonstrated ownership. While this role is level-agnostic, it is best suited for engineers with experience owning production sy…

Full-timeRemote

Est. 140,000 USD

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 large…

Full-timeRemote

Est. 120,000 USD

Senior Drilling Engineer 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-su…

Full-timeRemote
KoBold Metals DRCManono, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Est. 40,000 USD

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 larg…

Full-time