About the Role
The Principal Specialist, International R&D Scientist expands access to breakthrough technologies, global research networks, and innovation ecosystems that accelerate business growth, sustainability, and operational competitiveness. This role connects with leading universities, research institutes, startups, technology providers, and mining organizations to ensure continuous exposure to emerging opportunities that create long-term value.
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It strengthens the innovation pipeline by identifying, evaluating, and advancing technologies that improve resource recovery, productivity, exploration effectiveness, environmental performance, and processing efficiency. The position enables faster conversion of external innovation into practical solutions that support enterprise priorities and future growth. By building strategic international partnerships and guiding technology deployment, the Principal Specialist helps position the organization as a globally connected innovation leader with access to high-impact technologies, research capabilities, and collaborative development opportunities.
What You Will Deliver
- Global Innovation Partnerships
- Build and sustain strategic relationships with leading international universities, research institutes, mining laboratories, technology providers, startups, and venture ecosystems.
- Establish collaboration frameworks that accelerate technology development, testing, commercialization, and deployment.
- Strengthen presence within global innovation networks and strategic technology forums.
- Technology Scouting & Opportunity Identification
- Create a robust pipeline of emerging technologies aligned with growth, sustainability, and operational priorities.
- Assess technology maturity, scalability, commercial potential, strategic alignment, and intellectual property considerations.
- Provide forward-looking intelligence on innovation trends, competitive developments, and technology disruptions.
- Research & Innovation Delivery
- Advance development of technologies and solutions that address critical business and operational challenges.
- Guide experimental programs, pilot studies, demonstrations, and validation activities to confirm business value and operational applicability.
- Ensure research outputs can be scaled and integrated into operational environments.
- Technology Evaluation & Deployment
- Enable effective technical assessments across business units and operational stakeholders.
- Accelerate progression from concept evaluation to industrial deployment through structured testing and business case development.
- Improve adoption success by aligning innovation initiatives with operational requirements and implementation readiness.
- Strategic Collaboration & Ecosystem Management
- Develop high-value international networks that support co-development, licensing, strategic alliances, and joint ventures.
- Build productive relationships with government innovation agencies, research programs, industry leaders, and strategic partners.
- Protect strategic interests throughout partnership development and technology collaboration activities.
- Portfolio & Value Management
- Maintain a prioritized innovation portfolio focused on business value, strategic importance, and implementation readiness.
- Improve visibility of emerging opportunities through technology intelligence, portfolio insights, and executive reporting.
- Drive measurable outcomes from innovation investments and external technology partnerships.
What Success Looks Like
- Strong international network of strategic innovation partners supporting long-term growth agenda.
- Expanded pipeline of high-value technologies aligned with resource growth, sustainability, and operational excellence objectives.
- Increased conversion of external innovation opportunities into successful pilots, demonstrations, and operational deployments.
- Improved visibility of emerging technology trends, competitive developments, and partnership opportunities.
- Strong technology adoption business cases that deliver measurable operational and commercial value.
- Enhanced global reputation and influence within international innovation ecosystems.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mining Engineering, Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Geoscience, or a related discipline.
- PhD is desirable.
Experience
- 10–15 years of experience in mining, mineral processing, technology development, innovation, business development, or strategic partnerships.
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with international universities, technology companies, startups, or research organizations.
- Experience evaluating, developing, and advancing innovative technologies from concept through deployment.
- Strong global network within the mining innovation ecosystem is highly desirable.
Skills That Matter
- Global partnership development
- Technology scouting and due diligence
- Mining innovation and technology commercialization
- Research program design and validation
- Innovation portfolio management
- Strategic technology assessment and deployment
- Business case development
- Strategic thinking and opportunity prioritization
- Open innovation management
- Technology commercialization and value realization
