Technical Specialist / Head of Mining Sector

The Technical Specialist / Head of Mining Sector will serve as the Group's principal technical authority for mining and mineral development activities.

The position will be responsible for providing technical leadership across the mining project lifecycle, including:

• Geological and mineral-resource assessment;

• Exploration and field investigations;

• Mine planning and design;

• Feasibility and technical-economic studies;

• Resource and reserve evaluation;

• Mining method selection;

• Extraction and production planning;

• Mineral processing and beneficiation;

• Mine development and infrastructure planning;

• Environmental, health and safety considerations;

• Mining project investment assessment;

• Contractor and technical consultant management;

• Government and regulatory coordination;

• Development of strategic partnerships and joint ventures; and

• Technical supervision of mining operations and projects.

The successful candidate will be expected to combine strong technical mining expertise with commercial understanding, project-management capability, regulatory knowledge, and leadership skills.

A. Technical Leadership and Mining Strategy

1. Develop and implement the Group's technical strategy for the mining and natural resources sector.

2. Establish technical standards, procedures, methodologies, and quality-control systems for mining projects.

3. Provide technical advice to the CEO and Senior Management on mining opportunities, project risks, investment decisions, and development strategies.

4. Develop a structured mining project pipeline based on technical feasibility, resource potential, commercial viability, and strategic importance.

5. Review and technically assess potential mining projects, licenses, concessions, investment opportunities, and partnership proposals.

6. Establish appropriate technical governance and reporting systems for the Group's mining portfolio.

B. Geological Exploration and Resource Assessment

1. Lead and supervise geological reconnaissance, exploration, mapping, sampling, drilling, trenching, geophysical surveys, and other relevant field investigations.

2. Review geological reports, exploration data, laboratory results, resource models, and technical studies.

3. Assess the quality and reliability of geological and mineral-resource information.

4. Coordinate with qualified geologists, mining engineers, laboratories, surveyors, and specialized consultants.

5. Evaluate mineral occurrences and deposits to determine their technical and commercial potential.

6. Ensure that exploration and resource evaluation activities follow internationally recognized technical practices where applicable.

C. Mine Planning and Development

1. Lead the preparation and review of conceptual mine plans, pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, and mine development plans.

2. Evaluate appropriate mining methods, production systems, equipment requirements, mine infrastructure, and operational requirements.

3. Develop preliminary and detailed production plans, including production capacity, mine life, stripping ratios, recovery assumptions, and operational requirements.

4. Assess mine development costs, operating costs, capital requirements, production schedules, and technical risks.

5. Review mine design and engineering studies prepared by consultants and contractors.

6. Ensure that proposed mining projects are technically achievable, economically viable, and operationally sustainable.

D. Mineral Processing and Beneficiation

1. Evaluate appropriate processing, beneficiation, concentration, sorting, washing, crushing, grinding, and other mineral-processing technologies.

2. Assess opportunities for value addition and downstream mineral processing within Afghanistan.

3. Coordinate metallurgical testing, laboratory analysis, pilot testing, and process-development activities.

4. Evaluate processing recovery rates, product specifications, processing costs, and commercial implications.

5. Identify opportunities to maximize mineral recovery and improve project economics.

E. Project Development and Investment Assessment

1. Conduct technical due diligence on potential mining investments and acquisition opportunities.

2. Review technical components of investment proposals, feasibility studies, business plans, and financial models.

3. Provide technical assumptions and inputs for project financial modelling.

4. Assess CAPEX, OPEX, production assumptions, resource potential, mine life, recovery rates, and technical risks.

5. Prepare technical recommendations for management investment decisions.

6. Support the preparation of investment memoranda, project proposals, tender documents, and presentations for investors and strategic partners.

F. Regulatory and Government Coordination

1. Maintain professional coordination with the relevant Afghan government institutions and regulatory authorities responsible for mining and natural resources.

2. Ensure that mining activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, licenses, contractual obligations, environmental requirements, and technical standards.

3. Support the preparation and submission of technical documentation required for licenses, contracts, approvals, permits, and government processes.

4. Monitor changes in mining regulations and advise management regarding their potential implications.

5. Represent the Group in technical meetings with government institutions, regulators, consultants, contractors, investors, and business partners when authorized.

G. Project and Operational Management

1. Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams assigned to mining projects.

2. Establish project objectives, technical deliverables, implementation schedules, and performance indicators.

3. Monitor project progress against approved technical, financial, quality, and schedule requirements.

4. Identify technical, operational, environmental, safety, and commercial risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.

5. Review contractor performance and ensure compliance with approved technical specifications.

6. Establish effective technical reporting mechanisms for all mining projects.

7. Conduct regular field inspections and prepare technical assessment reports for management.

H. Strategic Partnerships and Business Development

1. Identify qualified international and domestic mining companies, technical firms, equipment suppliers, investors, and strategic partners.

2. Support the development of joint ventures, strategic partnerships, technical cooperation agreements, and investment structures.

3. Evaluate technical capabilities and track records of potential partners and contractors.

4. Participate in technical negotiations and provide technical input to commercial and contractual arrangements.

5. Develop opportunities for technology transfer, modern mining practices, mineral processing, and local capacity development.

I. Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability

1. Promote safe and responsible mining practices throughout the Group's mining activities.

2. Ensure that technical plans incorporate appropriate occupational health, safety, environmental, and social considerations.

3. Identify and mitigate environmental and operational risks associated with exploration, extraction, processing, transportation, and mine closure.

4. Promote efficient resource utilization and environmentally responsible mining practices.

5. Ensure appropriate consideration of mine rehabilitation and closure requirements in project planning.

4. Key Deliverables

The successful candidate will be expected to deliver, among others:

1. A comprehensive Mining Sector Strategy and Development Roadmap for Fine Star Group of Companies.

2. A technically assessed and prioritized Mining Project Portfolio.

3. Technical due-diligence reports for potential mining investments and projects.

4. Geological and mineral-resource assessment reports.

5. Mine development concepts and technical feasibility assessments.

6. Technical inputs to pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.

7. Mine production and development plans.

8. Mineral processing and beneficiation strategies.

9. CAPEX/OPEX and technical assumptions for investment evaluation.

10. Technical risk registers and mitigation plans.

11. Technical specifications and scopes of work for consultants and contractors.

12. Periodic technical and management reports on the Group's mining portfolio.

13. Recommendations for strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and investment opportunities.

14. A structured technical monitoring and quality-assurance framework for mining projects.

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geology, Mineral Processing, or a closely related discipline.

• A Master's degree in Mining Engineering, Geology, Mineral Economics, Mineral Processing, Project Management, or a related field will be an advantage.

• Minimum 8–10 years of relevant professional experience in mining, mineral exploration, mine development, mineral processing, or mining project management.

• Demonstrated experience in managing or technically leading mining projects.

• Strong knowledge of geological exploration, mineral-resource evaluation, mine planning, extraction methods, and mineral processing.

• Experience in technical feasibility studies and mining project evaluation.

• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams.

• Strong understanding of mining project economics, CAPEX/OPEX assessment, and investment evaluation.

• Good knowledge of Afghanistan's mining sector, regulatory environment, and operational context.

• Strong report-writing, analytical, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

• Willingness and ability to undertake frequent field visits to remote and provincial mining locations.

Preferred

• Professional certification or membership of a recognized mining, geological, or engineering institution.

• Experience working with international mining companies, investors, consultants, or development partners.

• Experience in gemstone, metallic, industrial, or construction-mineral projects.

• Experience in mineral processing and value-addition projects.

• Experience in public-private partnerships, joint ventures, concessions, or mining investment projects.

• Knowledge of internationally recognized mining standards and reporting practices.

• Experience with mining software, GIS, geological modelling, mine planning, or resource-estimation tools.

6. Technical Competencies

The candidate should demonstrate strong competency in:

• Geological and mineral-resource assessment;

• Exploration planning and management;

• Mine design and planning;

• Open-pit and/or underground mining principles;

• Mineral processing and beneficiation;

• Resource and reserve evaluation;

• Technical due diligence;

• Feasibility and pre-feasibility studies;

• Mining project economics;

• CAPEX and OPEX analysis;

• Production planning;

• Mining equipment and technology assessment;

• Contractor and consultant management;

• Project risk management;

• Environmental and safety considerations;

• Mining regulatory compliance;

• Technical documentation and reporting; and

• Strategic mining investment development. 

7. Leadership and Management Competencies

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• Strategic thinking and commercial awareness;

• Strong technical judgment and decision-making ability;

• Excellent leadership and team-management skills;

• Ability to manage multidisciplinary technical teams;

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability;

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills;

• Ability to work effectively with government institutions, investors, contractors, consultants, and international partners;

• High level of professional integrity and accountability;

• Ability to work independently under demanding conditions;

• Strong organizational and project-management skills; and

• Commitment to professional standards, transparency, safety, and responsible mining.

8. Language Requirements

• Pashto: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Dari: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• English: Strong professional proficiency, particularly in technical reporting, correspondence, presentations, and communication with international partners.

Knowledge of additional languages relevant to international mining partnerships will be considered an advantage.

9. Reporting and Coordination

The Technical Specialist / Head of Mining Sector will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer / Senior Management of Fine Star Group of Companies and will work closely with:

• Senior Management and Executive Leadership;

• Legal and Compliance Department;

• Finance and Investment teams;

• Project Management teams;

• Government and regulatory institutions;

• Geological and mining consultants;

• Engineering and technical contractors;

• International mining companies and investors;

• Equipment manufacturers and technology providers; and

• Strategic partners and joint-venture entities.

10. Performance Indicators

Performance will be assessed based on, among other factors:

• Quality and accuracy of technical assessments;

• Development of viable mining project opportunities;

• Successful completion of technical due diligence;

• Quality of mine development and feasibility studies;

• Progress of mining projects against approved plans;

• Technical and operational risk management;

• Compliance with applicable technical and regulatory requirements;

• Development of strategic partnerships and investment opportunities;

• Cost, schedule, quality, and production performance of projects;

• Successful implementation of technical standards and reporting systems; and

• Overall contribution to the sustainable development and commercial growth of Fine Star Group's mining portfolio.

11. Duty Station and Field Deployment

The primary duty station will be Kabul, Afghanistan. However, the position requires regular travel to mining sites, exploration areas, provincial offices, processing facilities, project locations, and other operational sites throughout Afghanistan.

The candidate must be physically capable and professionally prepared to work in remote and challenging field environments.

12. Employment Terms

• Employment Type: Full-Time

• Contract: Subject to Fine Star Group's employment policies and applicable terms and conditions.

• Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications, professional experience, technical expertise, and demonstrated capabilities.

• Benefits: In accordance with the Group's policies and employment package.

• Probation: As per company policy.

13. Application Requirements

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Updated CV/Resume;

2. Cover Letter explaining their suitability for the position;

3. Copies of relevant academic and professional certificates;

4. Evidence of relevant mining/project-management experience, where applicable; and

5. Contact details of at least two professional referees.

Subject/Position: Technical Specialist / Head of Mining Sector – Fine Star Group of Companies

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Fine Star Group of Companies is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to recruiting qualified professionals based on merit, technical competence, professional integrity, and relevant experience.