---
title: 'Chief Project Planner at KoBold Metals Zambia'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/chief-project-planner-kobold-metals-zambia-chililabombwe-mnczrand8pq9'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Chief Project Planner at KoBold Metals Zambia

- **Company:** KoBold Metals Zambia
- **Location:** Chililabombwe, Zambia
- **Posted:** 2025-10-13
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/zambold/jobs/4618675005

## Job 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.

## About KoBold Metals Zambia

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: KoBold Metals Zambia is the Zambian subsidiary of KoBold Metals, a scientific mineral exploration and development company that uses AI and human expertise to discover critical minerals like copper and lithium for the energy transition.
- **Entity Type**: Private (subsidiary of privately held KoBold Metals)
- **Headquarters**: Lusaka, Zambia (with operations in Chililabombwe and the Northern Copperbelt)
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: KoBold Metals was co-founded by Kurt House (CEO) and Josh Goldman (President); the Zambia entity is led by Mfikeyi Makayi (CEO of KoBold Metals Africa) [koboldmetals.com/team](https://koboldmetals.com/team/)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Mineral exploration and mine development, focused on copper, lithium, nickel, and other battery metals
- **Target customers**: B2B – partners in the energy and mining sectors (e.g., ZCCM-IH joint venture at Mingomba)
- **Mission statement**: “Finding the materials of the future with AI and HI” – combining artificial intelligence with human intelligence to make exploration a repeatable science [koboldmetals.com](https://koboldmetals.com/)

## Products & Services
- **Mingomba Copper Deposit**: One of the world’s largest undeveloped copper deposits, located in Zambia, being developed in partnership with ZCCM-IH [koboldmetals.com/mingomba](https://koboldmetals.com/mingomba/)
- **AI-Powered Exploration Platform**: Proprietary predictive models, data systems, and novel sensors that integrate geological, geophysical, and geochemical data to identify drill targets faster
- **Global Exploration Projects**: 100% owned and joint-venture projects across Zambia, DRC, and other regions
- **Talent Development Program**: Masters of Science scholarships in Data Science and Exploration Geology in partnership with Stanford University, Copperbelt University, and University of Zambia [koboldmetals.com/mingomba](https://koboldmetals.com/mingomba/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total investment in the Zambian economy exceeds $200 million to date; employs 200+ Zambian nationals and contractors [koboldmetals.com/mingomba](https://koboldmetals.com/mingomba/)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not explicitly listed in provided sources; publicly known investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and others (not verifiable from given sources)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - 99% of the Zambia team are Zambian nationals
  - Described as “the largest American investor in Zambia”
  - Active recruitment across geology, engineering, IT, finance, and operations roles [koboldmetals.com/careers](https://koboldmetals.com/careers/) | [job-boards.greenhouse.io/zambold](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/zambold)

## Competitive Advantages
- **AI + Human Intelligence**: Combines machine learning with world-class geoscientists to make exploration more predictive and efficient
- **Scientific Rigor**: Bayesian approach to decision-making – form hypotheses, make predictions, test, and update
- **Ethical Foundation**: Strong anti-corruption, anti-discrimination, safety, and environmental protection principles; never compromises on ethics [koboldmetals.com](https://koboldmetals.com/)
- **Local Commitment**: Deep integration with Zambian talent, suppliers, and communities; “Built by Zambians” ethos

## Strategic Focus
- **Mingomba Mine Development**: Advancing one of the best copper deposits ever found toward production
- **Global Expansion**: Exploring in Zambia, DRC, and other regions for copper, lithium, and nickel
- **Talent Pipeline**: Investing in local education and training to build the next generation of exploration geologists and data scientists
- **Technology Scaling**: Deploying new sensors and AI models across projects to accelerate discovery

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as “Bayesian” – data-driven, hypothesis-testing, and collaborative; “We are all owners” culture with equity for employees [koboldmetals.com/careers](https://koboldmetals.com/careers/)
- **Work Model**: Mix of on-site and remote roles; field positions in Zambia (Copperbelt, Chililabombwe) and office roles in Lusaka
- **Team**: Multidisciplinary teams of geoscientists, data scientists, software/hardware engineers, and operations staff solving meaningful problems
- **Impact**: Directly contributing to the energy transition by discovering critical minerals; opportunity to work on world-class deposits
- **Perks**: Not explicitly listed; emphasis on ownership, collaboration, and professional growth

## Sources
1. [koboldmetals.com](https://koboldmetals.com/) – Main company site
2. [koboldmetals.com/mingomba](https://koboldmetals.com/mingomba/) – Mingomba project and Zambia operations
3. [koboldmetals.com/team](https://koboldmetals.com/team/) – Leadership team
4. [koboldmetals.com/careers](https://koboldmetals.com/careers/) – Careers page and culture
5. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/zambold](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/zambold) – Current job openings in Zambia

## Other roles at KoBold Metals Zambia

- [Site HR Superintendent](https://feeny.ai/job/site-hr-superintendent-kobold-metals-zambia-chililabombwe-fj9qz7n3t9v8) — Chililabombwe, Zambia
- [Senior Engineering & Integration Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-engineering-integration-manager-kobold-metals-zambia-remote-f7e2gcfc74kn)
- [Commercial Director](https://feeny.ai/job/commercial-director-kobold-metals-zambia-remote-kbsdz0eq41sw)
- [Personal Assistant, CEO](https://feeny.ai/job/personal-assistant-ceo-kobold-metals-zambia-lusaka-x3aje7vp1fss) — Lusaka, Zambia / Chililabombwe, Zambia
- [Chief Mining Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/chief-mining-engineer-kobold-metals-zambia-lusaka-gz6hff7kn1p0) — Lusaka, Zambia
- [Senior Accountant - Payable](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-accountant-payable-kobold-metals-zambia-lusaka-vpxhe4zcfent) — Lusaka, Zambia
- [Executive Analyst Africa](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-analyst-africa-kobold-metals-zambia-lusaka-ehw0rq8yy9f1) — Lusaka, Zambia
- [Security, Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/security-manager-kobold-metals-zambia-zambia-m6emhyakrfyq) — Zambia
- [Senior Hydrogeologist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-hydrogeologist-kobold-metals-zambia-northern-copperbelt-p0078tc3hmn4) — Northern Copperbelt, Zambia
- [Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-kobold-metals-zambia-zambia-wcmx5e622h87) — Zambia