Head of Operations - Brazil
Rivaz Inc · Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
📍 Natal Brazil (Regular travel to development projects and operational sites required) At Rivaz Resources, we're building the next generation of critical minerals projects that will power the global energy transition. As our operations continue to expand across Brazil, we're seeking an accomplished Head of Operations – Brazil to provide strategic leadership across our project development and operational portfolio. We are looking for a career mining professional whose work history demonstrates clear progression—from hands\-on technical, geological, engineering, project, or mining operations roles into increasingly senior management and executive leadership positions. The successful candidate will combine a strong understanding of the mining industry with technical and operational leadership, project development, commercial and financial acumen, people leadership, stakeholder management, and strategic decision\-making. Fluent English and Portuguese and willingness to relocate to the work\-site region are mandatory requirements. What You’ll Do As our **Head of Operations – Brazil** , you will: ✅ Provide senior leadership across Brazilian exploration, drilling, resource development, project development, and future mining operations. ✅ Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with Rivaz Resources’ long\-term business, exploration, and growth objectives. ✅ Lead multidisciplinary teams across geology, exploration, drilling, project development, engineering, HSEC, commercial, and operational functions. ✅ Oversee the advancement of mineral projects through exploration, resource definition, technical studies, feasibility, permitting, mine development, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness. ✅ Provide executive oversight of OPEX, CAPEX, budgets, forecasts, contracts, project schedules, cost performance, and capital requirements. ✅ Drive operational excellence through continuous improvement, productivity, cost optimization, risk management, and disciplined project execution. ✅ Support the evaluation of new mineral assets, acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, due diligence, and other strategic growth opportunities. ✅ Build strong relationships with government agencies, mining authorities, regulators, landowners, communities, contractors, investors, and strategic partners. ✅ Ensure compliance with Brazilian mining legislation, environmental and permitting requirements, HSEC standards, and corporate governance expectations. ✅ Establish a strong culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, operational discipline, and continuous improvement across the Brazilian organization. What We’re Looking For We are seeking an experienced mining leader who brings: ✔ 15–20\+ years of progressive experience within mining, mineral exploration, mine development, or natural resources, with clear advancement into increasingly senior leadership roles. ✔ A strong professional foundation in geology, mining engineering, mine operations, mineral processing, project development, or another closely related mining discipline. ✔ Significant hands\-on mining or exploration experience earlier in your career, combined with demonstrated progression into management and senior operational leadership. ✔ Senior\-level experience such as General Manager, Country Manager, Head of Operations, Mine Manager, Exploration Manager, Project Director, Operations Director, or a comparable leadership position. ✔ Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple areas of the mineral development lifecycle. ✔ Strong understanding of exploration, drilling, resource development, mine planning, project evaluation, and mining operations. ✔ Demonstrated experience with project development, including exposure to feasibility studies, permitting, construction, commissioning, operational readiness, or bringing projects toward production. ✔ Strong commercial and financial acumen, including OPEX/CAPEX management, budgeting, forecasting, contracts, cost optimization, and capital decision\-making. ✔ Strong HSEC and risk\-management leadership with a demonstrated commitment to developing safe, responsible, and compliant operations. ✔ Experience engaging with government authorities, regulators, communities, landowners, contractors, and other external stakeholders. ✔ Ability to operate effectively at an executive level, including working directly with CEOs and senior leadership and communicating complex technical and operational matters as clear business recommendations. Highly Desirable * Career progression demonstrating advancement from technical/field roles → supervision → management → senior/executive mining leadership. * Strong background in geology, mineral exploration, mining engineering, mine operations, or project development. * Experience within lithium, tantalum, battery minerals, critical minerals, or hard\-rock mining. * Experience advancing projects from exploration through feasibility, development, construction, commiss