Chief Operating Officer - Mining #0405KC

Our client is seeking a Chief Operating Officer – Mining to provide executive leadership across mining operations, project execution, and operational readiness for a growing resource development organization with long-term ambitions in Colorado and beyond. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for an accomplished mining executive who can translate strategy into execution, build high-performing teams, and establish the operating discipline required to support major project development and long-life asset success.

As Chief Operating Officer – Mining, you will be responsible for leading the operational backbone of the business across development, construction readiness, startup, production, and future expansion. You will work in close partnership with the executive team to ensure the organization is positioned to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable mining performance while building the systems, people, and culture necessary for long-term growth.

This role calls for a leader who can operate at both executive and field levels — someone who understands the complexity of mining operations, large-scale project environments, and cross-functional execution, while also fostering a culture of accountability, safety, credibility, and operational excellence. You will help shape the future of the business by building organizational capability from the ground up and ensuring operational priorities remain aligned with commercial, technical, permitting, and stakeholder objectives.

This is a career-oriented leadership role with a long-term view and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with substantial travel requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for all operational aspects of the business, including mining operations, operational readiness, project execution support, startup planning, and performance delivery.
• Develop and implement operating strategies aligned with the organization’s long-term business objectives, growth plans, and asset development priorities.
• Lead and integrate cross-functional teams across operations, technical services, project development, health and safety, environment, maintenance, and related functions.
• Build the systems, processes, and operating disciplines required to support safe startup, reliable production, continuous improvement, and long-term expansion.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability across safety, productivity, cost management, quality, reliability, and operational risk.
• Drive a “without harm” operating philosophy that protects people, assets, communities, reputation, and business continuity.
• Support major project development by contributing operational input to scoping studies, execution strategy, commissioning readiness, and transition-to-operations planning.
• Lead workforce capability development across operations, including recruitment, succession planning, training, and leadership development.
• Partner with permitting, community relations, legal, commercial, finance, and executive stakeholders to ensure operational priorities are fully integrated into broader business decision-making.
• Identify and manage operational and business risks, ensuring appropriate mitigation plans, emergency preparedness, contractor oversight, and governance standards are in place.
• Build and sustain a resilient culture grounded in safety, entrepreneurial problem solving, decentralized decision making, and performance accountability.
• Act as a visible leader internally and externally, helping reinforce organizational credibility and long-term strategic direction.

Requirements

• Proven executive or senior operational leadership experience in mining, with responsibility for complex site operations, multiple functions, or large-scale asset development.
• Strong background in mine operations, operational excellence, production leadership, and/or project-to-operations transition.
• Demonstrated success leading in high-accountability, capital-intensive, and technically complex environments.
• A track record of building and developing high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
• Clear commitment to safety leadership, risk management, and creating a culture centered on zero harm.
• The ability to operate strategically while remaining grounded in practical execution and field realities.
• Experience working across functions to align operations with project, technical, commercial, and stakeholder priorities.
• Strong communication, leadership presence, and decision-making capability in dynamic and evolving environments.
• A self-starting, resilient, and commercially aware leadership style with sound judgment.
• The ability to support and lead a multi-generational workforce while strengthening organizational capability over time.
• A reasoned and responsive approach to balancing operational performance, growth, risk, and long-term asset value.

Preferred Background

• Significant leadership experience in mining, mineral resources, industrial minerals, base metals, critical minerals, or related sectors.
• Experience supporting assets through one or more of the following phases: development, construction, commissioning, startup, ramp-up, operations, and expansion.
• Familiarity with owner’s team environments, large project execution, or long-life asset development is highly desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering, Metallurgy, Geology, Engineering, or a related discipline; advanced qualifications beneficial but not required.
• Experience in the western United States or similarly complex stakeholder and regulatory environments is advantageous.

Benefits

Competitive base compensation and incentive opportunity.

The chance to play a central leadership role in a significant long-term mining development.

Executive visibility and broad operational influence across the business.

The opportunity to build teams, shape culture, and create lasting impact.

Career development, long-term challenge, and the ability to contribute to a business of meaningful scale and importance.

Keller is a recruitment agency that provides services to clients ranging from startups and non profits to multinational corporations. Keller emphasizes ethical search processes, attentive candidate care, and leadership placements that support long-term client outcomes.

To learn more about the firm and about our candidate services - please visit

https://www.kellerexecutivesearch.com/executive-recruiters-headhunters-colorado-springs/

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