Country Manager – Pre-Operations (Mineral Exploration / Government Relations / Venezuela)

Job Description:

Our client, an international junior mineral exploration company, is establishing its presence in Venezuela and is seeking a Venezuelan Country Manager to lead the business on the ground from Caracas. The company is at a very early, pre-operational stage: the local entity has been registered, permit allocations are pending and the concession agreement is currently under negotiation, with exploration activity expected to begin around 2028. With the leadership team based abroad, the Country Manager will be the company’s senior in-country representative, responsible for day-to-day affairs, government and stakeholder relations, and steering the permitting and concession process. This is a ground-floor opportunity for a well-connected, self-driven professional who understands how to navigate the Venezuelan regulatory environment, and who wants to build an operation from inception and grow with it into the exploration phase and beyond.

Responsibilities:

• Act as the company’s senior representative in Venezuela, running day-to-day affairs on the ground on behalf of the leadership team abroad.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with national ministries, state mining entities, and regional and municipal authorities.
• Drive the permitting, licensing and concession process, coordinating legal advisers and tracking all regulatory milestones and obligations.
• Establish the in-country corporate foundation, including administration, banking, tax, legal and labour compliance, office set-up and local service providers.
• Engage with communities, landowners and local stakeholders around the project area to lay the groundwork for a social licence to operate.
• Work alongside the Head of Exploration to prepare for exploration start-up, including site access, logistics, security, contractors, local recruitment and procurement.
• Manage in-country budgets, payments and reporting, providing regular updates to the in-country Director and head office.
• Ensure all activities comply with Venezuelan law, company governance, anti-corruption and international compliance standards.

Requirements: Qualification and Skill

• Nationality & Location: Venezuelan national based in Caracas, with willingness to travel regularly to site
• Qualifications: Degree in Geology, Mining Engineering, Law, Business or a related field; postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• Experience: 10+ years’ experience in mining, oil & gas or the broader natural resources sector in Venezuela, including senior management or country-level responsibility.
• Government & Regulatory: Proven track record dealing with Venezuelan government bodies on permits, concessions, licences or joint ventures, supported by a strong, established network.
• Business Set-up: Hands-on experience establishing or running a company in Venezuela, covering legal, tax, banking, administrative and HR matters.
• Languages: Fluent Spanish and strong professional English, both written and spoken.
• Integrity & Compliance: Impeccable reputation and integrity, with a sound understanding of anti-corruption and international compliance requirements.
• Personal Attributes: Self-starter comfortable working independently from head office, patient and resilient through a lengthy permitting phase, and motivated to build the operation from the ground up.

If you wish to apply for the position, please send your CV to Lucia Baeza at [email protected]

Please visit www.mining-recruitment-jobs.com for more exciting opportunities.

Lucia Baeza

Senior Executive Talent Consultant              

Mining Division

CA Mining will respond to short-listed candidates only. If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful, however your CV will be kept on our database for any other suitable positions.

CA Global Headhunters is an international staffing company with a specific focus on recruitment in Africa. Our extensive, diverse candidate network built up over 10 years comprises the most skilled and experienced candidates. We recruit talent of the highest standards across African sectors, including Mining, Oil & Gas, Engineering, Banking, Finance, Legal, Insurance, Commodities, and Agriculture. As African markets continue to grow and develop, so too does our skill and expertise, ensuring that we deliver the best service to both clients and candidates.

Thanks to our access to global networks and resources, we understand our clients’ cultures, operations, business strategies, and industries. We are always on par with the latest technologies and trends which assist us in sourcing the best talent for clients. Whatever stage of the project lifecycle, we can put forward the right candidates with the right skills.