General Manager: Africa | Mining Services & Exploration Drilling

Introduction

Location: South Africa – Extensive Travel Across Africa

Industry: Mining Services | Exploration Drilling | Engineering

An exceptional opportunity exists for a commercially astute and strategically minded General Manager to lead and expand a specialist African mining services and exploration drilling business.

This executive leadership role carries full accountability for business growth, profit and loss, financial performance, operational excellence, business development, contract management, safety and people leadership across multiple African jurisdictions.

The successful candidate will combine strong commercial acumen with operational credibility, building client relationships, securing major contracts, optimising assets and resources, and driving profitable, sustainable growth across the African mining sector.

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are a commercially driven and entrepreneurial leader who combines strategic vision with hands-on operational experience. You have a proven ability to grow revenue, improve profitability, win major contracts, lead diverse teams and deliver safe, efficient operations across multiple jurisdictions.

You are comfortable engaging with mining executives, clients, project teams and Board-level stakeholders, while maintaining high standards of accountability, governance and operational discipline.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Lead the African business strategy, regional expansion and overall business performance.

• Business Development: Drive new business, identify growth opportunities, develop client relationships, lead major tenders and negotiate mining services contracts.

• Financial Management: Take full P&L accountability, including revenue, EBITDA, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, working capital and capital expenditure.

• Operational Excellence: Oversee multi-country drilling and mining services operations, project execution, equipment utilisation, maintenance and resource allocation.

• Commercial & Contract Management: Manage pricing, contract negotiations, variations, claims, project margins and commercial risk.

• Safety & Compliance: Champion SHEQ, risk management, legal and regulatory compliance, ESG principles and a strong safety culture.

• People Leadership: Build high-performing management teams, develop leadership capability, strengthen succession planning and drive accountability.

• Business Integration: Align people, systems, processes and operational standards to create an efficient, scalable African business.

• Technology & Innovation: Commercialise specialist drilling, engineering, data and technology-enabled solutions to improve client value and competitive advantage.

• Governance & Reporting: Maintain strong corporate governance, monitor performance and provide accurate, timely executive and Board reporting.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Minimum Requirements

• Relevant degree in Mining Engineering, Engineering, Commerce, Business Management or a related discipline; equivalent senior industry experience will also be considered.

• A postgraduate business qualification will be advantageous.

• 12+ years' relevant experience in exploration drilling, mining services, contract mining, mining equipment or a related technical mining environment.

• At least 5 years' senior or executive management experience.

• Demonstrated profit and loss accountability for a business unit, region or operating company.

• Proven success in business development, major tender submissions and mining services contract negotiations.

• Experience leading operations and projects across multiple countries.

• Proven financial management, budgeting, forecasting and cost-control capabilities.

• Experience in organisational integration, business transformation or post-merger consolidation.

• Strong executive-level client engagement, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.

• Valid driver's licence and passport, with the ability to travel extensively and obtain the necessary work permits for African jurisdictions.

• Medical fitness for mining operations and extensive travel.

Advantageous Experience

• Established senior relationships within the African mining and exploration industry.

• Exploration, specialist, directional or large-diameter drilling experience.

• Experience in cross-border mobilisation, logistics and multi-country operations.

• Knowledge of drilling economics, asset utilisation and capital allocation.

• French or Portuguese language skills.

• Additional training in financial management, project management, contract management or executive leadership.

Package & Remuneration

Competitive Market Related Salary

Interested?

If you have the executive leadership experience, commercial capability and mining industry expertise to drive growth across Africa, we invite you to apply.

Brought to you by AGC Mining Recruitment