Interim Vice President, Project Development

Interim Vice President, Project Development

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Duration: 18 Month(Strong possibility of permanent)

Remote

Our mining client is seeking an experienced Interim Vice President, Project Development to provide executive leadership and project stewardship as it advances a flagship mineral development project from the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) stage through Pre-Feasibility (PFS), Feasibility (FS), and toward a construction decision.

Reporting to the CEO, this executive will provide strategic and operational leadership across engineering, infrastructure, project controls, and execution planning while ensuring all technical, commercial, regulatory, and operational workstreams remain integrated and aligned.

The organization requires a seasoned mining executive who can establish project governance, coordinate multiple external engineering partners, accelerate project development activities, and position the project for successful execution and future operational readiness.

Key Objectives

Provide Executive Stewardship and Project Leadership

• Act as the executive lead for project development activities and a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board.
• Provide leadership across engineering, infrastructure, operational readiness, and project execution planning.
• Ensure project studies, schedules, cost estimates, development strategies, and risk assessments remain aligned.
• Establish disciplined governance, accountability, and decision-making processes across all development activities.

Advance Project Development and Feasibility Readiness

• Lead the advancement of the project through PEA, PFS, and Feasibility Study stages.
• Coordinate and manage the activities of consulting engineering firms, technical specialists, and external service providers.
• Ensure technical, environmental, permitting, infrastructure, and commercial workstreams are fully integrated.
• Support executive and Board decision-making with clear analysis, recommendations, and project reporting.

Lead Operational Readiness and Execution Planning

• Develop integrated project development plans, schedules, budgets, and stage-gate milestones.
• Lead planning activities required to support construction readiness and future operations.
• Oversee workforce planning, organizational design, systems implementation, procurement planning, and operating philosophies.
• Ensure effective coordination across multidisciplinary project teams and stakeholders.

Drive Infrastructure and Logistics Strategy

• Provide leadership for infrastructure planning, including power supply, transportation, communications, accommodations, and site access.
• Develop logistics and supply chain strategies suitable for remote and northern operating environments.
• Identify and mitigate infrastructure-related risks throughout the project development cycle.
• Ensure long-term sustainability, operability, and cost efficiency are embedded in project design.

Build Organizational Capability and Project Governance

• Establish and lead the project development function as the owner’s representative.
• Develop organizational structures, systems, and capabilities required for future project execution.
• Manage consultant and contractor relationships, ensuring clear accountability, scope management, budget control, and delivery performance.
• Build a high-performing project team capable of supporting future operational readiness.

Support Capital Planning and Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with executive leadership on capital planning, funding strategies, cost estimates, and project economics.
• Support investor presentations, technical disclosures, due diligence activities, and project development updates.
• Engage effectively with regulators, Indigenous communities, consultants, contractors, and key stakeholders.
• Contribute to the long-term strategic growth and development of the organization’s project portfolio.

Scope of Role

The interim executive will oversee the full project development portfolio and work closely with:

• CEO, CFO, and Executive Leadership Team
• Exploration, Engineering, and Technical Teams
• Contractors and Technical Specialists
• Board of Directors
• Regulators and Government Agencies
• Indigenous Communities and External Stakeholders
• Investors and Funding Partners

Ideal Interim Profile

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining, Geological, Metallurgical, or Civil Engineering.
• Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) required (or eligible to obtain in a relevant jurisdiction) Registered Qualified Person (QP) under NI 43-101.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) designation strongly preferred.
• Fluent in French and English.

Experience & Capability

• Proven senior mining executives with extensive project development experience.
• Minimum 20 years of progressive leadership in mining project development, engineering, and operational readiness.
• Demonstrated success advancing projects from PEA through PFS and Feasibility Study stages toward construction.
• Strong expertise in mine planning, mineral processing, project economics, infrastructure development, and execution planning.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary consulting teams, engineering firms, contractors, and technical specialists.
• Track record advancing projects within remote and highly regulated jurisdictions in Canada

Leadership Style

• Hands-on, execution-focused leader.
• Strong collaborator capable of integrating diverse technical disciplines.
• Decisive and pragmatic problem-solver.
• Effective communicator with executive leadership, Boards, regulators, Indigenous communities, and investors.
• Committed to safety, sustainability, and responsible project development.

Success Measures

• Successful advancement of the project through key development milestones.
• Integrated and disciplined project governance framework established.
• Feasibility, engineering, permitting, and infrastructure activities delivered on schedule.
• Strong operational readiness and construction-preparedness plans established.
• Effective management of project budgets, risks, schedules, and stakeholders.
• Enhanced project value, risk management, and long-term sustainability outcomes.

Assignment Context

• Development-stage mining project located in a remote northern operating environment.
• Significant infrastructure, permitting, engineering, and operational readiness requirements.
• Complex stakeholder environment involving regulators, Indigenous communities, consultants, and investors.
• Organizational focus on disciplined project advancement, sustainability, capital efficiency, and future construction readiness.

Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. is committed to providing equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure a barrier-free recruitment process. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our AODA policy, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the hiring process. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please provide your accommodation needs in advance to the Recruitment Lead for this opportunity.

We thank all interested candidates in advance; however, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.