Summary
Maaden is a mining and metals company developing an integrated mining value chain in Saudi Arabia. The Director, Industrial Artificial Intelligence will shape the company’s Industrial AI strategy and portfolio, lead multidisciplinary teams, and take high-value solutions from experimentation through production and operational adoption. The role also oversees technology integration, governance, cybersecurity, responsible AI, and measurable operational benefits across mining and industrial operations. Applicants need a relevant master’s degree and 15+ years of experience, including at least 7 years in AI or a related field; a PhD is preferred. The position is listed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The posting
As published on maaden.com.sa. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
Maaden, established in 1997, is one of the fastest-growing mining companies in the world and the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East. We are leading the development of the mining industry to become the third pillar of Saudi Arabia’s economy by building a world-class, unique, and fully integrated mining value chain. We are pleased to share an exciting opportunity for the below mentioned position. This role offers a chance to contribute to our ambitious growth and play a key part in shaping the future of mining in the Kingdom.
Job Title: Director, Industrial Artificial Intelligence
Reporting To: Vice President, Artificial Intelligence
Business Unit / Function: Technology & Innovation - Artificial Intelligence
Department: Industrial Artificial Intelligence
Why This Role Matters
Industrial Artificial Intelligence enables Maaden to turn operational data and emerging AI capabilities into safer, more productive, reliable, and efficient operations across exploration, mining, mineral processing, and industrial assets.
The Director, Industrial Artificial Intelligence shapes the strategy and portfolio that convert high-value operational challenges into scalable AI solutions. The role connects deep operational priorities with AI, data, digital, OT, and engineering capabilities to improve safety, productivity, recovery, reliability, process stability, energy efficiency, and sustainability.
The role creates lasting value by moving Industrial AI beyond experimentation into production and sustained operational adoption, while building the capabilities, governance, partnerships, and responsible AI practices required to scale impact across Ma’aden.
Industrial AI Strategy & Portfolio
- Shape and evolve Maaden’s Industrial AI strategy and investment portfolio, directing resources toward opportunities with the strongest strategic, operational, and economic value.
- Translate exploration, mining, processing, and asset performance priorities into a balanced portfolio of scalable AI opportunities with clear value, feasibility, risk, and adoption criteria.
- Establish the operating model, standards, and governance required to scale Industrial AI responsibly and consistently across operations.
Operational Performance & Value
- Drive measurable improvements across safety, productivity, recovery, reliability, process stability, cost, energy efficiency, and sustainability through targeted Industrial AI solutions.
- Advance AI-enabled decision-making across exploration, geology, mine planning and operations, mineral processing, process control, maintenance, and asset performance.
- Move high-value AI initiatives from experimentation through production and adoption to sustained operational ownership and measurable benefits realization.
Scalable AI & Technology Integration
- Lead the development and deployment of production-grade AI capabilities that address complex industrial and operational challenges at scale.
- Enable effective integration of AI with operational technology, control systems, historians, fleet systems, digital twins, laboratory platforms, and relevant enterprise technology.
- Leverage enterprise AI platforms, reusable capabilities, architecture standards, and lifecycle controls to accelerate deployment while reducing duplication and technology risk.
Governance & Operational Assurance
- Govern Industrial AI solutions across model performance, reliability, cybersecurity, data governance, explainability, operational safety, and responsible AI requirements.
- Establish transparent portfolio performance, value tracking, and risk oversight to enable informed investment and scaling decisions.
- Ensure Industrial AI initiatives meet approved quality, financial, technical, risk, and performance expectations throughout their lifecycle.
People, Partnerships & Enterprise Adoption
- Build and lead an integrated Industrial AI function spanning exploration, mining, mineral processing, and industrial operations, strengthening both AI capability and operational domain expertise.
- Build senior partnerships across operations, engineering, Digital, OT, IT, Enterprise AI, and business functions to embed AI into operational decisions and workflows.
- Develop strategic relationships with technology providers, OEMs, universities, research institutions, and specialist organizations to accelerate innovation, capability development, and access to emerging technologies.
What Success Looks Like
- A prioritized Industrial AI portfolio delivers demonstrable operational and financial value aligned with Ma’aden’s strategic priorities.
- AI solutions contribute measurable improvements in safety, productivity, recovery, reliability, process stability, energy efficiency, cost, and sustainability.
- High-value AI use cases progress successfully from experimentation into production, sustained adoption, and operational ownership.
- Industrial AI solutions demonstrate reliable performance with effective governance, cybersecurity, responsible AI, and operational assurance.
- Enterprise AI, Digital, OT, IT, and operational teams operate through clear interfaces that accelerate delivery and reduce duplication.
- A high-performing Industrial AI function develops strong technical and domain capability, with effective leadership succession, knowledge transfer, and external partnerships.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science, Mining Engineering, Mineral Processing, Engineering, or a related quantitative discipline.
- PhD in a relevant discipline is preferred.
Experience
- 15+ years of relevant experience, including at least 7 years in AI, advanced analytics, optimization, automation, or digital transformation.
- Experience within mining, metals, energy, manufacturing, or another asset-intensive industrial environment is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering scalable, production-grade AI solutions with measurable operational impact.
- Experience leading complex initiatives from strategy and use-case prioritization through deployment, operational adoption, stakeholder alignment, and benefits realization.
Skills That Matter
- Industrial AI strategy and portfolio management
- Artificial intelligence, machine learning, GenAI, NLP, LLMs, and Agentic AI
- Optimization, computer vision, and predictive and prescriptive analytics
- Mining, mineral processing, and industrial operations
- Operational technology, control systems, historians, and digital twins
- MLOps and AI model lifecycle management
- Responsible AI, cybersecurity, data governance, and operational risk
- Business case development and benefits realization
- Executive stakeholder influence and change leadership
- Talent development and strategic partnership management
Benefits
1. Career Growth
2. Competitive Salaries
3. Comprehensive Package
4. Inclusive Work Environment
5. Work-Life Balance
6. Employee wellness