Principal Specialist, Mine Waste to Value

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.

Why This Role Matters

The Principal Specialist – Mine Waste to Value drives the transformation of mining waste streams into strategic sources of business value. The role enables Ma’aden to unlock new revenue opportunities, improve resource recovery, reduce environmental liabilities, and advance circular economy objectives by converting waste rock and tailings into commercially viable products and solutions.

By identifying, evaluating, and scaling innovative waste valorization technologies, the role strengthens resource efficiency, supports sustainability commitments, and expands the long-term economic value generated from Maaden’s mining assets. The position plays a critical role in accelerating innovation that contributes to both business growth and environmental stewardship.

The role serves as a bridge between technology development, commercialization, and operational deployment, ensuring that promising opportunities progress from concept to implementation while delivering measurable financial, environmental, and strategic benefits across the enterprise.

What You Will Deliver Waste-to-Value Strategy & Portfolio Development

• Shape and maintain a long-term waste-to-value portfolio aligned with growth, sustainability, and circular economy objectives.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities that maximize value recovery from waste rock, tailings, and other mining by-products.
• Build a sustainable pipeline of innovation and commercialization opportunities that support long-term business growth.

Resource Recovery & Product Innovation

• Expand value creation through the recovery of critical minerals, industrial minerals, aggregates, and other marketable products.
• Develop commercially viable products derived from mining waste streams that create new revenue opportunities.
• Accelerate validation and commercialization of innovative resource recovery technologies.

Technology Assessment & Innovation Leadership

• Evaluate emerging technologies based on technical readiness, scalability, economic viability, environmental impact, and strategic fit.
• Provide expert technical leadership for feasibility studies, due diligence activities, and innovation assessments.
• Strengthen Ma’aden’s innovation capability through global benchmarking and adoption of industry best practices.

Project Development & Commercial Deployment

• Advance opportunities through laboratory testing, pilot programs, demonstration projects, and commercial implementation.
• Develop robust business cases and investment recommendations that support informed decision-making.
• Monitor project outcomes to ensure value realization, operational effectiveness, and scalability.

Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development

• Build strategic relationships with research institutions, universities, technology providers, startups, and industry organizations.
• Establish collaborative programs that accelerate innovation, technology validation, and commercialization.
• Leverage global innovation ecosystems to strengthen Maaden’s competitive advantage and access to emerging technologies.

Commercial Value Creation & Market Development

• Assess market opportunities and business models for waste-derived products and technologies.
• Identify licensing, partnership, joint venture, and commercialization opportunities that maximize economic returns.
• Enable successful commercialization by aligning technical, legal, procurement, sustainability, and operational stakeholders.

What Success Looks Like

• New revenue streams are created through successful commercialization of waste-derived products and technologies.
• Resource recovery rates increase across mining operations through innovative waste utilization initiatives.
• Waste-to-value projects progress successfully from feasibility assessment to commercial deployment.
• Strategic partnerships accelerate technology access, innovation outcomes, and commercialization success.
• Environmental liabilities are reduced through sustainable waste management and circular economy solutions.
• Innovation investments generate measurable financial, operational, and sustainability benefits.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering, Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.

Experience

• More than 7 years of experience in mining, mineral processing, technology development, innovation, business development, or strategic partnership environments.
• Experience in mine waste, waste rock, tailings valorization, resource recovery, or circular economy initiatives.
• Proven experience leading technology development, pilot programs, feasibility studies, or commercialization projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing executive, governmental, industry, and research stakeholder relationships.

Skills That Matter Functional Expertise

• Mine Waste Valorization
• Resource Recovery Technologies
• Circular Economy Solutions
• Technology Scouting & Assessment
• Technology Commercialization
• Feasibility & Due Diligence Evaluation

Business & Delivery

• Business Case Development
• Commercial Strategy & Market Assessment
• Program & Portfolio Management
• Innovation Investment Evaluation
• Strategic Partnership Development
• Value Realization & Performance Monitoring

People & Collaboration

• Executive Stakeholder Management
• Global Partnership Development
• Negotiation & Influencing
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Relationship Management
• Communication & Networking

Benefits

1. Career Growth
2. Competitive Salaries
3. Comprehensive Package
4. Inclusive Work Environment
5. Work-Life Balance
6. Employee wellness