Chief Project Planner

About the Company KoBold Metals Zambia Limited is a Zambian-led company exploring for the ore deposits that will become the next generation of new mines in Zambia. KoBold Metals Zambia is the Zambian affiliate of KoBold Metals, a U.S.-based company exploring around the world for battery metals using proprietary AI to guide exploration decisions. Our business is discovering, defining, expanding, and developing mineral resources, and our objective is to achieve a step-change improvement in exploration success resulting in more tier 1 resources discovered faster, with fewer failures, and with far less exploration capital. KoBold is privately held; investors include institutional asset managers T. Rowe Price and Canada Pension Plan Investments; technology venture capitalists Andreessen Horowitz, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BOND Capital, Durable Capital, StepStone, and Standard Investments; and strategic natural resources companies BHP and Mitsubishi. KoBold Metals Zambia is building a rapidly growing team of Zambian geologists, operators, and executives to identify, acquire, explore, and develop exploration opportunities and mineral resources drawing upon KoBold’s technology and the expertise of colleagues worldwide. About the position This role will be a key member of our team in Zambia, responsible for leading project planning efforts across the organization. You will work closely with business and technical teams to develop, maintain, and optimize project schedules, ensuring alignment with overall strategic goals. Additionally, you will provide analytical insights and planning tools to monitor project performance and support data-driven decision-making. Since KoBold is a startup company operating globally, your role will be dynamic and your role and responsibilities will grow as the company grows. Responsibilities The Project Planner will: Lead development of integrated, resource-loaded master schedules (Primavera P6) from concept through commissioning and close out, aligned to WBS/CBS standards. Establish the schedule governance model (coding structures, calendars, fragnets, interfaces, and data quality checks) for all workstreams and contractors. Drive baseline development (scope freeze assumptions, logic, critical/near‑critical path, milestones) and obtain formal approvals. Build and maintain robust WBS/OBS/RBS structures and activity coding to enable multi-level reporting (program; project; area; system; subsystem). Perform logic integrity audits (lags, open ends, constraints, out‑of‑sequence work) and enforce schedule hygiene standards (DCMA 14‑point compliance). Implement resource and crew planning, leveling/stacking rules, and labor/equipment calendars consistent with field realities. Conduct critical path and driving-path analysis, total/ free float consumption tracking, and pathway-of-risk reviews. Run trend analysis (SPI(t), schedule variance, progress curves, productivity indices) and produce leading indicators and early‑warning signals. Build what‑if simulations and scenario models (alternate execution sequences, resequencing for access/permits, weather or logistics constraints). Perform probabilistic schedule risk analysis (e.g., Monte Carlo) to quantify P‑dates, confidence levels, and criticality/sensitivity indices; propose mitigation and contingency plans. Integrate with cost control to support Earned Value Management (EVM); reconcile schedule and cost performance (SPI/CPI) and explain variances. Define progress measurement rules of credit and automate performance tracking at work‑package and system levels. Generate rolling lookaheads (2–6 weeks), constraint logs, and readiness checks to support field execution. Facilitate schedule risk reviews; maintain risk registers and link mitigations to schedule activities with measurable impacts. Manage change control; quantify time impacts (TIA), maintain fragnet libraries, and support claims/extension‑of‑time narratives with forensic schedule analysis. Lead recovery…