Director of Government Affairs

About the company: 

The mining industry has steadily become worse at finding new ore deposits, requiring >10X more capital to make discoveries compared to 30 years ago. The easy-to-find, near-surface deposits have largely been found, and the industry has chronically under-invested in new exploration technology, relying on the manual techniques of yesteryear – even as demand accelerates for copper, lithium, and other metals to build electric vehicles, renewable energy, and data centers.

KoBold builds AI models for mineral exploration and deploys those models—alongside our novel sensors—to guide decisions on KoBold-owned-and-operated exploration programs. In the six years since founding, KoBold has become by far both the largest independent mineral exploration company and the largest exploration technology developer. Our data scientists and software engineers, who come from leading technology companies, jointly lead exploration programs with our renowned exploration geologists.

KoBold has proven its first discovery with materially less capital than the industry average and found one of the best copper deposits ever discovered: the copper is far more concentrated than the global average of copper mines, and this asset alone is expected to generate meaningful revenue for decades. KoBold has a portfolio of more than 60 other projects, each of which has the potential for another high-quality discovery.

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, and Standard Investments; and natural resources companies Equinor, BHP, and Mitsubishi.

About The Role:

The Director of Government Affairs will lead KoBold’s engagement with the U.S. Government. They will identify opportunities for executive and legislative engagement and tell KoBold’s story to senior leaders and policymakers in Congress, defense and national security. They will create and grow strategic relationships throughout Congress, the Executive Branch, think tanks, industry groups, and academia. 

Responsibilities:

• Legislative Affairs: Serve as KoBold’s principal liaison to members of Congress and staff. Lead KoBold’s legislative outreach with key stakeholders, including authorizers, appropriators, and trade groups. Prepare testimony, position papers, policy briefs, and other materials to communicate KoBold’s policy priorities to Congress. Develop and implement comprehensive strategies to advance KoBold’s initiatives in committees of jurisdiction (including science and technology, environment, foreign affairs, energy, and national security); with members from districts that host KoBold projects, and with other members addressing issues aligned with our work.
• Executive Branch Affairs: Establish and maintain robust relationships with key stakeholders in the Executive Branch, particularly on matters related to national security policy.
• National Security Focus: Lead strategic work on KoBold’s contributions to U.S. national security, collaborate with policymakers and implementing agencies.
• Collaboration: Work with the Director of Public Policy to build a coordinated approach to advocacy and policy engagement with the U.S. government. Collaborate with internal teams, including senior executives, data scientists, engineers, geologists, legal, communications, and business development to tell KoBold’s story to leaders in Washington.
• Strategic Advocacy: Develop and implement comprehensive strategies to advance KoBold’s initiatives in the critical mineral sector. 
• Represent the Company: Coordinate congressional visits to KoBold projects. Act as a voice and face of KoBold at hearings, conferences, and meetings to advance the company’s work as a leader in strategic mineral exploration.
• Deploy Senior Executives: Coach and support engagement for the company’s senior-most leaders, including the CEO and President, representing the Company in engagements with senior officials.
• Policy Analysis: Monitor and analyze policy developments that affect the mineral exploration industry, particularly in areas of national security. Provide strategic insights and proactive solutions to the leadership team.
• Ethics: Ensure that everything we do in relation to the government meets our ethical standards and complies with the law. Create, supervise, and maintain systems and culture needed to achieve our ethical commitments and identify, mitigate, and eliminate ethical risks.
• Utility Player: Do whatever needs to be done.

Qualifications:

• Ten years of professional experience in public policy, government relations, or a related field, with significant exposure to the Legislative and Executive Branches
• Strong relationships with policymakers, officials, and key stakeholders in Congress and the Administration
• Experience advancing U.S. national security, such as by service in the U.S. military
• Proven record of accomplishing goals at the federal level
• Powerful curiosity and drive to learn about the business and practice of mineral exploration, science problems, and technological innovation.
• Credibility and experience in one or more of the substantive areas where KoBold’s success advances public priorities: critical minerals, energy transition, AI, innovation, security, and economic development
• Commitment to high ethical standards
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategy, lead initiatives, and work collaboratively across disciplines

KoBold Metals is an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for people of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

This position is Full-time Exempt

The US base salary range for this full-time exempt position is $180,000 to $230,000 + stock options commensurate with experience

Location: This is a remote position that can be based anywhere in the Washington, D.C. area. Regular travel to key policy centers and KoBold sites will be required.”