Exploration Manager

Exploration Manager - Suriname

Explore with Purpose – Grow with Founders Metals

Company Overview

Founders Metals Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company advancing high-impact projects through disciplined, results-driven exploration. Our flagship Antino Gold Project in Suriname hosts extensive near-surface gold mineralization with exceptional growth potential along a proven gold trend.

At Founders, we combine technical excellence with a bold, entrepreneurial spirit. Our team is driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to discovering and developing world-class gold assets that create long-term value for our shareholders, local communities, and partners.

We are a fast-growing, performance-focused company that values integrity, accountability, and innovation in everything we do. As we expand our operations and accelerate discovery, Founders Metals offers a dynamic environment where talented individuals can make a meaningful impact, grow their careers, and help shape the next chapter of a modern Canadian gold company.

Role Overview

Reporting to the VP of Exploration, the Exploration Manager leads all field-based geological activities at the Antino Gold Project, an advanced-stage gold exploration property on the Guiana Shield in eastern Suriname. The role is accountable for the safe, efficient, and technically rigorous execution of the annual exploration program – including resource and exploratory diamond drilling, geological mapping, soil and rock geochemistry, geophysics, trenching, and core logging – in support of resource definition, target generation, and the continued advancement of the project.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical geological judgement with the operational discipline required to manage a multi-rig drill program, a multinational technical team, and contractor relationships in a remote tropical setting. The Exploration Manager works closely with the VP Exploration on program design and interpretation, and with site leadership on logistics and HSE.

Position Responsibilities

Exploration Program Execution

• Plan, supervise, and report on the annual exploration program in alignment with corporate objectives and approved budgets, including drill targeting, hole prioritization, and program sequencing across both resource and exploratory drilling campaigns.
• Direct daily diamond drilling operations (currently four, scaling to five), including targeting supervision, rig moves, hole design, deviation management, recovery monitoring, and integration of wedge and daughter hole programs where applicable.
• Oversee surface programs including mapping, channel sampling, soil and auger geochemistry, trenching, and integration of airborne and ground geophysical datasets (TMI, TDEM, RTP, analytical signal).
• Maintain and continually improve standard operating procedures for core handling, logging, sampling, density determination, and core photography, and ensure rigorous, documented chain-of-custody from rig to laboratory at all stages of sample handling.
• Ensure data collection across all facets of exploration adheres to the highest industry standards.

Geological Interpretation & Reporting

• Develop, maintain, and refine the project-scale geological, structural, and alteration models within Leapfrog GEO, incorporating new drill, surface, and geophysical data on a continuous basis.
• Integrate regional-to-target-scale geological models to guide drill targeting and prioritize high-value exploration opportunities.
• Deliver regular written and verbal reporting on the exploration program, including drill results, target generation, and structural interpretations to the VP Exploration and senior management; provide accurate, timely technical content for internal use, NI 43-101 disclosures, news releases, and investor materials.
• Apply a sound understanding of orogenic gold mineralization and Trans-Amazonian metallogeny on the Guiana Shield to refine targeting models and guide step-out drilling decisions.

Quality Assurance & Data Management

• Hold overall responsibility for the project QA/QC program, including insertion rates and acceptance criteria for blanks, certified reference materials, and field duplicates, as well as routine review of laboratory performance, batch sign-off, and umpire lab check programs.
• Manage the relationship with the primary assay laboratory, including invoice verification, turnaround monitoring, and ongoing audits of sample preparation and analytical protocols; support transitions between laboratories where required to ensure analytical continuity.
• In collaboration with the database manager, ensure the integrity, completeness, and security of the exploration database including drill hole, survey, assay, geotechnical, and density data.

People, Safety & Contractor Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multinational technical team of geologists, samplers, and support staff; manage the rotation schedule, performance reviews, and succession planning for the exploration department.
• Drive strong compliance with, and active enforcement of, Founders Metals’ HSE policies, the Vehicle Use Procedures Handbook (FDR-ANT-HSE-VEH-001), and applicable Surinamese regulations across the exploration department; lead by example, hold the team to standard, and participate in incident reviews and corrective-action close-out.
• Manage drilling, geophysics, aviation, and laboratory contractor relationships, including scope, schedule, performance, and invoicing; participate in tender evaluation and contract negotiations.

Budget & Reporting

• Develop and manage the exploration department budget, including drilling, assay, contractor, consumables, and personnel costs; report variances and reforecast as required.
• Produce monthly drilling and exploration reports, including production-against-plan, recovery, deviation, assay turnaround, QA/QC outcomes, and bonus calculations for drilling crews.
• Build and maintain rolling sample-volume forecasts to support laboratory capacity planning and analytical service agreements.

Education and Experience

Required

• Sc. in Geology or Earth Sciences (M.Sc. preferred); registration as a P.Geo. or equivalent eligibility for Qualified Person status under NI 43-101 is strongly preferred.
• Minimum fifteen (15) years of progressive exploration experience in gold or precious metals, with at least five (5) years in a project- or program-management capacity at an advanced exploration stage.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-rig diamond drill programs, including hole design, deviation control, and integration of results into 3D geological models.
• Proven track record managing exploration budgets in excess of US$10M annually.
• Strong working knowledge of NI 43-101 disclosure standards, MRE workflows, and industry-standard QA/QC practice.
• Proficiency in Leapfrog GEO, QGIS or ArcGIS, and a recognized geological database platform (acQuire, MX Deposit, DBeaver or similar).
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams in a remote, camp-based environment, with strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Medical clearance for tropical, remote work and willingness to operate on a 6/3 rotation in Suriname.

Preferred

• Direct experience with orogenic gold systems on the Guiana Shield or in analogous Birimian / Trans-Amazonian terranes.
• Working proficiency in Dutch, Spanish, and/or Portuguese; any of the three is considered an asset.

• Experience supporting transitions from advanced exploration to PEA / pre-feasibility study work.

Compensation

An attractive and competitive compensation package will be provided, reflecting the successful candidate’s experience, expertise, and potential contribution to the organization. The package includes participation in the Company’s Short-Term Incentive Plan, and eligibility for Long-Term Incentive awards under the Company’s equity incentive plan.

Working Conditions

The position is based at the Antino Camp, a fly-in / fly-out exploration camp in the Sipaliwini District of eastern Suriname, FIFO from point of hire. The role involves extended periods at site under tropical conditions, with travel into the bush on ATVs, boats, and helicopters. Camp accommodation, meals, transportation, and standard rotation benefits are provided. Founders Metals is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds.

Why Founders Metals

Antino is one of the most exciting drill stories on the TSX-V, and the Exploration Manager will play a central role in shaping its next chapter.

At Founders, our commitment to our people is simple: we make sure you have everything you need to give the very best of yourself — and in return, we give you the very best of us.

Here, we don't come just to work — we come to build something that will be here even after us, and to unlock the incredible potential of this beautiful country for the generations to come. This is a journey worth being part of. Join us!

Privacy Notice

We respect your privacy and will handle your personal information with care. By applying, you consent to Founders Metals using your information for recruitment and hiring purposes. It will be accessed only by authorized personnel and retained in line with applicable privacy laws. You can withdraw your application directly at anytime. To request removal of your information, please contact hr@fdrmetals.com