Land & Permitting Lead, DRC

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

About the Role

KoBold holds over 3,000 km² of exploration rights across numerous Research Permits in the DRC and is constantly growing the portfolio. You will be responsible for obtaining new Research Permits through the mining cadastre (CAMI), which registers tenure and provides opinions on which the Minister of Mines grants the licence. Once granted, you will manage the PAR (environmental permit) process, a separate approval process involving CAMI, DPEM, and ACE, before exploration activity can begin. Every licence will also require ongoing engagement with provincial governors and their administrations, Administrateurs de Territoire (ATs), provincial CAMI offices, provincial mining divisions, and the Geology Department, which have both authorisation and periodic reporting requirements tied to exploration activity. You will serve as the primary liaison with these groups and build effective working relationships with these offices.

Our DRC compliance register spans dozens of distinct obligations (9 external registers and over 10 actions per license annually) across water protection, buffer zones, rehabilitation, community consultation, work program adherence, and statutory reporting, and is submitted, per licence, to the relevant provincial, territorial, and national authorities. You will be responsible for ensuring our portfolio is properly monitored, documented, and compliant across all licences.

Responsibilities

• Primary in-country contact for CAMI, DPEM, ACE, Direction des Mines, the Geology Department, provincial CAMI offices, provincial mining divisions, provincial governors, and Administrateurs de Territoire
• Research Permit applications, renewals, fee payment, and deadline management,  including all CAMI coordination to Direction des Mines licence grant and in-country due diligence for new permit acquisitions
• PAR coordination with selected Study Office, managing local authority sign-offs, agency lodgement, and follow-up across multiple departments
• Statutory and compliance reporting per licence to provincial and territorial authorities
• Compliance coordination with HSE, Community Relations, and Field Operations to verify activities stay within permit conditions and work program commitments
• Chain-of-custody management for all original permit documents and certified records
• DRC mining legislation monitoring and flagging of compliance implications to leadership
• Support for new permit applications through in-country due diligence and stakeholder engagement

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in mineral tenure, land permitting, or operational compliance in Sub-Saharan Africa. DRC experience and direct familiarity with CAMI, DPEM, ACE, and Direction des Mines processes strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with government officials at national, provincial, and territorial levels, traditional authorities, and community stakeholders, and to represent a company's interests in-country independently
• Practical experience with environmental permitting and regulatory approval workflows, with a demonstrated ability to absorb and navigate evolving compliance frameworks
• Experience with land tenure management systems and record management across a multi-licence portfolio
• Proficiency in GIS principles and software applications for mapping land holdings and permit boundaries
• Intellectual curiosity, a drive to learn across all aspects of mineral exploration, and enthusiasm for taking on an evolving range of responsibilities in a fast-growing company
• A strong communicator who enjoys working on technical problems with colleagues across the company
• Both French and English fluency required

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

Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lubumbashi preferred

This position is Full Time Exempt

How you'll help us achieve it

We are looking for a driven Field Officer to join Wave as we launch our operations in the DRC, where you will manage product rollouts and help build our agent and merchant network on the ground. You will represent Wave in the field, overseeing distribution and marketing activations while ensuring our services are accessible to the communities we serve. You will also engage directly with users, agents, and merchants to better understand their needs and challenges related to money transfers and financial services, providing valuable insights to inform our local strategy.

In this role, you'll: 

• Ensure agent quality and compliance with legal and policy requirements.
• Guarantee the agent network is fully trained on applications, the contents of the contract before signing, rebalancing options, fraud management, etc.
• Collaborate with the BTL team to build a well-branded, well-equipped agent network.
• Collaborate with the agent liquidity team to monitor cash and float availability at agent locations.
• Manage risk through routine visits to report emerging issues and assess agents' performance in your territory.
• Identify underperforming agents, close them, recover Wave items and equipment, and ensure branding materials are removed.
• Be the primary contact for all agency networks acquiring Wave products in your territory.
• Champion excellent customer service among distributors and agents within your territory.

Requirements

• Fluent in English & French, with ideally a good command of one additional local language.
• Experience working with informal merchants, market vendors, or agent networks is a plus.
• 2–3 years of experience in field sales, microfinance, telecoms, or fintech.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the assigned zone.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, sometimes challenging field conditions.
• High level of integrity and reliability.

Key details

• Location: We are hiring for this position in various locations between Kinshasa and Congo Central.
• Our salaries are competitive and calculated using a transparent formula based on your level of experience and location.
• We pay your health insurance premium for you and your dependents.
• We support working parents - we offer generous parental leave policies (26 weeks for mothers and 4 weeks for fathers) and subsidized child care when you return to work.
• We help you live your most whole life now - we subsidize gym memberships and fitness classes.
• Airtime reimbursement.

You might be a good fit if you

• Are excited about working in the field, as this is a largely field-operations role.
• Detail-oriented and seek to achieve excellence in everything you do.
• Are a clear and proactive communicator, able to independently follow through on tasks and able to manage team priorities effectively.
• Enjoy teamwork, but also know how to work well independently.
• Are intellectually curious, creative in the way you go about tackling problems, and embrace failure as a means to spark innovation and growth.
• Communicate effectively and often, both in writing and in person, to the point of over-communication.
• Demonstrate tenacity and a willingness to go the distance to get something done.
• Are tech-savvy: comfortable navigating Excel and onboarding new tools.

#LI-MS1

How you'll help us achieve it

At Wave Mobile Money, the Senior HR Lead is a business-critical operator responsible for enabling rapid growth across Kinshasa and regional operations.

This role goes beyond traditional HR: you will operate as a business leader responsible for building and scaling the people engine behind Wave’s growth. You will act as a hands-on partner to leadership, ensuring that teams are structured, supported, and performing at a high level in a fast-scaling environment. 

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

Strategic Business Partnering

• Partner with country leadership and operational teams (distribution, agents, support functions)
• Translate growth targets into practical People strategy 
• Support rapid scaling across Kinshasa and provinces (field teams, agents, support staff)
• Act as a decision enabler by providing recommendations and options to help managers move quickly while managing people risks

Performance & Talent in a High-Growth Environment

• Implement a simple yet effective performance work environment and support the business in promoting talent growth
• Be an HRBP to the leadership and support managers in handling: Underperformance, High attrition roles, Promotions and internal mobility

Be an Ambassador of Wave’s Culture and Wave Ways of Working

• Coach and equip managers to role-model Wave culture in their day-to-day leadership.
• Design and champion initiatives that bring culture to life (e.g., town halls, culture workshops, storytelling etc.)
• Promote a data-driven, fast-paced, and ownership-oriented culture.
• Identify and address behaviors or practices that are misaligned with Wave’s culture.

Office & Employee Experience

• Ensure the Kinshasa office runs smoothly, safely, and efficiently
• Oversee:
• Office administration
• Facilities, security, and logistics
• Staff welfare (canteen, health, working conditions)
• Adapt solutions to local constraints:
• Power reliability
• Transport challenges
• Safety and Security considerations

Budget & Ownership & Cost Discipline

• Own and manage HR and office budgets
• Track headcount costs vs business targets
• Ensure cost-efficient scaling

Employee Relations & Labor Environment

• Manage contracts, payroll coordination, and benefits administration
• Act as the primary point of contact for employee relations issues
• Handle: Conflict resolution, Disciplinary processes and Terminations
• Ensure compliance with DRC labor law, while maintaining operational agility 
• Manage relationships with: Unions, Labor inspections and Local authorities (if needed)

Key details

• Location: You'll work from our office in Kinshasa, with some travel.
• Work authorization in DRC is required. 
• This is a permanent position.
• Our salaries are competitive and calculated using a transparent formula. 
• We offer generous health insurance for yourself and your dependents.
• We support working parents - we offer 26 weeks of parental leave for mothers and 4 weeks for fathers, in addition to subsidized child care when they return to work.
• Airtime reimbursement.
• Free food and a beautiful office space.

Requirements

• 8–10+ years in HR, including strong HR Business Partnering / People Operations experience
• Experience in:
• Fast-growing companies (startup/scale-up)
• Operational or field-heavy environments
• Experience in Africa (DRC strongly preferred)
• Proven ability to support rapid scaling
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field
• Fluent in French, English and Lingala (mandatory)

You might be a good fit if you

• Operate with a business-first mindset
• Are a does and builder
• Value speed and pragmatism
• Influence without authority
• Are resilient and adaptable

How you'll help us achieve it

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will serve as the primary legal advisor supporting Wave's growth into new markets, including Cameroon & DRC, and facilitate expansion in alignment with business requirements following regulatory approvals in other regions. 

You will partner closely with the business to achieve its objectives through robust contracting, effective legal risk management, and the delivery of clear, practical strategies and solutions.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Contracting: 
  • Drafting and negotiating contracts for all Wave core products and services (agents, payments, procurement) to protect the commercial and legal interests of the business and maximize value.
  • Engaging in complex/high-value contract negotiations.
  • Managing and improving the contracting process, i.e., implementing the contracts policy, contract management software, electronic signature software, physical archiving, and other processes, across countries.  
• Legal operations:
  • Implementing group legal team policies and proposing periodic modifications to the same based upon practical experience, legal developments, and industry best practice, e.g., contracts policy, data privacy policy, etc.
  • Provide cross-functional legal administrative support by ensuring the administrative follow-up of legal documentation for new markets, including the centralisation, traceability, and ongoing updating of legal information.

• Litigation: Implementing procedures to manage claims and disputes, including pre-action case management, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. 
• People support: Legal support for employment contracts, disciplinary matters, and terminations.  
• Company secretarial: Managing company secretarial matters across legal entities. 
• Risk management: Working with the Risk and Controls teams to implement mitigations and related controls in respect of legal risks.  
• Data privacy and consumer protection:
• Developing the data privacy compliance strategy in collaboration with other functions.  
• Building relations with data privacy regulators across the region.  
• Regulatory support: providing legal support on licensing and regulatory matters, and on applications for mobile money licenses in other Francophone countries, in support of lead lawyers responsible for regulatory affairs, and in collaboration with external counsel, if required. 
• Building and managing relationships with our external law firms. 
• Engaging in other aspects of the legal function and other special projects as topics arise.  

Key details

• Location: Can work from Wave's offices in Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo.  
• Travel: Plan to travel 20% of the time to operating markets.
• Reports to the Head of Legal, responsible for Francophone expansion and new markets.
• Our salaries are competitive and calculated using a transparent formula based on your level of experience and location. 
• We pay your health insurance premium for you and your dependents.
• We support working parents - we offer generous parental leave policies (26 weeks for mothers and 4 weeks for fathers) and subsidized child care when you return to work.
• We help you live your most whole life now - we subsidize gym memberships and fitness classes.
• Airtime reimbursement.

Requirements 

• A law degree from an accredited and leading law school and be a qualified lawyer in a Francophone African jurisdiction (OHADA, Cameroon, DRC regulation). 
• 8+ years of experience as an in-house lawyer in technology, finance, fintech, or mobile money in a leading regional or global organization.
• Fluent in French and English.
• Strong communication skills (both written and oral) and the ability to communicate knowledge of the law in a manner that is easily understood and applied.
• Excellent legal drafting.
• Strong planning, organizational, and management skills, and the ability to meet deadlines.

You might be a good fit if you: 

• Are excessively detail-oriented and strive for excellence in everything you undertake.
• I am a self-starter and proactive about achieving ambitious targets.
• Take the initiative and be proactive about achieving ambitious goals.
• Excel at troubleshooting and resolving issues, even under pressure.
• Are willing to go the extra mile to ensure tasks are completed successfully.
• Adjust quickly to shifting priorities and dynamic conditions.
• Foster strong relationships and inspire the best in others.
• Have strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex legal concepts clear and practical.
• Demonstrate exceptional planning, organizational, and management abilities, consistently meeting deadlines.
• Effectively manage legal risks with foresight and precision.
• Approach legal matters with strategic insight and a focus on long-term impact.

How you'll help us achieve it

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will serve as the primary legal advisor supporting Wave's growth in DRC & new markets, and facilitate expansion in alignment with business requirements following regulatory approvals in other regions. 

You will partner closely with the business to achieve its objectives through robust contracting, effective legal risk management, and the delivery of clear, practical strategies and solutions.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Contracting: 
  • Drafting and negotiating contracts for all Wave core products and services (agents, payments, procurement) to protect the commercial and legal interests of the business and maximize value.
  • Engaging in complex/high-value contract negotiations.
  • Managing and improving the contracting process, i.e., implementing the contracts policy, contract management software, electronic signature software, physical archiving, and other processes, across countries.  
• Legal operations:
  • Implementing group legal team policies and proposing periodic modifications to the same based upon practical experience, legal developments, and industry best practice, e.g., contracts policy, data privacy policy, etc.
  • Provide cross-functional legal administrative support by ensuring the administrative follow-up of legal documentation for new markets, including the centralisation, traceability, and ongoing updating of legal information.

• Litigation: Implementing procedures to manage claims and disputes, including pre-action case management, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. 
• People support: Legal support for employment contracts, disciplinary matters, and terminations.  
• Company secretarial: Managing company secretarial matters across legal entities. 
• Risk management: Working with the Risk and Controls teams to implement mitigations and related controls in respect of legal risks.  
• Data privacy and consumer protection:
• Developing the data privacy compliance strategy in collaboration with other functions.  
• Building relations with data privacy regulators across the region.  
• Regulatory support: providing legal support on licensing and regulatory matters, and on applications for mobile money licenses in other Francophone countries, in support of lead lawyers responsible for regulatory affairs, and in collaboration with external counsel, if required. 
• Building and managing relationships with our external law firms. 
• Engaging in other aspects of the legal function and other special projects as topics arise.  

Key details

• Location: Can work from Wave's offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  
• Travel: Plan to travel 20% of the time to operating markets.
• Reports to the Head of Legal, responsible for Francophone expansion and new markets.
• Our salaries are competitive and calculated using a transparent formula based on your level of experience and location. 
• We pay your health insurance premium for you and your dependents.
• We support working parents - we offer generous parental leave policies (26 weeks for mothers and 4 weeks for fathers) and subsidized child care when you return to work.
• We help you live your most whole life now - we subsidize gym memberships and fitness classes.
• Airtime reimbursement.

Requirements 

• A law degree from an accredited and leading law school and be a qualified lawyer in a Francophone African jurisdiction (OHADA, Cameroon, DRC regulation). 
• 8+ years of experience as an in-house lawyer in technology, finance, fintech, or mobile money in a leading regional or global organization.
• Fluent in French and English.
• Strong communication skills (both written and oral) and the ability to communicate knowledge of the law in a manner that is easily understood and applied.
• Excellent legal drafting.
• Strong planning, organizational, and management skills, and the ability to meet deadlines.

You might be a good fit if you: 

• Are excessively detail-oriented and strive for excellence in everything you undertake.
• I am a self-starter and proactive about achieving ambitious targets.
• Take the initiative and be proactive about achieving ambitious goals.
• Excel at troubleshooting and resolving issues, even under pressure.
• Are willing to go the extra mile to ensure tasks are completed successfully.
• Adjust quickly to shifting priorities and dynamic conditions.
• Foster strong relationships and inspire the best in others.
• Have strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex legal concepts clear and practical.
• Demonstrate exceptional planning, organizational, and management abilities, consistently meeting deadlines.
• Effectively manage legal risks with foresight and precision.
• Approach legal matters with strategic insight and a focus on long-term impact.