Technical Studies Lead

Oman Investment Authority

Study Lifecycle Management

Manage and coordinate the full study lifecycle across all phases: Scoping (G0 G1), Pre-Feasibility Study (G2), Definitive Feasibility Study (G3), and FEED, ensuring each phase is delivered to scope, schedule, and approved budget.

Define and own the scope of work for each study phase, establishing terms of reference, work programmes, and deliverable registers that align with MDO's project development objectives and Stage-Gate requirements.

Monitor study progress against approved plans and budgets, identifying deviations early and implementing corrective actions in consultation with the Director Studies & Delivery.

Prepare and maintain study schedules, milestone registers, and deliverable trackers across all active study phases.

Ensure lessons learned from previous studies and projects are systematically reviewed, captured, and applied to future study scopes.

Consultant Management & Scope Definition

Own the consultant management process across all study phases, including scope definition, terms of reference development, deliverable specification, performance monitoring, and quality review of all outputs.

Act as MDO's primary owner-side interface with study consultants, specialist technical firms, and EPCM contractors, ensuring deliverables meet MDO quality, governance, and decision-quality requirements.

Review and challenge consultant deliverables and technical reports, ensuring technical rigour, completeness, and fitness for investment decision purposes.

Support the procurement and onboarding of study consultants in collaboration with the Contracts & Execution Planning Manager and MDO's Procurement function.

Manage consultant performance against agreed KPIs and escalate performance issues to the Director Studies & Delivery as required.

Multi-Discipline Technical Integration

Integrate multi-discipline technical inputs across geology, mining, metallurgy, process engineering, infrastructure, utilities, and environmental disciplines to produce coherent, integrated, and decision-quality study outputs.

Coordinate metallurgical and process study inputs, ensuring testwork programmes are fit-for-purpose, recovery assumptions are technically justified, and process design criteria are validated against testwork outcomes.

Coordinate technical inputs from internal MDO functions including Exploration, ESG, Finance, and Legal to ensure integrated and comprehensive study outputs at each phase.

Identify multi-discipline integration risks and gaps early in each study phase and develop resolution plans with relevant technical leads and consultants.

Technical Report Validation & JORC / NI 43-101 Compliance

Validate all technical reports, study deliverables, and engineering outputs produced by consultants and EPCM firms, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with MDO's technical governance framework.

Ensure all studies comply with international reporting standards including the JORC Code and NI 43-101, Omani regulatory requirements, and MDO's technical governance policies across all study phases.

Maintain a register of all study documents, reports, and technical deliverables, ensuring version control and traceability from concept through to Gate 3 approval.

Support the Director Studies & Delivery in the preparation and presentation of gate packages to the CPTO, Investment Committee, and Board.

Technical-Economic Trade-Offs & Value Engineering

Lead technical-economic trade-off analyses throughout the study lifecycle, evaluating project configuration options, processing routes, infrastructure alternatives, and capital cost scenarios to identify the highest-value, lowest-risk project development pathway.

Drive value engineering initiatives during study phases, challenging consultant assumptions and identifying opportunities to optimise capital cost, improve schedule, enhance operability, and reduce technical risk without compromising project value.

Prepare and present trade-off study reports and value engineering outcomes to the Director Studies & Delivery and CPTO for decision-making.

Ensure that value engineering findings and trade-off decisions are formally documented and carried through into subsequent study phases.

Gate Readiness & FID Package Preparation

Prepare the Gate 3 FID (Final Investment Decision) package in close coordination with the CPTO and Director Studies & Delivery, ensuring all technical, economic, and governance requirements are met prior to Board submission.

Prepare gate-ready study documentation for all Stage-Gate reviews (G0 through G3), ensuring completeness and compliance with MDO's gate criteria and OIA investment policy requirements.

Coordinate with the Director Project Controls & Readiness to align study outputs with cost estimates, risk registers, and schedule baselines required for each gate approval.

Ensure study documentation supports due diligence processes, project financing, permitting, and JV partner engagement as required.

Maintain compliance with MDO's Stage-Gate framework and document all gate decisions, conditions, and follow-up actions.

Stakeholder Coordination

Interface effectively with internal MDO stakeholders including Exploration, ESG, Investments, Finance, Legal, and Operations to ensure study inputs are complete and integrated at every study phase.

Maintain productive working relationships with external parties including government agencies, JV partners, community representatives, and regulatory bodies as they relate to the study programme.

Prepare and present regular study progress updates to the Director Studies & Delivery and other relevant stakeholders.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and study coordinators within the Studies & Delivery team.

Embed a culture of technical excellence, capital efficiency, and continuous improvement in all study activities.

Contribute to the development of MDO's study management frameworks, templates, and standards.

Mentor Omani talent and contribute to national capacity-building objectives in line with MDO's Omanization commitments.