Principal Geoscientist, Target Generation Systems

Principal Geoscientist, Target Generation Systems

Professional Coeur d'Alene, , US

Department:
Corporate Exploration

Reports To:

Director of Generative Exploration

The Principal Geoscientist, Target Generation Systems, advances Hecla’s generative effort to find the next Tier 1 silver and gold deposits — and builds the tools that get us there. This is a rare opportunity to shape both the science and the data infrastructure behind a well-funded, discovery-focused exploration program: developing target generation systems from the ground up, applying them to identify under-explored, high-potential ground in favorable jurisdictions, and working with our commercial team to secure the opportunities that result.

The role combines deep geological interpretation, modern data analytics, and hands‑on field investigation to identify and secure exploration opportunities in line with Hecla’s corporate growth strategy.

This list is not all-inclusive and may be revised as needed; additional duties may be assigned.

• Promote and maintain a strong safety‑first culture across all exploration activities including a strong commitment to following all applicable company, state, and federal safety guidelines.
• Ensure alignment of exploration goals with Hecla’s overall business objectives.

Target Generation & Data Systems

• Lead the development of Hecla’s target generation toolkit — the engine behind the company’s exploration pipeline — building the data foundation, criteria, and workflows that turn regional‑scale information into ranked, drill‑ready targets
• Expand Hecla’s proprietary silver and gold deposit database into a best‑in‑class reference, capturing deposit geology, geochemistry, geochronology, structural setting, and metal endowment globally
• Design and construct a metallogenic domain database that frames mineralized belts in terms of their underlying crustal architecture, magmatic and tectonic history, and mineralizing systems — creating a first‑principles framework for where new discoveries are most likely to be made
• Expand and refine deposit‑type targeting criteria, translating modern ore deposit models into practical, testable exploration vectors that can be applied consistently across the portfolio
• Lead statistical and spatial analysis of the deposit and metallogenic domain databases to rank and prioritize generative work areas, giving the exploration group a transparent, data‑driven basis for where to focus next
• Lead modernization of Hecla’s paper archive — decades of proprietary exploration data by setting up systems to digitize, georeference, and standardize it into structured, searchable datasets that are immediately accessible to the team
• Champion adoption of these tools across the exploration group, mentoring geoscientists in their use and continuously improving them as new data and results come in

Property Evaluation & Acquisition

• Identify, evaluate, and secure the opportunities identified during the development of the target generation toolkit, partnering closely with Hecla’s commercial and legal teams to move from target identification to secured land position — whether through staking, option and earn‑in agreements, joint ventures, or outright acquisition
• Conduct field reconnaissance and property visits to ground‑truth priority targets, test key assumptions, and validate acquisition opportunities before commitment
• Prepare comprehensive evaluation reports with actionable recommendations for properties of interest

Program Management & Business Support

• Manage and monitor budgets and timelines for assigned programs
• Support Corporate Development with project and company evaluations, including due diligence studies
• Present targeting results and acquisition recommendations to exploration and executive leadership, informing where Hecla directs its generative budget and resources

• 15+ years of progressive experience in generative exploration, opportunity recognition, and project evaluation, with a demonstrated record of translating regional‑scale datasets and deposit models into ranked,…