Technical Director - Tailings

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Lead the safe, responsible stewardship of tailings storage facilities throughout their full lifecycle.

GHD is committed to advancing the safe and sustainable management of active, inactive, closed, and legacy tailings sites. In this leadership role, you will help clients manage risk, strengthen governance, and make sound technical decisions from planning and design through operations, closure, and post-closure stewardship.

Join a global community of tailings specialists and help shape the next generation of technical leadership in the mining industry.

In response to the growing focus on conformance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), GHD is seeking a Technical Director for one of our Eastern Canada offices. 

The successful candidate will have extensive experience in tailings storage facilities (TSFs), including active facilities and closed or legacy tailings sites. The successful candidate will strengthen our Canadian and global mine waste and tailings practice and provide senior technical leadership to mining clients in North America and internationally.

As Technical Director, you will lead multidisciplinary teams on projects involving the planning, investigation, assessment, design, construction, operation, closure, and post-closure management of TSFs. You will be expected to provide clear technical direction on complex assignments and to be willing and qualified to assume an Engineer of Record (EOR) role for selected facilities, subject to project requirements and GHD’s governance processes.

You will likewise have the opportunity to share your knowledge via the GHD Tailings School, our renowned online training platform.

This position requires detailed knowledge of CDA and GISTM guidelines, applicable regulations, and recognized industry practices. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with the design and performance of TSFs, dam safety management, closure planning, rehabilitation of closed tailings sites, and long-term monitoring and risk management. A strong professional network and demonstrated ability to communicate with owners, regulators, independent reviewers, and other stakeholders are also important.

While this offer is for a full-time position, flexible work options are also available.

Who are we looking for?

As Technical Director – Tailings, you would lead and contribute to the following types of work:

• Tailings facility planning and site characterization: Lead site selection, geotechnical investigations, testing programs, interpretation, and development of design parameters for new and existing TSFs.
• Engineering design and performance assessment: Direct the design and evaluation of tailings dams, embankments, foundations, water-management systems, seepage controls, and closure measures, including stability, deformation, hydraulic, seismic, and liquefaction analyses.
• Engineer of Record services: Serve, or demonstrate a clear willingness and capability to serve, as EOR for selected TSFs; provide continuity of technical oversight; maintain a current understanding of facility performance; and communicate material risks, assumptions, and recommendations to the owner.
• Closed and legacy tailings sites: Assess closed, inactive, and orphaned facilities; develop closure, rehabilitation, and risk-reduction strategies; evaluate long-term physical and chemical stability; and establish practical post-closure monitoring and maintenance programs.
• Dam safety and risk management: Lead dam safety reviews, inspections, risk assessments, failure mode evaluations, surveillance planning, and development or review of emergency preparedness and response documentation.
• Project and technical leadership: Provide senior technical leadership during planning, feasibility, detailed design, construction, operations, closure, and post-closure phases, while coordinating multidisciplinary teams and maintaining quality, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Construction and operational support: Provide design support during construction, review quality-management information, evaluate observed performance, and recommend technically sound responses to changing site conditions.
• Governance and conformance: Support clients in developing and implementing tailings governance systems and in assessing alignment with the GISTM, CDA guidance, applicable regulations, and corporate standards.
• Technical practice development: Develop guidance, procedures, case studies, and lessons learned, and facilitate knowledge sharing across GHD’s regional and global tailings community.
• Professional leadership: Maintain current knowledge of regulations, standards, and emerging practices through continuing professional development, industry participation, and collaboration with internal and external specialists.
• Client and stakeholder relationships: Build trusted relationships with mining clients, regulators, independent reviewers, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders in Canada and internationally.
• Mentor and develop GHD professionals working in tailings and mine waste engineering.

What you will bring to the team: 

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, geotechnical, geological, or mining engineering
• Postgraduate degree in geotechnical engineering, mine waste engineering, or a related discipline preferred
• Professional engineering license in Canada, or eligibility for registration in the applicable jurisdiction
• More than 15 years of progressive experience in tailings and mine waste engineering, including substantial work on active TSFs and closed or legacy tailings sites; prior EOR experience is an asset, and a demonstrated willingness to take on EOR responsibilities is also encouraged

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in recruiting is just getting started and may be used during the process to improve efficiency and fairness. Your application may be reviewed by both AI and our hiring team. While AI supports some steps through the process, all final hiring decisions are made by humans

As a diverse and inclusive organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. Upon request, GHD will provide reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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