Director of Tailings Solutions

Why Black and Veatch

The Opportunity

Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder Engagement and Problem Definition 

• Engage with mining clients and key stakeholders to understand site-specific needs, operational constraints, and tailings management challenges. 
• Facilitate workshops and collaborative brainstorming sessions to define project objectives and identify potential solution pathways. 

Solution Development 

• Develop tailored tailings management solutions that address operational, environmental, and economic requirements. 
• Apply subject matter expertise, creativity, and knowledge of emerging technologies to identify optimal approaches. 
• Stay current with new and developing technologies and evaluate their applicability to mining operations. 

Technical Evaluation and Implementation 

• Design and coordinate test work programs to evaluate potential tailings solutions 
• Review, analyze, and interpret laboratory and pilot-scale test results. 
• Support the detailed engineering, execution, and initial operation of projects to ensure the original design intent is maintained. 

Decision Support and Communication 

• Clearly communicate evaluation results, trade-offs, and recommended solutions through technical reports and presentations. 
• Guide stakeholders through structured decision-making processes. 
• Facilitate multi-accounts analysis and other structured evaluation approaches. 

Collaboration and Industry Engagement 

• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams including geotechnical, process, environmental, and operational specialists. 
• Work with technology providers to accelerate development and proof-of-concept for emerging tailings technologies. 

Knowledge Development and Industry Leadership 

• Publish technical papers and case studies on new developments and lessons learned. 
• Deliver training courses and workshops on tailings best practices. 
• Develop internal tools that improve efficiency, capture knowledge, and support decision making.

Management Responsibilities

• Help build and influence a high-performing team within our Operational team; set clear objectives, priorities, and accountability aligned with the mine tailings solutions strategy and align the strategy with the client segment, regions and with the industrial water solution. 
• Recruit, onboard, and develop talent (engineers/technical specialists and/or program resources); provide coaching, feedback, and growth plans. 
• Establish operating rhythms (planning, reviews, and decision forums) that convert ambiguity into crisp scopes, schedules, and deliverables. 
• Support resource planning (people, budget, and external support) across parallel client engagements, pilots, and internal tool development. 
• Create a culture of safety, technical excellence, learning, and continuous improvement; ensure quality in analyses, recommendations, and client communications. 
• Drive cross-functional alignment across geotechnical, process, environmental, operations, commercial, and risk teams; remove roadblocks and accelerate execution. 
• Set and track performance metrics (e.g., pipeline conversion, project outcomes, technical milestones, knowledge outputs) and communicate progress to leadership. 
• Manage external partners (technology providers, labs, consultants) including scope definition, selection, oversight, and performance management. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a relevant engineering discipline. 
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) or equivalent professional registration, or additional credentials in geotechnical or mining practice. 
• Direct experience with tailings technologies and operating models (e.g., thickened tailings, paste, filtration, dry stacking, in-pit disposal, water recovery systems). 
• Experience planning and executing test work programs (lab, pilot, field) and translating results into engineering and operational decisions. 
• Track record of building new capabilities, tools, or programs from concept to sustained adoption (strategy-to-execution leadership). 
• Experience working with or managing technology providers and vendors, including proof-of-concept development and scale-up pathways. 
• Demonstrated external thought leadership (publications, conference presentations, training delivery, or engagement with professional societies). 
• Strong business acumen: ability to evaluate trade-offs among cost, risk, schedule, land use, water balance, and ESG/corporate responsibility objectives. 
• Mentor junior engineers who demonstrate initiative and interest in developing expertise in tailings management. 
• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Civil/Geotechnical Engineering, Metallurgical/Process Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in tailings management, mine waste, geotechnical engineering, process/plant operations, or integrated mining project delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and operational constraints into practical, site-specific solutions and clear recommendations.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and influencing stakeholders across operations, engineering, and leadership groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including delivery of technical reports and executive-ready presentations.
• Willingness to travel approximately 20–25% as required for site visits and stakeholder engagement. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Certifications

None specified

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Typical office environment, typical construction environment, extreme weather conditions, high noise level, safety hazards (electric currents, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to chemicals), atmospheric conditions (fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation).  Sitting, walking, talking, hearing, reading, writing, keyboarding, driving, filing, reaching, stooping, crouching, bending, standing for extended periods of time, lifting or carrying up to 40 pounds.

Competencies

Salary Plan

Job Grade