Portfolio Technical Lead - Surface Water & Hydrology

MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED; Perth; On-site; AUD 220,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Mineral Resources Limited is seeking a Technical Portfolio Lead - Surface Water & Hydrology to shape the strategy across iron ore and lithium assets. Based in Osborne Park, you will influence mine planning, infrastructure design and environmental approvals while embedding climate resilience across projects.

You will lead technical direction, build a specialist team, mentor engineers and engage regulators to ensure robust water management and governance across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology or a related technical discipline.
• At least 15 years' professional experience in surface water engineering or hydrology, with substantial exposure to WA's mining and resources sector or comparable high-risk environments.
• Proven technical leadership across multiple operations or portfolios in a multi-commodity environment.
• Deep expertise in hydrology, surface water modelling, flood studies, drainage design and water management systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the portfolio-wide surface water and hydrology strategy, aligning it with long-term mine plans and approvals pathways.
• Advise senior leaders on surface water risk, investment priorities and trade-offs.
• Provide expert advice on complex surface water issues affecting mine planning, infrastructure design and environmental approvals.
• Translate emerging risks and opportunities into practical, risk-based decisions.
• Lead assessment of climate-related physical risks and inform design criteria and planning.
• Oversee modelling methods, flood studies and design criteria for fit-for-purpose outputs.
• Support governance and assurance across Water, Tailings, and risk management frameworks.
• Mentor and develop senior surface water engineers and hydrologists.

Skills

Technical leadership

Hydrology

Surface water modelling

Regulatory engagement

Climate risk assessment

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's or higher in Civil Engineering / Water Engineering / Environmental Engineering / Hydrology

Postgraduate qualification in hydrology or water resources

Tools

Hydrological modelling software

Water management systems

Job description

Attractive Salary + Bonus + Additional Benefits

• The authority to shape strategy: Lead surface water and hydrology across our iron ore and lithium portfolio, with direct access to senior leaders and genuine influence over technical standards, investment and risk decisions.
• A complex and meaningful technical challenge: Build climate resilience across the Onslow, Central Pilbara and Lithium hubs, influencing projects from development through operations to closure.
• A platform for technical leadership: Be recognised as MinRes's surface water technical authority, develop a specialist team and strengthen your professional profile through industry engagement and external representation.

The opportunity

Few surface water roles offer this breadth of influence. As Technical Portfolio Lead - Surface Water & Hydrology, you will set the technical direction for how MinRes understands, manages and adapts to water-related risk across its iron ore and lithium operations.

This is a strategic, enterprise-level role with a clear mandate: lead our surface water and hydrology strategy, embed climate resilience into planning and design, and establish the standards and governance that underpin robust, defensible decisions.

As our recognised technical authority, you will advise senior leadership and influence mine planning, infrastructure design, environmental approvals, closure and capital investment. You will combine strategic oversight with the technical judgement needed to challenge complex modelling, guide practical solutions and support operational teams.

Based at Osborne Park, you will travel to sites as required for technical discussions, stakeholder engagement and project reviews.

Your key responsibilities

Strategy and technical leadership

• Define and lead the portfolio-wide surface water and hydrology strategy, aligning it with long-term mine plans, operational needs, closure outcomes and approvals pathways.
• Act as the principal technical adviser to the Senior Manager - Water and senior leaders on surface water risk, investment priorities and trade-offs.
• Provide expert advice on complex surface water issues affecting mine planning, infrastructure design, operations and environmental approvals.
• Translate emerging risks, regulatory changes and technical opportunities into practical, risk-based decisions.

Climate change and resilience

• Lead the assessment and management of climate-related physical risks, including changing rainfall intensity, extreme flooding, cyclone activity and drought.
• Establish how climate projections inform design criteria, hydrological assumptions, water balances and long-term planning, consistent with recognised guidance such as Australian Rainfall and Runoff.
• Work with Sustainability, Risk, Finance and Legal teams on climate risk assessments, scenario analysis and climate-related financial disclosures, including ASRS / AASB S2 requirements.
• Drive adaptation planning to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure, tailings facilities and water management systems.

Governance, standards and assurance

• Own and champion technical standards and design governance for flood protection, drainage, cross-drainage, sediment basins and stormwater infrastructure.
• Establish and maintain surface water risk governance, including critical controls, technical review, sign-off and independent assurance.
• Oversee modelling methods, assumptions, flood studies and design criteria, ensuring outputs are validated, consistent and fit for purpose.
• Integrate surface water governance with Water, Tailings, Geotechnical and corporate risk management frameworks.
• Support internal and external audits, assurance activities and reporting.

Operational readiness and response

• Lead technical input into wet-season and cyclone readiness across the portfolio.
• Guide post-event reviews and embed lessons learnt into standards, controls and operating practices.
• Support flood and extreme weather incident response, recovery and business continuity planning.

Regulatory and stakeholder engagement

• Represent MinRes's technical position with regulators, government agencies, industry bodies and independent reviewers.
• Support approvals, licensing and compliance through high-quality, defensible technical evidence.
• Partner with Environment, Approvals, Community and Closure teams to align water management outcomes with our commitments.

Innovation and capability

• Guide improvements in modelling, monitoring, forecasting and data systems, including real-time monitoring and emerging digital technologies.
• Oversee external consultants and specialist advisers, ensuring technical rigour and value.
• Mentor and develop senior surface water engineers and hydrologists, building a capable, future-ready technical team.
• Work across Hydrogeology, Mine Planning, Geotechnical, Tailings, Technical Services and Approvals to deliver integrated, practical solutions.

What you will bring

• Tertiary qualifications in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology or a related technical discipline.
• At least 15 years' professional experience in surface water engineering or hydrology, with substantial exposure to Western Australia's mining and resources sector or comparable high-risk, climate-exposed environments.
• Proven technical leadership across multiple operations or portfolios in a multi-commodity environment.
• Deep expertise in hydrology, surface water modelling, flood studies, drainage design and water management systems, with the judgement to validate and challenge technical outputs.
• Demonstrated experience incorporating climate change into hydrological analysis, design criteria or risk assessments.
• Experience developing technical strategies, engineering standards and governance frameworks across large, complex portfolios.
• Strong leadership skills, including mentoring senior engineers and developing multidisciplinary teams.
• The ability to connect strategic priorities with detailed operational requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing technical reports, presenting to senior leaders and regulators, and supporting approvals processes.
• Chartered or professional status, such as CPEng, RPEQ, NER or equivalent, and membership of a relevant professional body.
• Experience in tailings storage, mine closure or integrated mine water balances.
• Experience engaging with Western Australian environmental, water and mining regulators.
• Exposure to climate risk disclosure, enterprise risk management or independent assurance.
• Postgraduate qualifications in hydrology, water resources or a related discipline.

About Mineral Resources

MinRes is a leading diversified resources company with extensive operations in iron ore, lithium, energy and mining services across Western Australia. Our commitment to innovation and our people has made MinRes one of the ASX's best-performing companies since listing in 2006.

Our Osborne Park headquarters offers world-class facilities including a cafe, restaurant, commercial gym, creche, daycare and health centre. At MinRes, the future's bright; be part of our next chapter.

Mineral Resources Limited (MinRes) is a leading diversified resources company with extensive operations in lithium, iron ore, energy and mining services across Western Australia.

Mineral Resources Limited (MinRes) is a leading diversified resources company with extensive operations in lithium, iron ore, energy and mining services across Western Australia.