Rehabilitation Specialist

Astron Limited; Horsham; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Astron Limited invites a Rehabilitation Specialist to join the Donald Project, a permanent site-based role near Minyip, Victoria. You will lead soil handling, landform rehabilitation and agricultural activities, ensuring compliance with plans and regulatory requirements across construction and operations.

You will coordinate contractors, monitor erosion controls, document rehabilitation progress and contribute to risk assessments and stakeholder reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in land restoration or rehabilitation, agronomy, environmental science
• Permanent right to work in Australia with no restrictions.
• 3–6+ years site-based environmental/rehabilitation experience.
• Experience with contractors, regulators and stakeholders.
• Strong reporting and Microsoft 365 skills.

Responsibilities

• Support soil stripping, stockpiling, soil return and rehabilitation activities.
• Manage Ground Disturbance Permit processes and controls.
• Ensure pre-mining soil assessments and horizon definition.
• Provide field direction on soil horizons, stockpile locations and rehabilitation landforms.
• Monitor soil condition, rehabilitation progress and data records.
• Inspect stockpiles and land areas for erosion and sediment controls.
• Engage with research bodies and industry groups on rehabilitation practices.
• Collaborate with contractors and internal teams to document rehabilitation work.
• Contribute to HSE risk assessments, permits, audits and investigations.
• Prepare rehabilitation reports and presentations for stakeholders.

Skills

Soil science

Landform rehabilitation

Erosion control

Stormwater management

Contractor coordination

Reporting

Microsoft 365

Education

Bachelor’s degree in land restoration or rehabilitation, agronomy, environmental science

Tools

QGIS

ArcGIS

Job description

Help shape practical rehabilitation outcomes on a major new Victorian rare earth and mineral sands project.

The Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project is a tier-1 rare earth and mineral sands resource located within the Wimmera District of Western Victoria near the towns of Minyip and Donald and 70 kilometres from the large regional city of Horsham The project is a joint venture between ASX-listed Astron Corporation Limited – a mining and processing company with more than 30 years’ experience in mineral sands processing, technology and downstream product development - and US-based critical minerals company Energy Fuels Incorporated.

Astron Limited is seeking a Rehabilitation Specialist to join the Donald Project. This is a hands‑on, site‑based role where you will provide rehabilitation stewardship to ensure regulatory compliance to deliver leading‑practice rehabilitation outcomes throughout construction and operations.

Reporting to the Technical Services Manager, you will play an important role in making sure soil handling, land management, rehabilitation and agricultural activities are delivered safely, accurately and in line with the Rehabilitation Plan, Soil and Landform Management Plan, Soil Stripping and Stockpiling Procedure, approved work plan and relevant Victorian and Commonwealth legislation. Your contribution will support strong environmental outcomes during construction, operations and future post‑mining rehabilitation.

In this role, you will

Support soil stripping, stockpiling, soil return and rehabilitation activities in line with approved plans, procedures and work plan requirements.

Manage the Ground Disturbance Permit process, making sure environmental, cultural heritage and work plan controls are in place before disturbance works begin.

Ensure pre‑mining‑assessments of the soil are conducted, resulting in the adequate definition of the various soil horizons.

Provide practical field direction to mobile equipment operators on soil horizons, cut depths, stockpile locations, soil handling methods and rehabilitation landform requirements.

Monitor soil condition, field activities and rehabilitation progress, including photographs, videos, observations, survey records, stockpile registers, databases and dashboards.

Inspect stockpiles, areas stripped of soil and the broader mine site for erosion, sediment deposition, stormwater and stockpile controls, and support agricultural land management activities such as weed and pest programs.

Ensure agronomic assessments, are conducted and thoroughly documented on land both prior to disturbance and post‑mining rehabilitation.

Engage with research organisations, tertiary institutions, industry groups and the recently announced Mineral Sands Agricultural Land Restoration Working Group to ensure DMS is at the fore front of rehabilitation practices.

Work with contractors, consultants, surveyors, operators and internal technical teams to ensure rehabilitation work is well planned, safely completed and accurately documented.

Contribute to HSE risk assessments, permits, audits, inspections, incident investigations, control verification and action close‑out.

Prepare rehabilitation reports, data outputs and presentation materials for internal stakeholders, external stakeholders and Environmental Review Committee meetings.

About you

Required experience

Approximately 3–6+ years’ experience in a site‑based environmental, rehabilitation, land management, mining, heavy industry, large infrastructure or demonstratable farming experience, especially broad acre cropping or mixed farming enterprises.

Strong practical understanding of soil science and landform rehabilitation, including soil handling, rehabilitation monitoring, erosion and sediment control, stormwater management and agricultural or agronomic land management.

Confidence working in an open‑cut mine, in all‑weather contractor‑managed environments, including coordinating multiple work fronts safely.

Experience working with contractors, operators, landowners, consultants, surveyors, regulators and technical specialists.

Strong written, verbal and graphical reporting skills, including reports, dashboards, spreadsheets and presentation materials using Microsoft 365.

Practical risk management skills, including control verification, incident investigation awareness, corrective actions and clear communication of safe, compliant field practices.

Required qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in land restoration or rehabilitation, agronomy, environmental science, earth sciences or another relevant discipline.

A permanent right to work in Australia with no restrictions.

Highly regarded

Experience working constructively with rehabilitation regulators, environmental agencies or external auditors.

Experience in mineral sands, rare earths, mining operations, residue, tailings or similar heavy earthwork environments.

GIS or mapping capability using QGIS, ArcGIS or similar systems.

Awareness of radiation, residue or tailings considerations in mining environments, where relevant.

The details

This is a permanent full‑time role based at our mine site approximately 14 kilometres east of Minyip, Victoria. The role generally works Monday to Friday, 38 hours per week, with additional hours from time to time to support site and project requirements. It will suit someone who enjoys a mix of fieldwork, technical detail, contractor coordination and practical problem solving.