Reclamation Specialist

JDS Group of Companies; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

JDS Group of Companies seeks a Reclamation Specialist to translate reclamation science into field-ready execution across mine closure, remediation and care-and-maintenance projects. You will work with engineers, operators and contractors to plan, estimate costs and deliver safe, compliant site outcomes.

The role emphasizes planning, cost analysis and practical field support, with responsibility for coordinating technical inputs, ensuring permit readiness and maintaining clear documentation for

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in engineering, geoscience, environmental science, or related field.
• Professional designation (P.Eng., P.Geo., P.Ag., R.P.Bio., or equivalent) in good standing.
• Typically 7+ years of mine reclamation, closure, remediation or related field experience.
• Demonstrated field experience with earthworks, equipment, production rates and quantities.
• Experience developing or reviewing reclamation liability or closure cost estimates; BC asset.
• Experience preparing reclamation/closure plans and actionable scopes of work.
• Knowledge of BC, Yukon, NWT reclamation regulations; willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and update mine closure, decommissioning, reclamation plans and care maintenance for operating and legacy sites.
• Translate objectives into clear scopes, drawings, schedules and measurable criteria.
• Integrate landform, soil handling, erosion control, revegetation and water management strategies.
• Coordinate inputs from geotechnical, water, ecology, engineering and cost-estimating teams; identify gaps.
• Lead or support liability cost estimates and maintain audit trails for changes.
• Provide field leadership and support during earthworks, demolition, and site restoration activities.
• Support client communications, regulatory submissions and project management duties.

Skills

Mine reclamation

Cost estimation

Project management

Field execution

Technical writing

Education

Engineering degree or related

Professional designation (P.Eng., P.Geo., etc.)

Tools

Excel

Word

Project

GIS (asset)

Job description

The Opportunity

JDS is seeking a Reclamation Specialist who can turn sound technical work into field-ready execution. This role supports mine closure, reclamation and remediation assignments from early planning and liability definition through design, procurement, construction, monitoring and closeout. The successful candidate will be as comfortable reviewing quantities and building a defensible Reclamation Liability Cost Estimate as they are walking a site, working with operators and contractors, and resolving practical constraints in the field.

The role sits within JDS' Environment and Reclamation division and works closely with engineering, project and construction management, operations and mining teams. Our approach is owner-focused and execution-led: plans must be technically sound, permit-ready, constructible, cost-conscious and useful to the people responsible for delivering the work.

Responsibilities

Promote and adhere to the JDS Way:

• Accept No Mediocrity;
• Conduct Business Professionally, Ethically, & Practically;
• True to Our Word;
• Insist on the Highest Standard of Leadership, Teamwork, and Accountability;
• Open & Honest Communication Shared Both Internally and With Customers; and
• No Harm to People, Environment, Assets, or Reputation.

Reclamation Planning and Technical Delivery:

• Develop and update mine closure, decommissioning, reclamation and care and maintenance plans for operating, inactive and legacy mine sites;
• Translate closure objectives, permit conditions and technical studies into clear scopes, drawings, quantities, schedules, specifications, work packages and measurable completion criteria;
• Integrate practical mine-site considerations into landform, cover, soil handling, erosion and sediment control, revegetation, water management, demolition and site restoration strategies;
• Coordinate technical inputs from geotechnical, geochemical, water, ecological, engineering, operations and cost-estimating specialists, and identify gaps before they affect execution; and
• Prepare technical memoranda, work plans, basis-of-estimate documents, regulatory submissions, progress reports and closure records that are concise, defensible and usable.

Liability Estimates and Project Controls:

• Lead or support Reclamation Liability Cost Estimate development and updates, including disturbance inventories, quantity takeoffs, unit rates, productivity assumptions, indirect costs, contingency, escalation and schedule logic;
• Reconcile cost estimates to current site conditions, approved plans, outstanding obligations and realistic third-party execution methods, with a clear audit trail for assumptions and changes;
• Build and maintain scopes, budgets, schedules, risk registers, procurement packages, change records and forecasts for reclamation and remediation work; and
• Support tendering, bid reviews, contractor selection, commercial evaluations and contract administration in collaboration with JDS project and construction teams.

Field Execution and Construction Support:

• Provide field leadership and technical support during investigation, earthworks, demolition, water management, soil placement, revegetation and other reclamation activities;
• Work directly with site teams and contractors to confirm constructability, resolve field changes, manage interfaces and keep work aligned with safety, environmental, quality, cost and schedule requirements;
• Complete field inspections, quantity verification, quality documentation, daily reporting and progress measurement; support deficiency resolution, as-built records and project closeout; and
• Use field observations and lessons learned to improve designs, estimates, sequencing and future work plans.

Client, Regulatory and Project Management Support:

• Manage defined workstreams or small projects, including scope, schedule, budget, risk, quality, resourcing and client communications;
• Support engagement with regulators, Indigenous Nations, owners, technical reviewers and other partners, and communicate technical issues in clear operational terms;
• Review permit and authorization requirements, track commitments and help project teams develop practical compliance pathways;
• Prepare proposals, level-of-effort estimates and delivery plans, and contribute to the growth of JDS' reclamation and remediation practice; and
• Mentor junior staff and promote consistent, high-quality field and desktop practices across project teams.

What You Bring

• A degree or diploma in engineering, geoscience, environmental science, biology, agrology, natural resource management or another discipline directly relevant to mine reclamation;
• A professional designation in good standing, or immediate eligibility for registration in Canada, such as P.Eng., P.Geo., P.Ag., R.P.Bio., or an equivalent designation appropriate to the candidate's discipline and scope of practice;
• Typically, seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in mine reclamation, closure, remediation, environmental construction or closely related work. Exceptional candidates with a different mix of education and practical experience will be considered;
• Demonstrated mine-site or heavy civil field experience, with a working understanding of earthworks, equipment, production rates, quantities, sequencing, contractor interfaces and construction documentation;
• Direct experience developing or reviewing reclamation liability or closure cost estimates. Experience with British Columbia reclamation security estimates and comparable Canadian regulatory frameworks is an asset;
• Experience preparing reclamation or closure plans and converting technical recommendations into executable scopes of work;
• Working knowledge of mine permitting, environmental compliance and closure requirements in British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories or other Canadian mining jurisdictions;
• Project management exposure, including scope, schedule, cost, risk, procurement, change and progress controls. PMP training or designation is an asset, not a requirement;
• Strong technical writing, spreadsheet and data-management skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word and Project or equivalent scheduling tools is expected; GIS or estimating software experience is an asset; and
• A valid driver's license and willingness to travel to remote project sites, work in active mine environments and adjust schedules to meet field requirements.

How You Work

• You understand that a technically correct plan is only valuable if it can be permitted, priced, built, operated and closed out;
• You move between desktop analysis and field execution without losing the assumptions, details or decisions that connect the two;
• You take ownership, identify issues early and bring forward practical options with clear cost, schedule and risk implications;
• You communicate directly and respectfully with operators, contractors, engineers, environmental professionals, clients, regulators and Indigenous partners;
• You are comfortable working on multidisciplinary teams, making decisions with incomplete information and documenting the basis for those decisions; and
• You value safe execution, professional accountability, sound judgment and straightforward communication.

Why JDS

• JDS delivers environmental, engineering, project management, operational and construction services across the mining lifecycle. The Environment and Reclamation division works as part of the owner's team to connect permitting and technical strategy with what can actually be delivered in the field. This role offers exposure to complex projects, direct responsibility, experienced multidisciplinary teams and the opportunity to see plans become completed work; and
• JDS is committed to a respectful and inclusive workplace. We thank all applicants for their interest; only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.