Senior Regulatory and Permitting Specialist - (Earth and Environment)

Ausenco; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career advancement opportunities

Hybrid work model

Holistic wellness approach

Accessible leadership team

Job summary

Ausenco is looking for a Senior Regulatory and Permitting Specialist based in Canada. This role requires over 15 years of experience leading integrated environmental assessments and permitting programs, particularly in mining. The successful candidate will have a solid educational background in natural sciences or engineering, alongside skills in client relationship management, strategic oversight, and technical documentation. The position offers a competitive salary range of $140,000 - $180,000 annually along with a robust benefits package including career advancement opportunities and a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant professional experience in Canada.
• Experience leading integrated EA and permitting programs for major mining projects.
• Track record as a trusted advisor on high-risk regulatory issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead regulatory strategy from project definition through approvals.
• Ensure EA outcomes meet permitting and compliance requirements.
• Oversee multiple projects, guiding teams through milestones.

Skills

Strong commercial and market acumen

Client relationship management

Leadership and mentoring

Strategic writing and editing

Technical oversight

Education

University degree in natural sciences, resource management, or engineering

Master's degree

Job description

Ausenco is a fast‑growing company with big ideas. We redefine what’s possible in some of the world’s most complex projects and toughest environments. Delivering innovative, value‑add consulting, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions is what we do. From 21 offices in 9 countries, with projects in over 80 locations worldwide, we create sustainable outcomes for our people, clients and communities.

Our team in Canada is growing. We are currently recruiting for a Senior Regulatory and Permitting Specialist to join our team in either the Burnaby, Victoria, Whitehorse, or Calgary offices. In this role you will have the opportunity to work on a variety of interesting and challenging projects across North America, with a focus on Canada. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent technical and interpersonal skills to join our talented team in delivering outstanding service and innovation to our clients.

About The Role

As Senior Regulatory and Permitting Specialist, you are a senior technical and strategic leader responsible for integrated environmental assessment (EA) and permitting programs across the full project lifecycle. You will lead regulatory strategy from early project definition through approvals and transition to implementation, ensuring EA outcomes are defensible, practical, and aligned with downstream permitting and compliance requirements.

This role combines hands‑on leadership of EA and permitting delivery with a strong market-facing and business development component, including positioning Ausenco to secure major, complex EA opportunities. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, lead senior‑level engagement with regulators and Indigenous Groups, and contribute to practice leadership and team development. Most projects are supported by a dedicated project manager and/or project controller, allowing you to focus on technical leadership, strategy, and quality.

Specific Tasks May Include

• Setting integrated EA and permitting strategies for complex projects across BC, Yukon, Ontario, Northern Canada and/or other multi‑jurisdictional contexts, with a strong focus on mining; advising clients on pathways, sequencing, readiness, and approval risks.
• Providing end‑to‑end leadership of EA processes, including EA design, application development, adequacy review management, information request strategy, conditions development, and transition into permitting and compliance.
• Ensuring EA outcomes are structured to support efficient permitting, implementable approval conditions, and compliance frameworks.
• Serving as technical authority for EA and permitting deliverables, including methodology development, review gates, strategic edits, and defensibility reviews.
• Providing final technical review on regulatory strategies, EA submissions, and permitting applications to ensure quality, consistency, and regulatory defensibility.
• Leading senior‑level engagement with regulators, Indigenous Groups, and key stakeholders; guiding consultation strategy, issue resolution, and risk management for sensitive or high‑profile projects.
• Overseeing multiple projects or major programs, including resourcing oversight, schedule and cost risk awareness, and integration across disciplines and subconsultants.
• Providing senior guidance at critical milestones (e.g., EA initiation, application readiness, adequacy determinations, information requests, conditions negotiation, permit sequencing, and transition to compliance).
• Owning or co‑owning key client relationships; leading or supporting positioning and pursuit strategies for large, EA‑led regulatory programs, including early client engagement, proposal strategy, scopes, budgets, and commercial terms (in collaboration with project managers and leadership).
• Contributing to broader practice leadership by developing standard approaches, tools/templates, QA/QC standards, and lessons learned for EA and permitting delivery.
• Mentoring and developing team members across experience levels, providing technical guidance, coaching, and review without direct line‑management accountability.
• Championing Ausenco project delivery, safety, and quality culture, ensuring deliverables meet schedule, cost, quality, and safety expectations.

Success in this role looks like successful EA and permitting approval outcomes, strong client relationships that result in repeat work, effective positioning that helps secure major EA opportunities, reduced regulatory risk for clients, and measurable growth in team capability.

About You

• A university degree in natural sciences, resource management, engineering, business, or related discipline; Masters degree is an asset.
• 15+ years of relevant professional experience in Canada, including leading integrated EA and permitting programs for major projects (mining emphasis).
• Demonstrated experience leading full EAs end‑to‑end, from early strategy and application development through regulator review and approvals.
• Strong track record acting as a trusted advisor to clients and senior stakeholders on complex, high‑risk regulatory issues.
• Experience navigating multi‑jurisdictional regulatory environments and guiding teams through critical regulatory milestones.
• Proven ability to influence outcomes with senior client executives, regulators, and Indigenous leadership.
• Strong commercial and market acumen, with experience shaping pursuits, scopes, budgets, and contributing to client growth and repeat work.
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring, technical oversight, and practice development.
• Excellent writing, editing, and strategic review skills, with a focus on defensible, regulator‑ready documentation.
• Professional designation (e.g., R.P.Bio., P.Eng.) preferred.

Salary range $140,000 - $180,000 annually

Benefits

• Career advancement – Embark on a journey of continuous growth through technical training, mentorship initiatives, and networking opportunities
• Work Life Balance – Experience the best of both worlds with our hybrid work model, allowing you to balance office days with working from home, and progressive parental leave benefits to foster family needs and professional life
• Holistic approach to wellness – Take a proactive approach to your overall wellbeing. Access to confidential counselling, information services and a benefits program that supports your health and wellness
• Accessible leadership team – Work with highly reputable industry leaders who value your contribution