Technical Director – Tailings

GHD; Mount Pearl; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD is seeking a Technical Director – Tailings to lead and contribute to the management of tailings storage facilities across Canada and internationally. The role focuses on planning, design, verification, and long-term stewardship of active, closed and legacy TSFs, while guiding governance and engineering teams.

You will provide senior technical leadership, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and ensure quality, schedule, and budget objectives are met throughout planning, design, construction,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, geotechnical, geological, or mining engineering is required.
• Postgraduate degree in geotechnical engineering, mine waste engineering, or related discipline preferred.
• Professional engineering license in Canada, or eligibility for registration is required.
• More than 15 years of progressive tailings and mine waste engineering experience, including active TSFs and legacy sites, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead tailings facility planning and site characterization, including geotechnical investigations and design parameter development.
• Direct the design and evaluation of tailings dams, embankments, water-management systems, and containment structures.
• Provide Engineering of Record services for tailings facilities and communicate risks and recommendations to owners.
• Assess closed and legacy tailings sites and develop closure, rehabilitation, and monitoring strategies.
• Lead dam safety reviews, risk assessments, and emergency planning documentation.
• Provide senior technical leadership during planning, feasibility, design, construction, and post-closure activities.
• Support governance and conformance with GISTM, CDA guidance, regulations, and corporate standards.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil, geotechnical, geological, or mining engineering

Postgraduate degree in geotechnical engineering, mine waste engineering, or related discipline

Professional engineering license in Canada, or eligibility for registration

Job description

Job Description

GHD is a global professional services company that leads through engineering, architecture, and construction expertise. We are an employee-owned company with over 12,000 diverse and skilled individuals, across more than 200 offices spanning five continents.

GHD is a global professional services company that leads through engineering, architecture, and construction expertise. We are an employee-owned company with over 12,000 diverse and skilled individuals, across more than 200 offices spanning five continents.

At GHD, we don’t just believe in the power of commitment. We live it every day.

That’s why we pledge to support and empower all of our people to make a positive impact. We’ll help you accelerate your career and support you with access to cutting‑edge technology as you take on complex problems posed by community‑shaping projects.

Together with teammates, clients, and partners, your impact will last for generations. See where your commitment could take you.

Lead the safe, responsible stewardship of tailings storage facilities throughout their full lifecycle.

GHD is committed to advancing the safe and sustainable management of active, inactive, closed, and legacy tailings sites. In this leadership role, you will help clients manage risk, strengthen governance, and make sound technical decisions from planning and design through operations, closure, and post-closure stewardship.

Join a global community of tailings specialists and help shape the next generation of technical leadership in the mining industry.

In response to the growing focus on conformance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), GHD is seeking a Technical Director for one of our Eastern Canada offices.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience in tailings storage facilities (TSFs), including active facilities and closed or legacy tailings sites.

The successful candidate will strengthen our Canadian and global mine waste and tailings practice and provide senior technical leadership to mining clients in North America and internationally.

Who are we looking for?

As Technical Director – Tailings, you would lead and contribute to the following types of work:

• Tailings facility planning and site characterization: Lead site selection, geotechnical investigations, testing programs, interpretation, and development of design parameters for new and existing TSFs.
• Engineering design and performance assessment: Direct the design and evaluation of tailings dams, embankments, foundations, water-management systems, seepage controls, and closure measures, including stability, deformation, hydraulic, seismic, and liquefaction analyses.
• Engineer of Record services: Serve, or demonstrate a clear willingness and capability to serve, as EOR for selected TSFs; provide continuity of technical oversight; maintain a current understanding of facility performance; and communicate material risks, assumptions, and recommendations to the owner.
• Closed and legacy tailings sites: Assess closed, inactive, and orphaned facilities; develop closure, rehabilitation, and risk-reduction strategies; evaluate long-term physical and chemical stability; and establish practical post-closure monitoring and maintenance programs.
• Dam safety and risk management: Lead dam safety reviews, inspections, risk assessments, failure mode evaluations, surveillance planning, and development or review of emergency preparedness and response documentation.
• Project and technical leadership: Provide senior technical leadership during planning, feasibility, detailed design, construction, operations, closure, and post-closure phases, while coordinating multidisciplinary teams and maintaining quality, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Construction and operational support: Provide design support during construction, review quality-management information, evaluate observed performance, and recommend technically sound responses to changing site conditions.
• Governance and conformance: Support clients in developing and implementing tailings governance systems and in assessing alignment with the GISTM, CDA guidance, applicable regulations, and corporate standards.
• Technical practice development: Develop guidance, procedures, case studies, and lessons learned, and facilitate knowledge sharing across GHD’s regional and global tailings community.
• Professional leadership: Maintain current knowledge of regulations, standards, and emerging practices through continuing professional development, industry participation, and collaboration with internal and external specialists.
• Client and stakeholder relationships: Build trusted relationships with mining clients, regulators, independent reviewers, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders in Canada and internationally.
• Mentor and develop GHD professionals working in tailings and mine waste engineering.

What you will bring to the team:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, geotechnical, geological, or mining engineering
• Postgraduate degree in geotechnical engineering, mine waste engineering, or a related discipline preferred
• Professional engineering license in Canada, or eligibility for registration in the applicable jurisdiction
• More than 15 years of progressive experience in tailings and mine waste engineering, including substantial work on active TSFs and closed or legacy tailings sites; prior EOR experience is an asset, and a demonstrated willingness to take on EOR responsibilities is also encouraged

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in recruiting is just getting started and may be used during the process to improve efficiency and fairness. Your application may be reviewed by both AI and our hiring team. While AI supports some steps through the process, all final hiring decisions are made by humans

As a diverse and inclusive organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. Upon request, GHD will provide reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process.