Water and Closure Lead

Orla Mining; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 126,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Equinox Gold's Musselwhite Mine seeks a Water and Closure Lead to oversee water management, closure planning, and environmental programs at the Northwestern Ontario site.

The role emphasizes coordinating with operations, regulators, Indigenous partners, and external labs to ensure permits, data integrity, and risk management, with a focus on long-term asset stewardship and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in water resource science, environmental management, biology or similar.
• Five to ten years of mining environmental experience.
• Strong Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills.
• Experience with hydrology, hydrogeology and water chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Lead water, waste rock, tailings and closure projects.
• Coordinate with mine operations, regulators and laboratories.
• Maintain risk registers and annual closure cost model updates.
• Support environmental monitoring, reporting and compliance.

Skills

Leadership experience

Hydrology knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Environmental data

Communication skills

Team coordination

Education

BSc in water resource science / environmental management or related field

Tools

EHS Data MonitorPro

GoldSim

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Water and Closure Lead

Musselwhite Mine

Are you looking to make your mark and grow your career with a company on the rise? We'd love to have you on our team!

Equinox Gold is a growth-focused gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, operating a diversified portfolio of high-quality, long-life mines across the Canada, United States, Mexico and Nicaragua. Guided by our core values of integrity, excellence, accountability, and teamwork, we foster a safe, inclusive, and rewarding workplace where a talented, experienced team works together to deliver reliable operations, responsible mining, and long-term value to its shareholders and host communities.

Build your career at Musselwhite — a proven, high-quality underground gold mine in Northwestern Ontario, joining our portfolio through the 2026 merger with Orla Mining. Operating since 1997, Musselwhite has produced more than six million ounces of gold and continues to deliver strong results. We're investing in modern, lower-emission equipment, tele-remote and autonomous technologies, and a structure that empowers our teams to make decisions faster. We're also proud of our long-standing First Nations partnerships, dating back to the 1992. Backed by the scale and growth ambitions of Equinox Gold, there's never been a better time to join our team.

Purpose:

Reporting to the Environmental Superintendent, the Water and Closure Lead ensures that activities, projects and initiatives related to water, waste rock, tailings and closure management are being scheduled, executed and reviewed efficiently to ensure high-quality results. They are responsible to ensure both day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning of these projects align with permits and approvals issued by government authorities, agreements with Indigenous partners and life-of-asset planning and decision making to mitigate risk. They are expected to provide technical expertise on project planning and execution including field monitoring and data collection programs related to environmental projects. They are also responsible for coordination between mine operations, senior management, field support staff and external laboratory services to ensure environmental guidelines are followed. The Water and Closure Lead will occasionally be required to support regulatory compliance monitoring and reporting. The Water and Closure Lead will regularly liaise with the Sustainability and External Relations Manager and Environmental Superintendent to obtain support, collaborate and provide updates on work status.

Responsibilities include:

Project Management and Planning

• Ensure that the technical studies related to water management, closure planning and progressive reclamation at site are being executed with support from technical professionals/consultants and subject matter experts. Examples include but are not limited to the tailings cover design and associated seepage aspects (modeling, planning and trial plots), surface water and groundwater management pre- and post-closure, environmental aspects of surface waste rock storage management.
• Ensure water management strategic initiatives and projects focusing on water use efficiency and water stewardship on surface and underground are being executed effectively at the site through cooperation, information sharing and collaboration between key department representatives.
• Ensure changes to hydrogeochemistry at the site are being actively monitored and mitigation measures are being recommended/employed when appropriate where possible.
• Manage data that supports the site GoldSim water balance and quality model such that short and long-term predictions and simulations can be performed to plan and support operational decisions.
• Ensure that annual updates to the site closure cost model (i.e. the Standardized Cost Reclamation Estimator (SRCE)), are being performed to a high level of accuracy and in collaboration with key stakeholders. Ensure results/annual changes are summarized and shared with relevant parties (internal/external) in the form of a report/memo summary or as otherwise required.

• Ensure that amendments to the site closure plan are executed in alignment with Ministry legislation and expectations. This will involve organizing and obtaining input from various technical professionals/consultants and internal/external stakeholders.
  • Maintain the site water and closure risk register that focuses on key aspects of the surrounding watersheds and catchment areas and the mine closure boundary.
• Participate in environmental risk assessments and management plans, including contribution to Annual Tailings Review Board meetings.
• Collaborate with mine operations and technical services to ensure that waste rock management on surface aligns with environmental aspects of the site including proper segregation, seepage monitoring, availability for construction and closure planning.
• Participate in and provide input to the development of the annual budget items that align with current/on-going strategies, objectives, initiatives and projects to improve water management and closure planning performance and reduce business risks.
• Assist in development of environmental procedures, work instructions, and best management practices.
• Contribute to biodiversity, waste management, and hazardous materials programs as required.
• Identify opportunities for improvements in environmental performance.
• Support engagement on Environmental aspects with Indigenous communities, government agencies, and external stakeholders.
• Assist with site visits, inspections, and audits by regulators and stakeholders.

Environmental Monitoring

• Plan and execute environmental field monitoring programs and investigations aligned with technical studies related to water, waste rock, tailings and closure management.
• Perform on-going collection, organization, review, interpretation and sharing of environmental monitoring data related to technical studies.
• Coordinate project-related sampling activities with laboratories and external consultants.
• Support surface water, groundwater, wastewater, air quality, noise, vibration, and biological monitoring programs related to environmental compliance when required.
• Support maintenance and calibration of environmental equipment.
• Support maintenance of environmental databases and monitoring records.
• Ensure there are adequate resources to perform related environmental monitoring programs.

Reporting and Documentation

• Share, review and provide technical feedback on reports developed by supporting consultants and subject matter experts.
• Maintain environmental records (data and reports) related to environmental initiatives and projects.
• Assist in preparing applications, permits, amendments, and environmental studies as required.

Environmental Compliance

• Provide support to ensure compliance with Ontario and federal environmental legislation, and company standards including Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs), permits, licenses, and closure plan requirements as required.
• Support implementation of environmental management systems and site environmental programs as required.
• Ensure that day-to-day operational activities related to execution of environmental projects at site are being maintained and managed at a high level with appropriate information sharing between departments and that guidance is provided for any decision-making.
• Support environmental inspections and audits of mine site facilities and activities.

• Assist with environmental incident investigations and corrective action plans.
• Provide environmental guidance to operations personnel and contractors.
• Conduct environmental awareness training and guidance.
• Promote environmental stewardship and sustainability initiatives across the site.
• Participate in emergency response activities related to environmental incidents.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science (water resource science, environmental management, biology, or similar) or Environmental Engineer
• Experience with EHS Data MonitorPro software and GoldSim water balance software are an asset
• Highly competent with Microsoft software suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Five (5) to ten (10) years of experience in the environmental field (mining focus an asset).
• Knowledge of mining and processing operations, as well as environmental risks and associated management systems.
• Technical understanding and experience with hydrology, hydrogeology, water chemistry and hydrogeochemistry as they relate to water treatment, groundwater seepage and supply, mine tailings and mine waste rock management practices.
• One (1) to Three (3) years of experience in a leadership role (either direct reports or consultants)
• Ability to manage and organize several consultants and site stakeholders
• Strong understanding of applicable environmental legislation and regulatory framework
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Adaptable and able to work in inclement weather as required.
• Critical thinking skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with timely and cost-effective delivery.
• Independent and resourceful work ethic.
• Ability to work in a remote, industrial setting.

Working Conditions:

• The work schedule for this position is 14 on,14 days off including travel to site, working 12-hour days.

Compensation:

• The salary for this position is $126,000 to $135,000 per year, depending on skills, experience.
• This role is eligible to participate in the Company's annual short term incentive The target annual bonus for this position is 15% of base salary, subject to individual and company performance.
• The Company offers a Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP), including an automatic 5% employer contribution, with the option for employees to receive up to an additional 4% employer match on employee.