Chief Environmental Scientist

Mackinnon Bruce International; Arizona; On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Mackinnon Bruce International seeks an experienced Chief Environmental Scientist to lead environmental compliance, water quality, remediation, and reclamation programs for a large-scale mine/industrial operation in the Southwestern United States. The role oversees EMS, regulatory compliance, and complex projects, providing technical guidance to site leadership on environmental risks.

Reporting to senior leadership, you will manage budgets, liaise with regulators, and coordinate with contractors

Qualifications

• Seven years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree or five years with a master’s degree.
• Proven experience managing environmental programmes, regulatory compliance, and risk in complex operations.
• Strong knowledge of permitting, water quality, remediation, reclamation, and monitoring.
• Experience overseeing technical oversight, budgeting, and contractor coordination.
• Familiarity with environmental legislation and reporting requirements.
• Ability to interpret environmental data and assess consultant studies.
• Experience advising operational leadership on compliance challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental programmes covering compliance, safety, remediation, and reclamation.
• Oversee water quality monitoring, groundwater and surface water programs, and permits.
• Ensure operations comply with federal, state, and local regulations and mitigate risks.
• Manage complex environmental projects from permitting to site restoration.
• Investigate incidents, coordinate response, and implement corrective actions.
• Review studies, models, and monitoring results prepared by consultants.
• Provide guidance to site leadership and liaise with regulators and stakeholders.
• Establish environmental procedures, standards, and governance across operations.
• Support budgeting, resource allocation, and long-term environmental planning.
• Oversee contractors and consultants to meet technical/regulatory standards.
• Coordinate mandatory environmental training and build technical capability.
• Maintain accurate records, reports, and evidence for regulatory compliance.

Skills

Environmental leadership

Water quality management

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Risk management

Technical assessment

Regulatory engagement

Governance

Budgeting

Contractor management

Training & capability

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science/Engineering/Geology or related field

Master’s degree in a related discipline (advantage)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Chief Environmental Scientist to lead environmental compliance, water quality, remediation, and reclamation programmes within a large-scale industrial or mining operation in the Southwestern United States.

This role will be responsible for overseeing environmental management systems, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing complex environmental projects, and providing technical guidance to site leadership on environmental risks and obligations.

Working closely with operational teams, regulators, external consultants, and technical specialists, you will help ensure environmental programmes meet regulatory requirements while supporting responsible operations, long-term sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Environmental Programme Leadership: Develop, implement, and oversee environmental management programmes covering compliance, environmental safety, remediation, and reclamation.
• Water Quality Management: Monitor and improve water quality practices, oversee groundwater and surface water monitoring programmes, and ensure compliance with applicable environmental permits and standards.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure operations comply with relevant federal, state, and local environmental regulations, identifying potential compliance risks and recommending corrective actions.
• Environmental Project Management: Lead complex environmental projects involving permitting, water quality, remediation, reclamation, and site restoration.
• Environmental Risk & Incident Management: Investigate environmental incidents, coordinate response activities, maintain regulatory documentation, and implement corrective and preventative measures.
• Technical Assessment: Review environmental studies, groundwater models, conceptual site models, monitoring programmes, forecasts, and technical assessments prepared by consultants.
• Regulatory Engagement: Provide technical guidance to site leadership and liaise with regulators, environmental agencies, consultants, and other stakeholders on environmental matters.
• Environmental Standards & Governance: Establish and maintain environmental procedures, technical standards, management systems, and consistent practices across relevant operational areas.
• Budgeting & Strategic Planning: Support environmental budgeting, resource allocation, and long-term planning to address operational requirements and environmental obligations.
• Contractor & Consultant Management: Evaluate and oversee external service providers, manage contracts, and ensure environmental projects are delivered to the required technical and regulatory standards.
• Training & Capability Development: Coordinate mandatory environmental training, develop technical capability within teams, and promote environmental awareness across the organization.
• Documentation & Reporting: Maintain accurate environmental records, compliance reports, incident documentation, and supporting evidence in line with regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, Earth Science, or a related discipline. Other relevant degrees may be considered alongside appropriate professional experience.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree, or five years with a relevant master's degree.
• Demonstrated experience managing environmental programmes, regulatory compliance, and environmental risk within complex operational environments.
• Strong understanding of environmental permitting, water quality management, remediation, reclamation, and environmental monitoring.
• Experience managing environmental projects, including technical oversight, contractor coordination, budgeting, and delivery.
• Knowledge of applicable environmental legislation and regulatory frameworks, including water quality, waste management, hazardous materials, and environmental incident reporting.
• Ability to interpret environmental data, assess technical reports, and evaluate consultant-developed studies and recommendations.
• Experience providing technical advice to operational leadership and developing practical solutions to environmental compliance challenges.