Principal Geochemist (USA)

Itasca Consulting Group; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision benefits

Generous paid time off from day one

401(k) with company match

Company‑paid short‑term disability and

Job summary

ITASCA North America seeks a Principal Geochemist to provide technical leadership, grow client relationships, mentor staff, and strengthen our geochemistry practice across the U.S. and North America.

This senior role focuses on mining and environmental geochemistry, including water quality modeling, ARD, metal leaching, and closure planning, with travel across North America.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in geochemistry, hydrogeochemistry, environmental engineering, chemistry, or related field.
• 20+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven technical excellence and sound professional judgment in geochemistry or environmental geoscience.
• Strong experience with mining-related geochemistry including water quality prediction and tailings.
• Experience leading, managing, directing, and reviewing complex technical projects.
• Experience mentoring staff and contributing to business development.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical leadership on mining geochemistry and related projects.
• Lead work involving geochemical characterization, water quality modeling, ARD, metal leaching, mine waste, tailings, closure planning, and permitting.
• Guide conceptual geochemical and hydrogeochemical models linking source materials to receptors.
• Design and supervise field and laboratory programs for sampling and characterization.
• Translate complex geochemical information into practical recommendations for mine planning and environmental management.
• Mentor staff and support high-quality project delivery through reviews and coaching.

Skills

Leadership

Geochemistry expertise

Water quality modeling

Mentoring staff

Project leadership

Client relationship building

Education

Advanced degree in geochemistry or related field

Tools

PHREEQC

Geochemist's Workbench

MIN3P

Job description

ITASCA North America is seeking a Principal Geochemist to provide technical leadership, grow client relationships, mentor staff, and strengthen our geochemistry practice across the U.S. and North America.

This role is suited for a senior geochemistry professional with strong technical credibility, practical judgment, and experience leading complex mining and environmental projects. Mining experience is strongly preferred, particularly in water quality modeling; geochemical characterization of mine waste, ore, and tailings; acid rock drainage; metal leaching; closure; and environmental support across the mine life cycle.

Why this role matters

Geochemistry plays a critical role in how mining projects are planned, permitted, operated, closed, and monitored over the long term.

As a Principal Geochemist, you will help clients understand how mined materials, water, geology, and environmental conditions interact, and what those interactions mean for water quality, risk, mine planning, waste management, permitting, operations, and closure.

You will also help grow ITASCA North America’s integrated consulting practice by building trusted client relationships, mentoring staff, guiding technical teams, and connecting geochemistry with our hydrogeology, geomechanics, engineering geology, and numerical modeling capabilities.

What you’ll do

• Provide senior technical leadership on mining geochemistry, hydrogeochemistry, mine water, and environmental projects.
• Lead and review work involving geochemical characterization, water quality modeling, acid rock drainage, metal leaching, mine waste, tailings, pit lake modeling, seepage, closure planning, permitting support, and impact assessment.
• Guide conceptual geochemical and hydrogeochemical models that connect source materials, water-rock interaction, transport pathways, and potential receptors.
• Design, direct, and review field and laboratory programs, including static and kinetic testing, water sampling, material characterization, and geochemical data collection.
• Translate complex geochemical information into practical recommendations for mine planning, environmental management, permitting, operations, and closure.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and senior client contact.
• Develop client relationships, identify opportunities, and lead proposals, scopes, budgets, schedules, and project strategy.
• Mentor technical staff and support high‑quality project delivery through review, coaching, and knowledge sharing.

What you bring

Required

• Advanced degree in geochemistry, hydrogeochemistry, environmental engineering, chemistry, or a related field.
• 20+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven technical excellence and sound professional judgment in geochemistry, hydrogeochemistry, or environmental geoscience.
• Strong experience with mining-related geochemistry, including water quality prediction, geochemical characterization, acid rock drainage, metal leaching, mine waste, tailings, and closure.
• Experience leading, managing, directing, and reviewing complex technical projects.
• Experience mentoring staff and contributing to business development.

Strongly valued

• Established client relationships in mining, environmental, water resources, or related sectors.
• Experience developing and winning consulting work.
• Experience with PHREEQC, Geochemist’s Workbench, MIN3P, and similar geochemical modeling tools.
• Experience with groundwater/surface water quality, mine water management, pit lake chemistry, waste rock, tailings, heap leach facilities, and closure systems.
• Experience integrating geochemistry with hydrogeology, geomechanics, engineering geology, numerical modeling, permitting, and regulatory engagement.
• Professional registration by a recognized organization, or ability to obtain registration where required.
• Recognition in the geochemistry, mining, mine water, or environmental consulting community.

Why ITASCA

For more than 45 years, ITASCA has helped clients solve complex geomechanics, hydrogeology, and engineering geology challenges through technical depth, practical judgment, and innovation.

At ITASCA, you will work on challenging projects where standard approaches are often not enough. Our work combines field experience, scientific and engineering interpretation, advanced analysis, and state‑of‑the‑art ITASCA software to help clients make better decisions.

We are a collaborative, collegial, employee‑owned company where technical excellence, curiosity, mentorship, mutual respect, and shared success matter. This is a place for senior professionals who want meaningful influence with clients, colleagues, and the direction of a growing North American consulting practice.

Location and travel

This is a full‑time position based in the United States. The preferred location is Denver/Lakewood, Colorado, but other U.S. locations, including hybrid/remote work options, may be considered for the right candidate.

Travel will be expected for client meetings, site visits, conferences, business development, and internal collaboration.

ITASCA may provide employment‑based visa sponsorship (e.g. H1-B, L-1, TN, etc.) for this role, subject to business needs, candidate qualifications, and immigration regulations.

Compensation and benefits

We value your contributions and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Performance bonuses, including cash and company stock
• Health, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family
• Generous paid time off from day one
• Paid holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Company‑paid short‑term disability, long‑term disability, and life insurance

The anticipated salary range is $150,000–$200,000. Final compensation will depend on experience and qualifications.

ITASCA is an equal opportunity employer, a drug‑free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.

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Upcoming Events

15 Sep

15 Sep ITASCA at EUROCK 2026: Advancing Innovation in Rock Engineering
ITASCA is pleased to announce its participation in EUROCK 2026 – ISRM Regional Symposium, taking place from 15–19 September 2026 in Sko...Read More

20 Sep

20 Sep ITASCA to Participate in CouFrac 2026
ITASCA will be participating in CouFrac 2026, taking place from 20–23 September 2026 in Uppsala, Sweden. The conference brings together...Read More

26 Oct

26 Oct ITASCA at Slope Stability 2026: Strategic Sponsor and Technical Contributor_2
ITASCA is proud to participate as a Strategic Sponsor in Slope Stability 2026, one of the world’s leading international symposiums focu...Read More