Principal Hydrogeologist

ITASCA North America; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Health, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Job summary

ITASCA North America is seeking a Principal Hydrogeologist for a pivotal role requiring strong technical and leadership skills. Located in the United States, preferred locations are Denver or Minneapolis, but other locations may be considered.

The role demands significant experience in hydrogeology, project management, and client interaction, offering a competitive salary and an inclusive benefits package. ITASCA champions technical excellence and innovation to solve complex challenges.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of relevant professional experience in hydrogeology.
• Proven technical ability in leading complex projects.
• Professional registration or ability to obtain it.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on hydrogeology projects.
• Guide complex hydrogeologic modeling and data interpretation.
• Develop client relationships and lead project strategies.

Skills

Technical excellence in hydrogeology

Client-facing communication

Mentorship capabilities

Project management

Education

Advanced degree in hydrogeology or related field

Tools

MODFLOW

GIS

Data analysis tools

Job description

Principal Hydrogeologist

ITASCA North America | U.S.-based

About the role

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

This role is suited for a senior hydrogeology professional with strong technical credibility, practical judgment, and experience leading complex projects. Mining experience is preferred, particularly in mine water management, groundwater characterization, dewatering, depressurization, seepage, closure, water balance, permitting support, and hydrogeologic support for mine planning and operations.

Why this role matters

Water is often a defining factor in whether mining, infrastructure, energy, and environmental projects can be planned, permitted, operated, and closed successfully.

As a Principal Hydrogeologist, you will help clients understand complex hydrogeologic conditions and translate that understanding into practical decisions. Your work may influence mine water management, dewatering strategy, groundwater characterization, permitting, closure planning, and risk management.

You will also play an important role in growing ITASCA North America’s hydrogeology practice by building trusted client relationships, mentoring staff, guiding project teams, and connecting ITASCA’s hydrogeology, geomechanics, engineering geology, and numerical modeling capabilities into stronger solutions for clients.

What you’ll do

• Provide senior technical leadership on hydrogeology, mine water, and groundwater-related projects.
• Lead and review work involving conceptual hydrogeologic models, field investigations, aquifer testing, groundwater monitoring, dewatering, seepage, water balance, closure planning, permitting support, and impact assessment.
• Guide or critically review numerical and analytical groundwater modeling, including assumptions, uncertainty, limitations, and implications for client decisions.
• Translate complex hydrogeologic data into practical recommendations for mine planning, environmental management, water supply, permitting, operations, and risk management.
• 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 hydrogeology, geochemistry, environmental engineering, or a related field.
• Approximately 20+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven technical excellence and sound professional judgment in hydrogeology.
• Professional registration by a recognized organization, or ability to obtain registration where required.
• Experience leading, managing, directing, and reviewing complex technical projects.
• Strong experience with conceptual hydrogeologic models, field investigations, hydraulic testing, and hydrogeologic data interpretation.
• Strong client-facing communication skills.
• Experience mentoring staff and contributing to business development.

Strongly valued

• Mining industry experience, particularly in mine water management, pit dewatering, depressurization, seepage, closure, water balance, permitting, and operational hydrogeology.
• Established client relationships in mining, infrastructure, energy, water resources, or environmental sectors.
• Experience developing and winning consulting work.
• Experience with MODFLOW, FEFLOW, MINEDW, GIS, 3-D visualization, or data analysis.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Recognition in the hydrogeology, mining, groundwater, 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. Preferred locations are Denver/Lakewood, Colorado, or Minneapolis, Minnesota, 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.

Compensation and benefits

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

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Performance bonuses (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.