Principal Hydrogeologist (USA)

Itasca Consulting Group; Denver, Minneapolis (CO, MN); 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

Paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Company-paid Short-Term Disability, L‑

Job summary

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

The role targets a senior professional with mining-related hydrogeology expertise, capable of leading complex projects, guiding groundwater modeling, and collaborating across geomechanics, engineering geology, and numerical modeling to deliver robust solutions for clients.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in hydrogeology, geochemistry, environmental engineering, or a related field.
• Approximately 20+ years of relevant professional experience.
• 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.
• Experience mentoring staff and contributing to business development.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Technical leadership

Client relationship development

Mentoring staff

Hydrogeology expertise

Groundwater modeling

Mine water management

Project management

Education

Advanced degree in hydrogeology/geochemistry/environmental engineering

Tools

MODFLOW

FEFLOW

MineDW

GIS

3-D visualization

Data analysis

Job description

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.
• 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, and 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.